Manchester City 3-1 Barcelona: Ilkay Gundogan bags brace in sensational Champions League clash at the Etihad

Manchester City have beaten Barcelona 3-1 in a sensational Champions League clash at the Etihad Stadium.

Ilkay Gundogan struck twice as City produced a thrilling fightback.

Kevin De Bruyne was also on target with a sublime free-kick as City responded to Lionel Messi's early strike in remarkable fashion.

City's performance was not only an emphatic response to the 4-0 thrashing in the Nou Camp a fortnight ago that had people questioning manager Pep Guardiola's methods, but reignited their challenge in Group C.

It was a compelling, breathless contest in which both sides created numerous chances against fallible defences.

City had a strong penalty claim turned down early on while Andre Gomes hit the woodwork for Barca. Yet these were just a couple of many memorable moments that contributed to what will be remembered as a classic, and what was perhaps the dawn of a new era for City in Europe.

City started with Sergio Aguero in attack, following his surprise omission at the Nou Camp, and looked all the more dangerous for it.

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There was a huge sense of anticipation as the Argentinian broke through a gap, relishing the chance to take on a defence lacking Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba, in the opening minutes.

On that occasion he was flagged offside but it was an indication of City's determination to attack and that same inclination should have yielded a penalty for Raheem Sterling after 10 minutes.

The England forward looked to have been trodden on by Samuel Umtiti as he burst into the area but instead, to widespread disbelief, found himself booked for diving by Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai.

City were sensing another opportunity when Barcelona once again showed their ruthless side to snatch the lead with a clinical counter-attack.

David Silva floated a free-kick into the Barca area and the fit-again Pablo Zabaleta teed up a shooting chance for Aguero. Javier Mascherano blocked and in an instant everything changed as Messi swept the ball forward to release Neymar. The Brazilian raced clear and then played a perfect return pass for Messi behind the retreating defence. Much the same as a fortnight ago, Messi made no mistake as he jinked into the area and finished coolly.

The shock of conceding in such a sudden manner seemed to take the sting out of City for a time and Barca could easily have increased their lead. Neymar had a shot from a tight angle tipped away by Willy Caballero and another effort blocked, while Gomes was also thwarted and Luis Suarez spurned two chances.

But City were gifted a way back into the game six minutes before the break as Sergi Roberto played a casual ball across his own box and Aguero intercepted. He quickly released Sterling and his low ball to the far post was thumped in by Gundogan.

The complexion of the game changed again and Aguero was inches away from getting the final touch to a Fernandinho drive in front of goal.

Both sides committed fully to attack and Messi appealed for a penalty after a Fernandinho tackle before Sterling was let down by a poor touch after being put through on goal.

City's efforts were rewarded after Sergio Busquets bundled Silva over outside the area to give De Bruyne his chance. Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made a slight movement in the wrong direction and De Bruyne took full advantage as he lifted the ball over the wall and beyond the German's reach.

Barca were unlucky not to equalise as Gomes rattled the bar following a Suarez break but, in a dramatic passage of play, they were also reprieved as De Bruyne shot wide at the other end seconds later.

The next goal was critical and City got it after another slick attack. De Bruyne released substitute Jesus Navas with a fine throughball and his pull-back struck Aguero before being tucked in by Gundogan. Ter Stegen claimed Aguero had handled but his complaints fell on deaf ears.

It was the goal that killed the game and City held on to celebrate a famous victory.

Match preview

Nolito believes beating Barcelona tonight is vital to Manchester City's hopes of progressing in the Champions League.

City were beaten 4-0 when the sides met at the Nou Camp a fortnight ago and are now facing a tough battle to qualify for the last 16 from Group C.

Another loss to the Catalan giants could hand impetus to Borussia Monchengladbach or Celtic in what would then be a race for second place.

Forward Nolito, who has scored five goals since his summer move from Celta Vigo, said: "If we want to qualify for the next round we need to win this one.

More games: friv

Silva’s ‘very happy’ remarks show Manchester City is thriving under Pep

The Spanish midfielder is pleased with his run of form for Manchester City, and it’s clear Pep Guardiola is responsible.

How do Manchester City fans know life is good at the Etihad under Pep Guardiola? It’s remarks like David Silva’s that reveal morale is high in the blue side of Manchester.

In an interview with Marca, Silva confessed, “I have to help in build-up play more often and sacrifice a bit more in defence, and overall I’m very happy since you can tell we’ve got off to a good start with Manchester City.”

Good start indeed. City has taken a full nine points in three games in the Premier League and qualified in decisive fashion for the Champions League group stage at the expense of overmatched Steaua Bucharest. Silva was the one who broke the dam, scoring first in the early minutes of the tie. A torrent of goals followed in what turned out to be a 6-0 thrashing in two matches against the Romanian side. The Spaniard also was instrumental in City’s 3-1 win against West Ham United. Moreover, his good form carried over to the international break, and he netted two goals against Belgium, no pushover, in Spain’s 2-0 victory this weekend.

Nor is Silva’s embrace’s of his deeper lying role in the midfield the only example of the good times at Manchester City. The revivals of Aleksandar Kolarov and Raheem Sterling are other examples. Sterling, who last season looked like £49 million bust, is now a nightmare on the wing for opposing defenses, while Guardiola has deployed Kolarov at full back to noticeable effect. Likewise, holding midfielder Fernandinho has proven himself amenable to Guardiola and become an indispensable cog at the heart of the City machine. Last but not least, concerns about John Stones’ readiness as a defender seem overstated, as the young English center half has showed poise and overcame every challenge sent his way thus far.

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In summary, there are signs everywhere Guardiola is exactly what the doctor ordered for City. The players’ improvement and joy playing under the Catalan prove it.

Five things Guardiola must do at Man City before Premier League kicks off

New Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has less than four weeks to prepare his squad for what promises to be another hugely competitive Premier League season. With so many of City's rivals kicking off the new campaign with aspirations of mounting a title challenge, it's crucial his side are fully prepared ahead of their opening clash with Sunderland on Aug. 13.

Here are five things that Guardiola will be working on in this crucial period to give City the edge going into the new season.

1. Determine who's staying and who's going

It's more than six weeks since the transfer window opened but there's plenty still up in the air over who is staying and going. City have so far landed two of their top targets, Ilkay Gundogan and Nolito, while Everton defender John Stones and Schalke winger Leroy Sane are expected to follow.

But there could be others. City have been linked with a number of goalkeepers since the season ended, including Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Claudio Bravo, but a rival for Joe Hart doesn't appear to be any closer.

It's typical during World Cup, Copa America and European Championship years that elite players delay decisions over transfers until the tournaments are over. But Guardiola will want his new recruits joining in preseason preparations as soon as possible.

The wait for new faces also means that some of the big names he has inherited -- including those he was expected to jettison -- have not been allowed to leave. One possible bonus is that Guardiola has seen the likes of Yaya Toure, Pablo Zabaleta, Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony and Aleksandar Kolarov in action and they will have had their chance to impress him.

The Catalan has talked in the past about working with a small squad and he will be closing in on a final decision on who's in and who's out.

2. Learn how to play in the Premier League

One of the most intriguing questions going into the new season is exactly how will Guardiola's City play in the Premier League? The man himself claims not to know, insisting he is in England to learn and will need to be flexible with his tactics.

"That's why I'm here," he said when asked in a news conference if he would be able to use the tika-taka style he used at Barcelona to win three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues. "I never played on a Boxing Day, I have never been to a stadium where it is windy and freezing and the pitch is not good. It's a target for me. I'm here to prove myself and prove I can play [the same way]."

Guardiola has faced English sides before in Europe, but a two-legged Champions League clash is a world away from the intensity of a competitive Premier League season. He will get a refresher of what is required with preseason friendlies against rivals Manchester United and Arsenal, although neither will come close to the intensity of the opening clash against Sunderland and the following weekend trip to Stoke City.

But Guardiola is famous for his meticulous preparation and will have been working incredibly hard to prepare for life in the Premier League and to get the most of out his new squad.

"I'm here 24 hours, thinking about them," he said of his new players in an interview with former Oasis singer and City fan Noel Gallagher. "I love my job, I love what I do, and they have to know -- no, not know -- they will realise that I'm here, just thinking and working for them."

3. Get his message across

Argentina international Javier Mascherano, who was converted from a midfielder to a defender under Guardiola, claimed it took him a year to adjust to the Spaniard's management techniques. However, Guardiola debunked that claim at his news conference, saying Mascherano was quick to pick up everything he relayed to him, and added that his message to his players is largely straightforward.

"At the end what we want is so simple," he said. "When the opponent has the ball, take it back as quick as possible. When we have the ball, try to move it as quick as possible, to create as much chances as possible. That's all. And good team spirit. That is my target in my next life here in Manchester."

Guardiola will start to build that team spirit during an intense 10-day trip to Germany and China before refining his master plan back in Manchester ahead the big kickoff. His players will be learning the new system throughout that time. For instance, Kevin De Bruyne and Nolito will take on more significant attacking roles, Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna will need to offer more threat going forward, and Nicolas Otamendi and Fernando will need to use the ball better. Others, such as Raheem Sterling and Joe Hart, will need their confidence rebuilt after a chastening summer with England.

It promises to be a crucial early period and it may take Guardiola a short time to get his ethos across. At Bayern Munich he won just three of his first six matches after taking over a side that had won the Treble. The good news is that they lost only one game in the next seven months -- ironically to City in the Champions League.

Pep Guardiola has his work cut out for him in the weeks before Manchester City's Premier League campaign kicks off.

4. Assess the youth players

Guardiola revealed in his first news conference -- five days after officially taking over the job -- that he has been pleasantly surprised by his initial impression of the talent in City's youth academy.

The 45-year-old has had a further week to assess his youngsters on the training pitch and will test some of them further in a series of demanding friendlies. With several figures only just returning to first-team training after a summer of international football, there is certain to be a youthful look to the side that will face his former club Bayern at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.

Promising youngsters such as Bersant Celina, Brandon Barker, Tosin Adarabioyo, Cameron Humphreys, Manu Garcia, Angus Gunn and Ian Lawlor have all been heavily involved in preseason training, with Guardiola giving several of them individual advice. City hope that their new manager will bring through homegrown players after investing £200 million in the state-of-the-art Etihad Campus, and Guardiola is keen to bring youth into his squad just as he did successfully at both Barcelona and Bayern.

Many will not be ready for life at the top of the Premier League and Guardiola will be making his assessment over the next couple of weeks of just who is ready to make the step up to first team, who would benefit from a loan elsewhere and who should remain to work in the club's academy.

5. Bring back the feel-good factor

City have been on an upward trajectory ever since owner Sheikh Mansour took over the club in 2008 -- until last season when domestically, the club took a step backward. Manuel Pellegrini's men limped into the fourth and final Champions League place, their worst finish for six years while their final points tally of 66 was their worst since 2009.

It was a drastic loss of form that saw them win just just one of their 14 games against rivals that finished in the top eight. They also lost five games at home, as many as they had done in the previous three seasons.

Pellegrini blamed the decision to announce his departure, and subsequently the summer arrival of Guardiola, as the season fell away with City crucially losing at home to title rivals Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur shortly after the news. There was a feeling that the Chilean's tactics were no longer effective, and in a dismal conclusion to the season, City won just one of their final seven games.

The only highlight was a spectacular run to the semifinals of the Champions League -- further than the club had ever gone before. But even that was left with a slight feeling of regret as they went out to eventual winners Real Madrid 1-0 on aggregate with a defensive approach seeing City have just one shot on target over the two legs.

It left plenty of doom and gloom around the Etihad, and the stadium was largely empty when the players had a "lap of appreciation" on the final home game of the season.

Guardiola needs to bring back the excitement, and his arrival may have already provided that, given the thousands of supporters who attended a fan event to welcome him to the club. There's a huge amount of anticipation with City able to attract the most sought-after coach in world football, and Guardiola can build on that as he sets out to create another hugely successful side, just as he did at Barca and Bayern.

Man City chairman sanctions firesale

Khaldoon Al Mubarak has suggested there will be significant changes at the Etihad Stadium this summer as the Blues look to move on from the disappointment of last season

Manchester City have given the strongest hint yet that a significant number of the current squad will be shown the exit door this summer.

Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, who has become known for his honesty regarding matters at the club, has already admitted that last season's performance fell well below expectations back in Abu Dhabi, where City owner Sheikh Mansour resides.

A host of players are likely to leave this summer, including stalwarts Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta, as well as expensive flops Eliaquim Mangala and Wilfried Bony.


Incoming coach Pep Guardiola was given full backing to "transform the team to a whole new level" in the first part of Al Mubarak's end-of-season interview, released on Sunday evening, and the Catalan will be given scope to discard those who underperformed in Manuel Pellegrini's final campaign.

Al Mubarak also referred repeatedly to the need for passion and commitment, and it appears several players have fallen short of that requirement and will now be sold.

“We have to keep that balance between what we have built and the future," Al Mubarakt toldCity TV. "We have to keep a balance between age groups, between young players and experienced players, and all this balance is really in the hands of Pep.

“Pep has a particular way he wants to manage the squad and a particular way he wants to play and I think we will need particular players who will join the team that fit and be moulded to the way he would like this team to play.

“There will also be some players that the time is right for them to move on. I think we will have some changes this summer. We will invest as we have always done in this club, in this team, and we will provide the necessary resources for Pep to build a team that has the ambition and the capability to go and win back this Premier League for us, to go as far as we can and try and win the Champions League and keep pushing at the cups."

Willy Caballero, Aleksandar Kolarov, Martin Demichelis and Fernando are all facing up to futures away from the club, while there are also doubts surrounding Samir Nasri, and even Vincent Kompany and Joe Hart.

It is understood City had been open to the prospect of moving Kompany on earlier this year, but his four-month injury lay-off is thought to have scuppered those plans.

In the case of Hart, a summer exit for the highly regarded England No.1 remains unlikely, but any prospect of a rumoured £40 million bid from Everton would surely tempt City, with Guardiola known to be targeting a goalkeeper who fits more easily into his football philosophy.

And while City are willing to back Guardiola in the transfer market this summer, the club are also hopeful that the former Bayern Munich coach will find room for a number of young talents coming through the ranks.

Youngsters Bersant Celina, Aleix Garcia, Manu Garcia and Tosin Adarabioyo are all expected to play some part in City's pre-season preparations this summer, while 16-year-old prospect Brahim Diaz has been tipped to get a taste of first-team action in the short-term future.


“That’s one of the reasons why Pep was so highly considered," Al Mubarak said on the subject of youth. "That ethos we have at Man City that Pep... I think actually believes to the bone. He has done that with Barcelona, he has done that with Bayern Munich. 

"Even with the abundance of talent he had with both first teams, Pep always has a knack for talent and he loves to find young players that have incredible talent. He finds that talent and nurtures it and you find them evolve and succeed at both Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

“We have that at our club. We have incredible talent today. It’s the first time in the years since we have started this experience that truly, and at every level almost within the football club, we have incredible talent. We really do.

"This is an organisation that has won the Under-10 national championship, the Under-13s, Under-15s and the Under-18s this year. We are competitive with a lot of talent across all age levels going all the way to EDS and Pep, I think, will enjoy that and will find a lot of gems we are going to produce."

Plenty of work for Pep Guardiola in Man City project

The challenge for the Catalan is to send a shock wave through the club.

 

After Manchester City’s meek elimination from the Champions League, Pep Guardiola’s first challenge when replacing Manuel Pellegrini as manager in the summer is to send a shock wave through the club.

Pellegrini’s team raised only a whimper against Real Madrid despite the semi-final being poised at 0-0 from the first leg and the venue being the football cathedral of the Santiago Bernabéu. If these circumstances cannot inspire a manager and his players then something is awry. It is nothing new, though, and so there was no surprise to witness City’s sleepwalk to a feeble defeat against Zinedine Zidane’s side.

City’s Premier League challenge this season has been hobbled by lame displays, a lack of consistency and a strange sense of drift. Uninterested is a label that can be applied to a team who went down 4-2 at Southampton, 4-1 at Tottenham Hotspur and 4-1 at Liverpool, and who are fourth with no guarantee of Champions League football next season, with two matches left. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that this all stems from the manager.

Pellegrini’s aim was to avoid sensational headlines and the club being the story factory it was when Roberto Mancini, Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli were on the payroll. Instead, the manager has become stuck on repeat, continually stating that his City will attack: it felt fresh at first but the mantra has become a stale slogan.

The imagination

After Gareth Bale’s cross deflected off Fernando to send Real to an 11th European Cup final, Pellegrini’s post-game analysis was scattergun. City did not “deserve” to lose the match yet did not “deserve” to reach the final. He also said: “I don’t think we can be bothered by criticism. We turned up to win the game like we do every game but that is gone now.”

There is a time to be concerned by criticism and it is when your side have just lacked the imagination to force the issue and try to reach the Champions League final.

Guardiola’s public persona is far more intense and bristly. It should keep his inquisitors on edge – and his players.

The squad the new man inherits is at a crossroads, though. It must be pruned, and those remaining improved. A transfer policy that has bought too many duds – think the €53.4 million Eliaquim Mangala – must start to invest Sheikh Mansour’s billions more wisely. And the desired culture of excellence and winning has to become a permanent feature of European campaigns.

Why Guardiola is the best man to achieve all this is signalled by his wish to buy Barcelona’s Marc-André ter Stegen. Joe Hart was City’s best performer against Madrid. The goalkeeper is in the form of his career and doing precisely what Guardiola will demand: improving. Yet the 45-year-old wants to add Ter Stegen, a Champions League winner with Barcelona, to ensure competition drives Hart on.

The back four is where Guardiola faces his first major man management test: how to solve the Vincent Kompany problem.

Sadly predictable

The captain will feel despair after sustaining a 33rd injury of his eight year City career having lasted only 10 minutes at the Bernabéu because of a groin problem. The unignorable truth though is that Kompany’s plight is becoming near farcical. This was only a second start since injury No32, a knee strain which kept him out for a month.

When the 30-year-old went down near the centre circle incredulity was triggered by seeing yet again what now appears sadly predictable.

Athletic Bilbao’s Aymeric Laporte is being targeted as a replacement for the Belgian, if required. But the 21-year-old is out until August with a broken leg and dislocated ankle, so to spend the €50 million needed to trigger his release clause appears another gamble.

City need another centre-back as Mangala and Nicolás Otamendi are too erratic. Everton’s John Stones is enduring a difficult campaign, yet the manner in which he took the contest to Manchester United in the second half of Everton’s FA Cup semi-final defeat last month showed courage.

At the moment Stones is a footballer first and defender second, which is no centre-back’s job description. But Guardiola may feel he can do for the 21-year-old what he did for Gerard Piqué at the same age, when taking him to Barcelona in 2008.

Guardiola has issues at full-back, too. Pablo Zabaleta, 31, and the 33-year-old Bacary Sagna have plateaued. Gaël Clichy is inconsistent but may survive the cull as he is technically sound. But Aleksandar Kolarov will surely not.

As the ageing Yaya Touré slows, a new partner for Fernandinho in midfield is required . Sergio Agüero, Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva should prosper in the Guardiola school, and the 19-year-old Kelechi Iheanacho has potential to do so too.

Jesús Navas’s straight-lines act means he is under threat, and Wilfried Bony falls into the same category, but Samir Nasri is hugely talented and could prosper under under Guardiola’s tutelage.

So the challenge for the Catalan on his arrival in Manchester is clear: to elevate all and every facet of the team, and its management. The Pep Guardiola Revolution begins on July 1st. Guardian Service.

Sunday Supplement panel discuss a possible Manchester City clear out

The Sunday Supplement panel discuss who could leave Man City if Pep Guardiola has a summer clear out of his new squad.

The Sunday Times reported that players such as Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony and Eliaquim Mangala could be deemed surpluss to requirements by the incoming manager. 

They also say that bigger stars like Yaya Toure, Aleksandar Kolarov and even captain Vincent Kompany may depart the Etihad when the former Barcelona boss arrives.

Aleksandar Kolarov ruined what could have been the greatest moment in football

Aleksandar Kolarov is now our least favourite human in the world.

That’s because his failed clearance against Watford last Saturday spoiled what would have been one of the most pleasing doubles in sporting history.

The Serbian left-back got a slight touch on Ben Watson’s corner meaning it technically went down as an own goal rather than a superb Olimpico from Watford’s ginger midfielder.

Last night Lee Holmes of Exeter City scored directly from a corner against Liverpool.

But for Kolarov’s minuscule flick we could have witnessed both Holmes and Watson scoring from corners within a week of each other.

Holmes and Watson. Get it?

Elementary, my dear Kolarov.