Superb Manchester City stage stirring comeback to stun Barcelona

ByEurosport

Updated 01/11/2016 at 22:33 GMT

Etihad Stadium, Champions League - Manchester City 3 (Gündogan 39', 74, De Bruyne 51) Barcelona 1 (Messi, 21)

Manchester City's German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan (3L) celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the UEFA Champions League group C

Image credit: AFP

Manchester City came from a goal down to beat Barcelona 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium.

Raheem Sterling was denied what looked a solid shout for a penalty with just over ten minutes gone and the winger was booked as the referee deemed it to be a dive.

Insult was added to injury as City found themselves a goal down with 21 minutes on the clock after Lionel Messi finished off a magnificent counter-attack.

La Liga

Lewandowski treble guides Barcelona past 10-man Valencia

5 hours ago

However, City re-grouped and captalised on a loose pass from Sergi Roberto to level matters through İlkay Gündogan with 39 minutes on the clock.

The hosts emerged from the second half reinvigorated and took a deserved lead just six minutes into the second period when Kevin De Bruyne slammed a supreme free-kick past Marc-André ter Stegen.

City dominated for large swathes of the second period and passed up a few presentable opportunities before Gündogan added his second and City’s third to put the game beyond doubt.

Manchester City's German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan (R) celebrates with Manchester City's English midfielder Raheem Sterling

Image credit: AFP

TALKING POINT

City are ready to compete with the best

City have come in for a lot of criticism recently, with many saying that Guardiola has been found out and should change his methods, seemingly ignoring the fact that they are still top of the league. Guardiola answered those critics in emphatic fashion this evening as he restored Sergio Aguero to the starting XI in the Champions League after leaving him out in the Camp Nou.

City pressed hard throughout the game but Guardiola asked them to try to catch Barcelona on the counter as the game wore on and it worked perfectly. Barcelona looked short of ideas for most of the game and City were a threat constantly as they broke forward. Guardiola has been bullish in his defence of his style and methods and based on the second-half he should feel very confident going forward.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola

Image credit: Reuters

MAN OF THE MATCH

Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

Really this could have gone to any number of players and both David Silva and Gundogan were also sensational but De Bruyne ran the show in the second-half. As he moved more central and closer to Aguero he orchestrated everything. Every pass, every touch was calculated and executed with such fluidity that at times it felt like he had the game's script and was keeping it a secret from everybody else. Alan Shearer recently said that Aguero is the only world class player in the Premier League. He might want to reconsider this statement based on tonight's showing.

PLAYER RATINGS

Manchester City - Caballero 6, Zabaleta 6, Stones 6, Otamendi 5, Kolarov 6, Fernandinho 7, Gundogan 8, Silva 8, Sterling 7, De Bruyne 8, Aguero 7. Subs: Fernando 6, Navas 6, Nolito 5.

Barcelona - Ter Stegen 5, Roberto 4, Mascherano 5, Umtiti 5, Digne 4, Busquets 4, Rakitic 5, Gomes 5, Messi 5, Neymar 5, Suarez 4. Subs: Turan 5, Rafinha 5.

KEY MOMENTS

11' - Well that's a bold decision from the referee. Aguero gets City going on the break and he squares the ball to Sterling. He is fouled by Umtiti in the box but it is deemed a dive and Sterling is booked. Replays suggest he may have got that wrong...

21' - GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 0-1 BARCELONA (MESSI) That is just a sensational counter-attack. Barcelona clear from City's corner and Messi spreads the ball wide to Neymar. The Brazilian carries the ball forward before squaring it across to Messi who has carried on his run. His touch takes the ball into the box and it's a mere formality to slide the ball past Caballero.

Barcelona's Argentinian striker Lionel Messi (C) celebrates scoring his team's first goal with Barcelona's Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez (L) and Barcelona's Brazilian striker Neymar

Image credit: AFP

35' - CHANCE! Terrific free-kick from Messi sees the ball fall to Gomes but his shot is blocked. Messi gets the ball to the back post but Suarez can only head over.

39' - GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 BARCELONA (GUNDOGAN): Well there's a terrific example of commentator's curse. Roberto makes a suicidal pass across his box and Aguero picks it up. He slips in Sterling and rather than shoot he plays it across the box. Gundogan is lurking at the back post to fire home an equaliser. Game on!

41' - CHANCE! Well that's lifted City hasn't it? Roberto is again caught on the ball. This time Silva gets down the line and cuts it back to Fernandinho. His shot/cross is just inches away from being poked in by Aguero.

51' - GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 2-1 BARCELONA (DE BRUYNE) Oh that's a lovely free-kick from De Bruyne. City players in the wall and rather than curl is over them De Bruyne sends it the other way. Ter Stegen will be disappointed but it totally caught him out.

Manchester City's Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne (R) celebrates

Image credit: AFP

57' - CHANCE! Another chance for City as this time Silva puts in a free-kick and Aguero heads it narrowly wide.

65' - CROSSBAR! Moment of madness from Stones after he does really well to win the ball back. He plays a suicidal pass which Suarez picks up. He produces an outrageous nutmeg and then squares it Gomes who lashes it against the bar.

74' - GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 3-1 BARCELONA (GUNDOGAN) That has been coming. Aguero makes a brilliant challenge on the edge of his box to tackle Messi and City break yet again. De Bruyne feeds in Navas and he squares the ball which incredibly Aguero manages to head behind him. Luckily it lands at the feet of Gundogan who fires home.

KEY STATS

Manchester City have beaten Barcelona for the first time after losing their previous five matches.

Manchester City have now gone unbeaten for seven games in a row at home in the Champions League for the first time.

Ilkay Gundogan has now scored five goals this season, matching his previous best for a season.

Kevin De Bruyne's free-kick was the fourth direct free-kick they've scored in the Champions League.

Manchester City's Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne (2R) celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League group C football match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium

Image credit: AFP

Barcelona have conceded three goals to an English side in the Champions League group stages for the first time since the 1998/99 season.

Lionel Messi has now scored 54 goals in the Champions League group stages, more than any other players.