Barcelona vs Manchester City: UCL Match Preview

FC Barcelona will be aiming to maintain their 100% record in the 2016/2017 UEFA Champions League tournament when they take on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side in their third group C game of the tournament.

Barça started the campaign with two wins from two, beating Celtic 7-0 in the first game and seeing off Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1 in the second game. However, the big game of group C has finally arrive as the top two on the table go head-to-head at the Camp Nou on Wednesday night in a game that will see the return of Pep Guardiola for the second time since he left in 2012.

TEAM NEWS

FC Barcelona will be filled with joy ad they welcome back the return of star man Lionel Messi from an injury that kept him out of action for three weeks. The Argentina captain returned in Barça’s impressive 4-0 win over Deportivo La Coruña on Saturday where he scored three minutes after coming on. He is set to start against Man City after missing the clash against Borussia Mönchengladbach, a huge boost for Barça.

Aside from Messi, Samuel Umtiti also returned to the squad after being out though injury although he was on the bench throughout the game on Saturday. He is available for selection and is likely to start alongside Gerard Piqué in defence.

Barça also receive boosts on the availability of regular first team players Sergi Roberto and Jordi Alba. Both players missed the game on Saturday through minor injuries but took part in the club’s Monday training session, hence are both likely to make their return against Man City.

This means Barça have almost a full squad to choose from with the only player out of the game being goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen who will be out for the next two weeks.

For Manchester City, they have a huge boost to their squad after captain Vincent Kompany who made his last appearance in May and has been out with a groin injury returned as a substitute in Man City’s 1-1 draw against Everton at the weekend.

The game against Everton also sae the return of Kevin De Bruyne who missed the last three weeks through a calf injury, while Raheem Sterling is also fit for the game after starting against Everton.

Man City will be without right-back Bacary Sagna for the game after the Frenchman picked up an injury whilst on international duty last week.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Barcelona 1-0 Manchester City
Manchester City 1-2 Barcelona
Barcelona 2-1 Manchester City
Manchester City 0-2 Barcelona

FORM GUIDE
Barcelona: DWWLW
Manchester City: WWDLD

Predicted Barcelona Lineup: Marc Andre Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Gerard Piqué, Samuel Umtiti, Jordi Alba; Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta; Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Neymar

Predicted Manchester City Lineup: Claudio Bravo; John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi, Vincent Kompany; Fernandinho, Fernando; Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne, Nolito, Raheem Sterling; Sergio Aguero

BarcaLens Prediction: It will be a fascinating game.. both teams will want to get possession but Barça are more likely to win in that aspect, as well as in the scoreline too as they have better players – Barcelona 3-1 Manchester City.