Champions League - Barcelona v Manchester City Preview
Xavi, Messi (Reuters)
Team news, manager quotes and facts ahead of the Champions League last-16 second leg between Barcelona and Manchester City at Camp Nou.
Barcelona lead 2-0 from the first leg...
TEAM NEWS
Andres Iniesta missed Barcelona's defeat to Real Valladolid due to personal reasons and it is unclear whether he will return for the Man City game. Otherwise, Jose Manuel Pinto returns from back pain and Jonathan Dos Santos (knee) is out.
Manchester City are without Martin Demichelis due to suspension and, with Matija Nastasic missing due to a knee injury, Joleon Lescott will start alongside Vincent Kompany. Stevan Jovetic is out with a hamstring problem.
MANAGER QUOTES
Gerard Martino: "I don't think the players are not motivated. Every season the players know they have to fight to win a trophy – they know the club and they know what's expected, so I don't need to give them extra motivation. We made lots of mistakes against Valladolid and that isn't normal for this team."
Ruben Cousillas: "The decisions are taken by [Manuel] Pellegrini. I have worked with him for 13 years and I know what he wants. Tomorrow he can't be on the bench [because of suspension] so it's up to me to make substitutions, etc."
MATCH FACTS
Barcelona have only lost one of their last 18 knockout games at Camp Nou in the Champions League (0-3 v Bayern Munich in last season’s semi-final).
Out of 30 home games in the Champions League knockout stages, Barcelona have only lost two by at least two clear goals (0-2 v Real Madrid in April 2002 and 0-3 v Bayern Munich in May 2013).
Only one English club has managed to beat Barcelona at Camp Nou in the Champions League (in 17 games): Liverpool in February 2007 (1-2).
The last three Champions League visits by English clubs to Camp Nou have produced 13 goals.
Manchester City are winless in their last three Champions League games against Spanish clubs (D1 L2). Manchester City have won their three away games in the Champions League this season, including a 3-2 victory against the current European champions Bayern Munich.
Manchester City have only kept one clean sheet in their last 13 Champions League games (3-0 win v Viktoria Plzen last September), including none in their last six outings (longest current run among the 16 remaining teams). Barcelona have the most prolific attacking record at home this season in the Champions League with 13 goals in three games.
Barcelona have reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in each of the last six seasons, the longest run in the competition. Lionel Messi (66 goals) is only five goals away from equalling Raul’s Champions League goalscoring record (71 goals).
He’s netted seven goals in only four games this season (from nine shots on target). He needs one more to be the top scorer for one club (currently level on 66 with Raul for Real Madrid). Neymar has been directly involved in five of Barcelona’s last seven Champions League goals (three goals, two assists).
Xavi has played 138 games for Barcelona in the Champions League. One more outing and he’ll equal the record for most appearances for one club in the competition (Ryan Giggs 139).