Manchester City stunned the football world when they beat Barcelona 3-1 in their champion league football match, which most analysts had easily given to the Catalans.
After being beaten 4-0 in their first group match-up a fortnight ago, many had seen their beating Barcelona as a task impossible.
But Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City earned a prominent 3-1 victory over his former side Barcelona in a thrilling encounter at the Etihad Stadium in the Champions’ League group stage.
Lionel Messi gave Barcelona the lead on 21 minutes after a quick counter attack, before Ilkay Gundogan levelled for City from close range as the hosts pounced on a defensive mistake.
Kevin De Bruyne then put City ahead seven minutes after the break with a finely struck free-kick from 20 yards, before Gundogan grabbed his second from eight yards with 15 minutes remaining.
City have finally ended their hoodoo against Barcelona following five defeats, and with Monchengladbach drawing with Celtic, the result means City can qualify for the knockout stage if they beat the Germans later this month.
Guardiola made two changes from the 4-0 win at West Brom on Saturday as Willy Caballero and De Bruyne came in for Claudio Bravo and Nolito respectively, while Barcelona were still missing the injured Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba and Andres Iniesta.
Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai was at the centre of attention from the off, booking Raheem Sterling for simulation after Samuel Umtiti’s challenge in the area, despite replays showing the French defender just caught the toe of the City man.
Despite some early pressing from City, the visitors took the lead on the counter-attack. Breaking from a City free-kick, Neymar drove forward on the left unmarked, squared for Messi with a defence-splitting pass, allowing the Argentine to coolly slot under Cabellero for his 90th Champions League goal on his 100th start.
Though the counter-attack was devastating, City only had themselves to blame having left their defenders too deep in the Barcelona half.
Barcelona then began to dominate, missing several chances to double their lead as City’s defence opened up.
First, Luis Suarez was inches away from latching onto Messi’s improvised volley across the face of goal, before Suarez then saw an effort from inside the area blocked well by Nicolas Otamendi.
City levelled against the run of play six minutes before the break through Gundogan, who finished easily from close range from Sterling’s unselfish ball after Sergi Roberto had been pressured into a loose pass.
It was nearly 2-1 to the hosts a moment later as Barcelona again lost possession from City’s pressing game, but Fernandinho could not squeeze the ball into the far corner from 12 yards after David Silva had pulled the ball back.
Sterling should have put City ahead after the break after being played through in space on the right of the area, the winger choosing to take a touch before going too far wide of the angle.
But the Etihad erupted for all the right reasons moments later as De Bruyne wonderfully curled the ball into the top right corner past Marc-Andre ter Stegen from a 20-yard free-kick.
Sergio Aguero – left on the bench against Barca last month – headed just wide on the hour mark from Silva’s cross as City pushed for a third, before De Bruyne curled just wide from inside the area.
Busquets then hit the bar with a left-footed effort which seemed destined for the goal, but City got their two-goal cushion with 16 minutes left.
After being released on the right of the area, Jesus Navas’ centre could not be converted by Aguero just three yards out, but the ball fortuitously fell to Gundogan to smash home for his second.
Celtic equalised in Germany just moments later to cap off a memorable night for City, as they held on for the win.
Four teams, including five-time winner Bayern Munich, sealed early places in the Champions League knockout rounds on Tuesday.
Barcelona, shockingly, was not among them despite Lionel Messi’s goal taking a first-half lead at Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s team turned a memorable game on its head to win 3-1, and end the English side’s run of being outclassed by its coach’s former club in recent years.
“Now, we realize we won against the best team [in the world],” Guardiola said. “For the future generations, they are going to realize, ‘Wow these guys are able to beat the best team.”‘
Bayern and Atletico Madrid both advanced from Group D, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain booked their tickets from Group A to the round of 16.
Arsenal took an adventurous route in Bulgaria, trailing Ludogorets Razgrad by two early goals before Mesut Ozil’s sublime solo goal in the 88th minute clinched a 3-2 win.
Here is how Tuesday’s action unfolded:
Arsenal deadlocked with PSG
Arsenal and PSG are tied on 10 points and each could win the group — and seeded status in the round of 16 draw — with victory when they play in London on Nov. 23.
Both needed late goals to secure three points on Tuesday.
PSG dominated at Basel but a 2-1 win was only sealed in the 90th by defender Thomas Meunier’s volleyed shot from outside the penalty area into the top right corner of the net. The Swiss side was down to 10 men at the time, following an 84th minute red card for midfielder Geoffroy Serey Die.
Basel’s leveler in the 76th was also a stunner. Substitute Luca Zuffi’s dipping shot from 35 metres out deceived goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
PSG had led in the 43rd when Blaise Matuidi diverted Meunier’s shot across the goalmouth with a deft flick off his right heel.
Arsenal advanced from its group for a 17th consecutive season under coach Arsene Wenger.
Down 2-0 after 15 minutes, the game was soon level through goals by Granit Xhaka and Olivier Giroud.
Ozil then perhaps bettered his hat trick in a 6-0 rout of Ludogorets last month. He collected a through ball, lifted it over goalkeeper Milan Borjan, and then glided past two defenders before calmly slotting into an empty net.
Group B remains tight
In a tight group, Napoli and Benfica are on seven points with unbeaten Besiktas on six.
Penalties were key to Besiktas and Napoli drawing 1-1 in Istanbul, and Benfica beating visiting Dynamo Kyiv 1-0.
Besiktas led in the 79th when Ricardo Queresma scored from the spot, and Napoli talisman Marek Hamsik’s arching shot from distance levelled three minutes later.
There were reports that a Napoli fan was stabbed before the match in an Istanbul metro station after a clash between supporters.
Eduardo Salvio put Benfica ahead with a powerfully hit spot-kick in first-half stoppage time, and Dynamo was denied an equalizer when goalkeeper Ederson saved a penalty from Junior Moraes.
Man City finally tops Barcelona
Manchester City had lost all five Champions League games against Barcelona since 2012 — including a 4-0 mauling at Camp Nou two weeks ago.
Messi’s 90th goal in Europe’s top club competition in the 21st minute, finishing a clinical counter-attack, suggested a repeat.
However, inspired by Kevin De Bruyne, Guardiola’s team fought back first through Ilkay Gundogan in the 39th.
De Bruyne fired in a free kick in the 51st, and then sent a stunning through-ball for the third, slammed in by Gundogan from close range in the 74th.
Celtic did City a favour by leveling late in a 1-1 draw at Borussia Moenchengladbach. Moussa Dembele’s penalty in the 76th cancelled out Lars Stindl’s opener in the 32nd.
Barcelona leads with nine points, two clear of Man City. ‘Gladbach has four, trailing City by three points before they meet in Germany on Nov. 23. Celtic has only an outside chance on two points.
Atletico alone with 4 wins
Atletico, beaten finalist in two of the past three seasons, is the only club with four wins.
Antoine Griezmann’s stoppage time goal, adding to his acrobatic opener in the 28th, clinched a 2-1 win against Russian newcomer Rostov. Sardar Azmoun’s leveler in the 30th was the first goal conceded by Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak in this season’s competition.
Bayern forward Robert Lewandowski scored twice in a comeback 2-1 win in Eindhoven, where PSV led through defender Santiago Arias in the 14th.
Lewandowski already struck a post and the crossbar with headers before he scored with a 34th-minute penalty. The Poland star finished off a cross by David Alaba in the 74th, and later had another shot hit the bar.
Rostov and PSV have a point each, and Bayern has nine, trailing Atletico by three.
Bayern hosts Atletico in the last game next month, and whichever finishes runner-up will likely be the most dangerous unseeded team in the round of 16 draw.
- with online report
