MANCHESTER CITY VS BARCELONA

It was never going to be an easy ride for both teams. The rivalry is still very young but has already become legendary. This is not unconnected with the depth and quality of both teams.

The Manchester side has continually failed in their quest to move up past the first round of the champion’s league since their resurgence and re-invigoration courtesy of the Arab money bags who injected a new kind of vigor into a former second class club.

The Catalan side was known for their short slick and subtle passes which under Pep Guardiola positioned them as the finest team of their generation and raked in numerous trophies and created legendary figures in Camp Nou. This figures such as Xavi Henandes, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi have not relented even with the departure of the iconic Guardiola, they are still on top of their games.

It will be a titanic battle in the middle of the park this week when the two giants meet. This is because Manchester city on its part have over the years grown to become a dominant figure in English football even surpassing their legendary red side neigbhours at the moment.

With the likes of Yaya Toure who was equally though a partial part of the tiki taka era now marshalling City’s midfield alongside Samir Nasri and David Silver,it should be a certainty that there will be no ground left uncovered.

Manuel Pelegrini is no stranger to the champions league, the former Real Madrid coach have seen many battles from the side lines and so knows what to do when such battles come calling. Much could not be said about Luis Enrique who graduated from the Barcelona “B” team to the main job but that should not take away anything from him. He had managed to tinker the team together once again and could do wonders in the Europe elite club competition.

The battle would be won and lost in the midfield. That is the obvious when a team plays with Barcelona but to have an edge, there will be a need for a sharp forward who could complement the midfield and City have that in the personality of Aguero and Wilfred Bony. These two relentless fighters have all it takes to win a big game and could show that against a declining Catalan giant if everything goes well.

That is not to say that the old war horse have no capacity to call on its many years of warfare experience when the need be and if the Barca side does come to the party with the skills of Neymar and Luis Suarez backed by the slick runs of  Messi from the middle and Inesta’s perfect positioning in from of goals, there could be a repeat of history especially when Yaya fails to show up in all his elegance as has characterized his champions league performance for the sky blues.

The two sides have struggled in the backline over the seasons because of an ageing backline. Vincent Company would need to do more in organizing his defense if they are to make any reasonable impact in the match and so will the need be at the Barcelona’s end if they are to escape the wrath of the Segio Aguero led attack.

It would be a fight for all as both parties will be poised to correct impressions and make important points about their ability and relevance.

Book makers might have gone for Barcelona because of their experience and city’s in ability to prove themselves in times like this which many over time attributed to inexperience. If that be the case, they have got all now in their battles in the competition over this few years and with the addition of  Pelegrini and the legendary Frank Lampard who have fought in such battles on many fronts, there should be no favourites, everything points to a fierce duel that will worth the watch.