Ivan Rakitić's long goal combined with a late penalty save by Marc-Andre ter Stegen ensured that Barcelona advanced past Manchester City in to the Champions League quarterfinals. The 1-0 win on the day combined with Barca's 2-1 triumph in Manchester have the Blaugrana a 3-1 aggregate victory, and knocked the final EPL team out of the tournament.
3 things we learned from Barcelona’s 1-0 win over Manchester City
Barca did enough to advance to the quarterfinals.
David Ramos/Getty Images
From the opening whistle it was clear that it would be Barcelona's day. City's defense were on their backheels from the start and the fact that it took just over 30 minutes for the first goal to finally be scored was more about Barca missing chances than City stopping them.
Lionel Messi didn't score the opening goal but he did provide an absurd assist to Ivan Rakitić. Messi lifted a cross from the right wing, all the way to the midfielder who'd made an unmarked run at the far post. Rakitić's touch was superb as he lifted the ball up and over a charging Joe Hart, giving Barca the 1-0 lead, and scoring his first Champions League goal in the process.
City appeared to have been given a lifeline in the 75th minute when Sergio Agüero was brought down by either Gerard Piqué or Javier Mascherano, as both players closed down on him at basically the same time. Marc-Andre ter Stegen was massive though on the PK, stopping Sergio Agüero's kick and preserving Barca's two-goal advantage.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Alba, Mathieu, Piqué, Alves (Adriano 91’), Mascherano, Rakitić (Rafinha 84’), Iniesta, Neymar, Messi, Suárez
Goals: Rakitic (31’)
Manchester City: Hart ,Kolarov, Demichelis, Kompany, Sagna, Fernandinho, Touré (Bony 72’), Nasri (Navas 46’), Silva, Milner, Agüero
Goals: None
3 things
1. The EPL is a great league, but it's lacking truly great teams - Manchester City was England's last chance to put a team into the Champions League quarterfinals. Just like Chelsea and Arsenal though, they failed in their mission, completely beaten by Barcelona. As good as the EPL is -- it's entertaining and competitive -- there's a lack of a any truly powerful teams at the moment. They simply cannot go toe-to-toe with the likes of Barca, Bayern and Real Madrid.
2. City had a good plan, but Messi destroys plans - There was nothing fundamentally wrong with City’s tactics, in fact, they worked pretty well in limiting Barca’s offensive chances. The problem is, even the best tactics can’t account for Lionel Messi. Sometimes he just does something amazing, and such was the case on Wednesday.
3. Barca are beatable, but City wasn’t the team to do it - The chances were there in both legs for City, but their defense just wasn’t good enough to prevent Barca from generating chances and scoring goals. City had their moments though, and perhaps a better side will be able to breakdown the Spanish giants.
