Barcelona vs Manchester City. UEFA Champions League Group C.
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Wednesday 19 October 2016 18:24, UK
Pep Guardiola returns to Barcelona aiming to get one over his former employers with Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The 45-year-old may now be in charge at the Etihad Stadium but for many he remains synonymous with Barca and he is sure to be the main focus of many eyes ahead of the clash.
Guardiola came through the Catalan giants' famed youth system, became an influential member of their first team - and a Champions League winner - before going on to enjoy even greater success as their manager, winning 14 trophies during an all-conquering stint from 2008 to 2012.
"I cannot deny that it is something special for me," Guardiola said.
"I grew up in Catalonia. At 13 years old I went there to play in the Academy and I was promoted to a professional player, the trainer.
"So I spent most of my life there. I know the people there, I know the club, the media, most of the players are still there, so the emotion is there."
The task in front of Guardiola and his City players is a very tough one.
Since losing 2-1 to Rubin Kazan in October 2009, Barcelona are unbeaten in 20 home Champions League group games, winning 18 and drawing two.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are the only English team to beat Barcelona at the Nou Camp in the Champions League, back in 2007. In the other 19 English trips to the ground in the competition, there have been 11 Barcelona wins and eight draws.
Team news
Sergio Aguero is expected to return to Manchester City's starting line-up.
The striker came off the bench in Saturday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Everton, as did captain Vincent Kompany, whose chances of coming into the first XI this time around appear less clear.
Fabian Delph (unspecified) and Bacary Sagna (hamstring) remain sidelined, while Yaya Toure, who City boss Guardiola has said he will not pick unless he receives an apology from the player's agent Dimitri Seluk for comments made in the media, cannot be selected on Wednesday anyway as he was not included in the Blues' squad for the group stage of the competition.
Opta stats
Barcelona have won all four of their previous encounters with City, all in the last 16 of the Champions League (2013/14 and 2014/15).
Guardiola is facing Barcelona as manager for the second time; as Bayern Munich boss, he was knocked out by the Catalan side in the semi-finals of the 2014/15 Champions League (3-5 on aggregate), including a 3-0 defeat at the Nou Camp.
Barcelona have scored in each of their last 17 home Champions League games since September 2013 (W16 D1), netting 52 goals at an average of just over three per game.
City have lost six of their last eight trips to Spain in European competition, winning 3-0 against Villarreal in November 2011 and 3-1 against Sevilla in November 2015.
These two sides have scored 16 goals between them in their opening two group games so far this campaign, with Barcelona netting nine and City seven. The only other side with more than six goals is Borussia Dortmund (eight).
Neymar has assisted five goals in two Champions League games this campaign, three more than any other player. Indeed, since his debut in the competition in September 2013 he has assisted more goals than any other player (12).
Aguero has scored six goals in his three European appearances this season, both hat-tricks (v Steaua Bucharest in a Champions League qualifier and against Borussia Mönchengladbach in the group stage).
Charlie Nicholas' prediction
I watched Man City at the weekend and they did play very well against an Everton team who sat in but while they missed a couple of penalties they didn't create that many chances.
Here's where the key situation is: Guardiola went with a back three in preparation for Barca, with the three defenders picking up their three forwards, then the full-backs tucking in when they lost the ball.
I think Pep will be thinking he's vulnerable because of Barca's three amigos and his weakness is in whole will be picking them up.
Is it going to be Aleksandar Kolarov or Gael Clichy? What I think he might do is bring back Kompany if he is going to play a narrow back three. That's his best hope.
They can get at Barcelona defence with Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling on the break and then I can only see goals.
Charlie predicts: 3-2 and Luis Suarez to score first (40/1)
Betting
According to Sky Bet, Guardiola is an 11/2 shot to leave Barcelona with all three points but the home side are strong favourites at 4/9 to maintain their winning home run in the competition. Luiz Suarez is 3/1 favourite to score first with Lionel Messi available at 100/30.
Jamie Redknapp thinks City have more of a chance than the odds suggest and is plumping for Aguero to score first on his return and the game to end 1-1, which is a 55/1 shot.
