![Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates his second goal with teammates during their Spanish first division soccer match against Sevilla at Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona November 22, 2014. Barcelona forward Messi set a La Liga scoring record of 253 goals when he claimed a hat-trick in Saturday's match at home to Sevilla. REUTERS/Gustau Nacarino (SPAIN - […]](https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/11/17045008/Messi1-740x416.webp)
Manchester City travel to Spain to play Barcelona for the second consecutive season and must score at least two goals to progress into the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time.
Manuel Pellegrini’s men are in terrible form after losing three of their last five matches including a shock 1-0 away defeat to Burnley on Saturday.
They have a huge mountain to climb at the Camp Nou with the Citizens needing to win with a margin of at least two goals to qualify.
Their opponents have faired much better after the loss to Malaga at home and have won the last five matches in a row. They are the team to beat in Europe at the moment with 26 wins in their last 29 matches
Importantly, Lionel Messi is back to his best with 20 goals this calendar year which could potentially spell disaster for City’s defense come Wednesday.
Team News
Barcelona will be without the services of Thomas Vermaelen and Sergio Busquets due to injury but Javier Mascherano and Andres Iniesta should be in the starting XI after starting from the bench against Eibar. Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo will drop to the bench and Marc-Andre ter Stegen will take his place.
There are no new injury worries for City who will likely be boosted by the return of Yaya Toure to the lineup after he missed the first leg due to suspension. They will be without Gael Clichy though as he was red carded in the 2-1 home defeat which could see Aleksander Kolarov instead.
Predicted Lineups
