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 marshaling 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 aging back-line.
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.
