Barca, Man City prepare for vital Champions League return leg

Madrid, March 11 (IANS) Both FC Barcelona and Manchester City will be looking to put crisis talk behind them when the pair go head to head at the Camp Nou Stadium Wednesday night for a place in the last eight of the UEFA Champions League.

Barca look to hold all the aces after their 2-0 win in Manchester three weeks ago in the first leg. Under normal circumstances Tata Martino’s men would be considered clear favourites to qualify for the quarter-finals, reports Xinhua.

However, Barcelona’s 0-1 defeat in Valladolid Saturday, and above all the manner of the defeat which saw the Spanish champions outplayed and outfought by a side which has been occupying one of the relegation places, has set alarm bells ringing.

The Barca press are talking of an institutional and sporting crisis and there is very much an ‘end of an era’ feel about the club, even more so with the imminent departure of veteran players Carles Puyol and Victor Valdes at the end of the season.

Forward Alexis Sanchez has tried to put a brave face on things with a press conference in which he stated: “It’s just one game. We need to turn the page but I think we’re relaxed. We’re under pressure to win matches.”

“We’re all Barcelona through and through and pulling in the same direction. People are acting as if somebody had died.”

It is obvious that Barca need to find the efficient form they produced in Manchester, rather than the flat displays which have typified their league matches since then and seen them beaten by both Valladolid and Real Sociedad.

Manchester City travel to Spain with their own problems after being knocked out of the FA Cup by second division club Wigan Athletic Sunday.

Coach Manuel Pellegrini was criticised for his conservative tactics in the first leg, but will have striker, Kun Aguero for the return and the Argentine striker is likely to partner the in-form Alvaro Negredo, who was left isolated in attack in the first match.

Meanwhile, Martin Demichelis who was sent off in the first leg is suspended and will be replaced by Jolean Lescott.

“We must react. We still have a chance and we will try to play a very good game and we will see what happens against Barcelona,” said Pellegrini after the Wigan defeat, in which he highlighted that the weekend setback could spark the reaction that is needed at Camp Nou.

“Winning always gives you confidence but maybe a game like this can bring a reaction from the team. It could be positive,” he said.