Manchester City staged a thrilling comeback to run Barcelona ragged and secure

a fully deserved Champions League victory at Etihad Stadium.

Lionel Messi's 90th Champions League goal, a counter-attacking masterpiece complete
with cool finish from Neymar's pass, put Barcelona in control as half-time approached.
The whole emphasis of the game changed, however, six minutes before the interval
when Sergi Roberto's mistake allowed Raheem Sterling to set up Ilkay Gundogan's
simple finish.
City, seeking their first win over Barcelona at the sixth attempt, were irresistible from
then on as Kevin de Bruyne's free-kick curved past Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the 51st
minute.
Andre Gomes crashed a shot against the bar as Barcelona pressed for an equaliser, but
City wrapped up a landmark win against manager Pep Guardiola's former team with 16
minutes left when De Bruyne played in Jesus Navas and, when his cross fell loose from
Sergio Aguero, Gundogan was once more on the spot to score.
City will reach the knockout phase of the competition if they win on 23 November at
Borussia Monchengladbach, who drew with Celtic on matchday four.

Analysis: 'The night Guardiola really arrived'

Reaction: Beating Barca a landmark - Guardiola

Relive Man City's thrilling victory

Guardiola's big statement

Guardiola's side had less than 35% possession but managed 13 shots to Barcelona's eight
Guardiola's methods may have been questioned after City's 4-0 defeat at the Nou
Camp, but this was just the sort of night Manchester City's Abu Dhabi-based owners
had in mind when they finally lured him to the Etihad.

City wanted to make the leap from the second tier of Europe's clubs into the elite and
nights like this, and performances like this, will increase confidence that he is the man
who ensures they can bridge that gap.
This was a win achieved with all the Guardiola hallmarks, in a blaze of attacking football,
passing, movement and a willingness to take on the best without forsaking his
principles.
It was the most significant win of Guardiola's reign so far - and offered up the rich
promise of more to come.

Football Daily podcast: Man City win a 'defining moment'

City's big guns blow away Barca

Gundogan scored twice and completed 96% of the 28 passes he played on the night
Barcelona may have been missing the defensive power of Gerard Pique and the
midfield influence of Andres Iniesta, but nothing should be taken away from the manner
in which City exerted control and dominated the Catalans once they had equalised.
Whereas Barcelona's big three of Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez faded, City's big
players came to the fore and terrorised Luis Enrique's side in the second half.
Aguero ran with courage, threat and unlimited energy, Raheem Sterling - one piece of
poor control aside - was outstanding and was denied a clear penalty early on, while
Belgian De Bruyne was peerless.
He scored City's second, unlocked Barcelona's defence for the third and looked a player
of world class, fully deserving his standing ovation when he was replaced near the end.
City will grow in belief after overpowering Barcelona - and proved they have the players
who can trouble the very best teams in the Champions League.

How far can City go?

Manchester City had lost all five of their previous meetings with Barcelona

Early days, but Guardiola knows what it takes to win the Champions League after
guiding Barcelona to victory in 2009 and 2011, and Manchester City will take huge
encouragement from this win.
City will feel that after beating Barcelona in this manner they can be a match for anyone,
although questions remain about a defence that is not exactly risk-averse.
The big news for City and Guardiola is that they matched Barcelona for quality in this
classic. There can be no bigger tribute than that.

Man of the match - Kevin de Bruyne

De Bruyne scored a wonderful free-kick and was also inches away from tapping home a cross.
He completed 24 of his 26 passes, including 22 in the Barcelona half

What the managers said

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola: "They had an amazing 30 minutes,
we had a lot of problems but our first goal helped us a lot.
"In the second half we created a lot of counter attacks. I am so happy for the guys, it is
the first time we have beaten the best team in the world.
"Today is a good step. We play against a great team and we compete. Now they will
realise, 'Wow, we won against the best team."
Barcelona manager Luis Enrique: "It was one of the best 40 minutes we have
played on a stage like this against top-quality rivals.
"After the error for 1-1 we had a bad time. When you concede in that way it is normal
that you go through a bad period.
"We hoped to continue to dominate but couldn't because of errors we made and
pressure from the opponent also.
"We did not have as much possession. We were not able to control the game in the
same way. First 40 for us and 50 for them and the score reflects that."

The stats you need to know

Barcelona's defeat by City ended a run of seven successive wins

against English sides in Europe

City scored more goals against Barcelona on Tuesday than in their

previous five Champions League games against them

An English side have scored three or more goals in a group stage game
against Barcelona for the first time since Manchester United in 1998-99

Lionel Messi has scored 16 goals in his past 14 Champions League

games against English opposition

Ilkay Gundogan has been involved in five goals in his past two games
for City (four goals and one assist, all competitions)

Raheem Sterling has six assists in 16 games for Manchester City in all
competitions this season, having provided eight in 47 last season

What's next?

City missed chances to score more on a jubilant night at Etihad Stadium

Manchester City host Middlesbrough in the Premier League on Saturday and their next
European commitment comes on 23 November at Borussia Monchengladbach.
Barcelona travel to Celtic on the same night, after a trip to Sevilla - fourth in La Liga - on
Sunday.

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