Manchester City vs Barcelona combined XI: Lionel Messi’s in, but can Sergio Aguero make front three — and who’s in goal?

MANCHESTER CITY host Barcelona in the Champions League once again.

The two-time Premier League winners were blown at the Nou Camp as Lionel Messi netted a superb hat-trick.

Injuries have seriously hampered Barcelona — but are City's best better than the Luis Enrique's reinforcements?

Keep up to date with ALL the Manchester City news, gossip, transfers and goals on our club page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary by clicking HERE

Pep Guardiola's welcomes his former side in an attempt to re-address a shocking record, can his side do it?

Let's see how many of his players make the combined XI.

Goalkeeper

Marc-Andre ter Stegen

SOMEWHAT ironic that the best goalkeeper on show is the one Barcelona allowed to leave for the Etihad in the summer.

And, arguably, the best stopper of the lot is one City have sent out on loan to Torino, while Claudio Bravo is suspended.

As Joe Hart isn’t available, it has to be Ter Stegen. But it's slim pickings.

Defence

Sergi Roberto

BARCA haven’t replaced Dani Alves, who left for Juventus in the summer.

Sergi Roberto is OK, but not amazing.

After years of great service from Pablo Zabaleta, Sagna has made the right-back slot his own — and would have comfortably made the team had he been available.

John Stones

GERARD PIQUE would have been a cert, but has been ruled out by injury.

The former Manchester United ace is still one of the best on the planet.

But Stones is the closest to him out of the options available and gets the nod.

Javier Mascherano

THIS is a closer call with Nicolas Otamendi rapidly improving under Guardiola.

But Mascherano is one of most reliable around.

Central defence has never been his most natural position — but his ability to adapt is what makes him such a class act.

Aleksandar Kolarov

THIS is a close one — and not for the right reasons.

Jordi Alba would have been a certainty, but is injured.

And Kolarov will likely start ahead of  Gael Clichy in a pick between two poor left-backs.

Midfield

Sergio Busquets

THERE are few if any more capable of turning defence into attack like Barcelona’s No.5.

Fernandinho is reliable and not someone you would enjoy playing against.

But Busquets is one of the best players around. He would walk into any side in the world.

David Silva

HE MAY be getting on a bit, but he’s still a diamond.

Silva has been one of the first names on City’s — and Spain’s — team-sheet.

Ivan Rakitic isn’t too shabby either, but he just misses out.

Kevin De Bruyne

ANDRES INIESTA would have made it but  for his knee injury.

So, De Bruyne just beats Ivan Rakitic in the battle of the best of the rest.

The Belgian has more than justified his mega price tag and is a matchwinner for City.

Attack

Luis Suarez

RAHEEM STERLING has come on leaps and bounds this season — and is sure to continue improving.

But Suarez has a strong case for being the world’s best performer in 2016.

A must in almost any side in the game, and easily beats his former Liverpool team-mate.

Lionel Messi

NAME a player — the little Argentinian starts ahead of him.

Messi is just a genius and his talent just seems to know no bounds.

Has won the Ballon d’Or five times and is still an outside bet to add to his tally this year, so Nolito really had no chance from the start.

Sergio Aguero

THE most difficult decision of all.

Neymar is world class — and a vital cog in Barcelona’s frightening front three.

But Aguero has been around longer, in weaker teams, and keeps producing year-after-year.

Manager

Pep Guardiola

THIS really isn’t as close as it should be.

Luis Enrique has won eight trophies in his first two seasons with Barcelona — and created arguably the greatest strikeforce in history.

But you’d struggle to find anyone who would pick him ahead of the City boss.

Guadiola it is.