Barcelona 4 Manchester City 0: Lionel Messi scores a hat-trick to punish sloppy Citizens in key Euro clash
Pep Guardiola sees ten-man City well beaten by his former club after the Argie's masterclass and a late Neymar strike
LIONEL MESSI scored a hat-trick as Manchester City gifted Barcelona victory.
The Citizens - who finished with nine men - were guilty of several howling errors to allow the Argie maestro to tear them apart after a solid start.
Willy Caballaro - on after Claudio Bravo saw red early in the second half - saved a late Neymar penalty in what could have been a small consolation for City.
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But the Brazilian completed a miserable night for Pep Guardiola as he waltzed throguh the defence for a fourth before David Silva was sent off in injury time for a second booking.
FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS
- Former City defender Martin Demichelis was in the crowd - he was given a torrid time by Messi and Co when City were last here 19 months ago.
- Aguero started on the bench for the second successive game and Guardiola's praise of him has hardly been emphatic. Does the new boss REALLY rate him?
- The fact the Argentine striker did not warm up before the game with his fellow subs was puzzling to say the least.
- Vincent Kompany didn't even make the bench - after making a brief comeback from his latest injury on Saturday as a sub.
- City's money men would have been disappointed when they saw Barca's team. Another appearance from Denis Suarez will trigger another £750,000 payment going into the Etihad coffers - but the midfielder was left out.
- Lionel Messi's opener was his 13th goal in his last 13 Champions League games against English clubs. Then came 14 and 15.
- Only two British clubs - Liverpool and Dundee United - have beaten Barca at the Nou Camp in a competitive game. That was the task facing City.
- Bravo's red card was the fourth time in five meetings with Barca that City have had a player sent off.
- Joe Hart must have been interested watching TV back in England - last time here he was outstanding even though City lost.
- Marc Antoine Ter Stegen showed why he was Guardiola's first choice when buying a new keeper - he had a stormer.
- It was Messi's seventh Champions League hat-trick. No wonder City would love to have him at the Etihad.
- City have a real problem now. They will have to win against Barca in two weeks or beat Borussia Monchengladbach if they are to qualify.
BIG PICTURE
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
Manchester City: Bravo 4, Zabaleta 6, Stones 5, Otamendi 6, Kolarov 5, Gundogan 5, Fernandinho 5, Sterling 6, Silva 6, Nolito 6, De Bruyne 5. Subs: Cabalerro 7, Clichy 6, Aguero 5.
WHAT THEY SAID
Phil Neville: "People always remember the last 30 minutes of a game but before that I was confident City were in the game.
"They have just been punished for three sloppy errors when you play Barcelona, make them score, don't give them a gift.
"I don't think it has been a 4-0 game. The only difference is Barcelona have been ruthless in taking their chances."