ManchesterCity were the last English side eliminated from the Champions League, after their1-0 defeat at the Nou Camp.
Barcelonawere in the driving seat last night, following their 2-1 first-leg victory atthe Etihad, although Joe Hart did his best to maintain English interests in theChampionship League.
TheCatalans were inspired right from the start and took the lead in the 31stminute, when Croatian international Ivan Rakitic scored, after being set up byLionel Messi. The awesome Argentinian was at the heart of wave after wave of amazingdribblings and attacks at the Nou Camp, and it was his stunning 45—yard pass whichled to the only goal, as it left Rakitic to lob over the City goalkeeper.
Thefour-time Champions had 23 attempts on goal, but found Hart in inspired form,as he won a personal duel with Messi and pulled of a catalogue of quality savesto keep Manchester City in the match; he repeatedly foiled Neymar, Messi and LuisSuarez, the two-goal hero from the first leg.
TheCitizens’ Sergio Aguero was then brought down in the Barcelona penalty area,but he stepped up and failed to convert in what was an ideal chance to get backin the match in the 78th minute. The 1-1 scoreline would haveflattered the Citizens though, had that had gone in.
But Barcadominated the match, with their breath-taking Messi, who was also only inchesaway from scoring for the 44th time this season, as a couple offree-kicks fizzed onto the roof of the net.
ManchesterCity have now failed to reach the quarter-finals in all four of the ChampionsLeague campaigns, since first debuting in the competition in 2011.
They are the highest paid team globally insport, and many will be calling for change at the club as their failure inEurope should not be acceptable at a club with their financial might.
There is now genuine concerns for theirmanager Manuel Pellegrini, as City have lost four out of the last five in allcompetitions, and there season is surely looking like finishing trophy-less. They currently sit six points behind Chelsea in the league, with one gamein less.
