Alves’ Barca future in doubt following City celebration

Dani Alves could be on his way out of Barcelona after raising the ire of the club with the way he celebrated his goal against Manchester City.

Alves’ dance to mark the second goal of the 2-1 win was criticised by some of his teammates, AS reports, in the locker room after the final whistle.

The full-back’s contract has 12 months to run and Alves could seek to leave Barca either this summer or next, the newspaper says.

He also exchanged words with some of the Camp Nou supporters, calling for more backing from the stands.

It isn’t the first time Alves’ celebrations have been rounded on by his teammates as Carles Puyol disapproved of a celebration during the 7-0 win over Rayo Vallecano, when Alves was joined by Thiago Alcantara.

No Barca player danced with Alves on Wednesday although Neymar did join in with his compatriot when Alves celebrated scoring against City in the first leg, as he did during this season’s 6-0 win over Rayo.

Alves’ contract is thought to expire in 2015 and it is said that he is considering leaving La Liga in order to experience a new league, having only played in Brazil and Spain.

The World Cup has been described as Alves’ chance to attract suitors and Barca would prefer him to leave this summer so they receive a fee, but AS points out that if Alves leaves on a free transfer, he can command a bigger pay packet for himself.

Nasri: We'll benefit from loss

Samir Nasri believes Manchester City will emerge a stronger team from their disappointment in Barcelona.

City bowed out of the Champions League as they slipped to a 4-1 aggregate defeat to the Spanish champions with a 2-1 loss at the Nou Camp.

City did rise to the occasion and applied pressure as they sought to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit, but a 67th-minute strike from the brilliant Lionel Messi effectively ended their challenge.

They battled on, even after the sending off of Pablo Zabaleta in the 78th minute, but Vincent Kompany's late equaliser proved mere consolation and was immediately cancelled out by Dani Alves in the last minute.

Barca were the better side but City can take encouragement from their performance and, after premature exits at the group stage in the past two seasons, progress is being made.

France playmaker Nasri said: "I think we played a good game. I think we did everything we could.

"We can have regrets about the first leg - it is in the first leg we lost it - but here we did everything.

"I think this defeat is going to be good for us in the future.

"This is where you get experience and get much stronger as a team and a group. Next year our target is to be up there with the best."

City were aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty in the second half when substitute Edin Dzeko was clipped by Gerard Pique.

To compound matters, Zabaleta was dismissed for taking his complaints too far in the protests that followed.

Those incidents, however, could be considered to have redressed the balance somewhat after Barca were also denied a penalty and had a goal harshly disallowed for offside in the first half.

With the red card, refereeing controversies and Barcelona goalscorers being the same, the match mirrored the first leg in many ways.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini could only watch from the stands as he began his touchline ban for his outspoken attack on the referee in Manchester last month.

Nasri said: "Once again, we did not have any help from the officials so it is a little bit difficult.

"But our only regret is we didn't play the first leg like we did here.

"In the first leg if we had attacked them from the start, pressed them like we did here we could have had better chance to go through."

City may have won the Capital One Cup earlier this month but, after Sunday's FA Cup loss to Wigan, they have now gone out of two other competitions in the past four days.

They now face a catch-up job in the Barclays Premier League having fallen nine points behind leaders Chelsea while concentrating on cup football over the past three weeks.

Nasri, 26, said: "We don't have a choice. Now our target is to win the league.

"I think here we showed we have the quality to be up there with the best teams in Europe.

"We came here to play. I don't think you are going to see that many teams come to Camp Nou and have that much possession, that many attempts on target.

"It is a good thing for us. It is important now to finish the season well and win the league."

City are back in action at Hull at midday on Saturday.

They are awaiting an update on the injury sustained by top scorer Sergio Aguero in the first half at the Nou Camp.

The Argentina striker felt a twinge in his hamstring early in the match and, having only recently returned from a five-game lay-off with problems in that muscle, was withdrawn at half-time.

Assistant manager Ruben Cousillas, who called the shots on the touchline in Pellegrini's absence, said the move was precautionary.

He said: "Apparently it is nothing serious, he felt some kind of pain in his muscle.

"It is more a precaution, but we are doing some tests to assess it.

"It will be up to the medical staff who determine the extent of the injury, so we cannot speculate about this."

Van Persie: I want to stay at Man United

Robin van Persie has insisted he wants to stay with Manchester United.

Recent speculation has linked the Dutch international with a move away from Old Trafford, suggesting he is unhappy.

However, Van Persie has refuted the rumours and claimed he would be happy to sign a new deal with the Barclays Premier League champions. His current contract runs until summer 2016.

He told United Review, the club's official programme: " I don't mind if my performances get dissected and people criticise what I've done on the pitch. They can talk about my game 24/7 for all I care...and a lot of those opinions and criticisms may actually be right. So I don't mind that.

"What I need to address are the situations when people are taking it upon themselves to think for me, make assumptions, or interpret things as if they are me.

"Last time I checked my head was still attached to my body, so I'm the only one who knows exactly what I'm feeling and that is not what I or the fans have been reading.

"The truth is I'm very happy here at this club. I signed for four years and I'd be delighted to stay even longer, beyond the next two years I have left on my contract.

"This is how I feel, although it's not what has been suggested in the media."

Arsenal's Ozil out for 'three to six weeks'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed record signing Mesut Ozil will be out for 'three to six weeks' with a hamstring injury.

The Germany international - a £42million buy from Real Madrid last summer - suffered the problem during Tuesday's 1-1 last-16 draw at Bayern Munich which saw Arsenal exit the Champions League.

Wenger confirmed Ozil would definitely be out of Sunday's north London derby with Tottenham, but was not able to put a specific time frame on recovery.

"We lose Ozil, who has been injured for Sunday, I don't know how long he will be out but it looks a minimum of three weeks," Wenger said at Friday morning's press conference.

"When the minimum is three, (then) the maximum is six. I am not specialist enough to know, it is a grade two hamstring (tear), so let's say four weeks."

Midfielder Aaron Ramsey's return from a thigh injury has been delayed, and England international Jack Wilshere is sidelined with a broken foot.

Sweden international Kim Kallstrom could be in contention for his debut after signing on loan from Spartak Moscow with a back injury while full-back Nacho Monreal is also available again.

Wenger added: "It is of course a blow, but I am confident we have the quality to deal without him (Ozil). We have many creative players who can take over to produce quality performances."

Kim Kardashian's boob leaks…on TV

North West's mum 'weirds out' brother Rob as she lactates on Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

YOU would think there would be some aspects of Kim Kardashian's life she'd want to keep away from the cameras. 

But, judging by the latest episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, it turns out there's not.

Nope, North West's mum went to new levels of intimacy when she allowed her reality show to air clips of her lactating - that's right, leaking from her boob.

As she sat with her siblings Rob and Khloe Kardashian, the 33-year-old proved she really is only human when her right breast sprung a leak. 

Failing to notice the dribble, her sister was forced to tell her: "Your boob is, like, leaking out of control! It is like a water fountain.

But it was all too much for Rob, who walked out saying: "What the f*** - that weirds me out, for real. That just weirded me out."

As Kimmy-K looked down to see the wet patch on her thin grey vest top, she casually rearranged her cleavage and shoved tissue down the other side of her shirt. 

Sanchez: Vidal perfect for Barcelona

Alexis Sanchez has claimed that Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal would a perfect fit for the Blaugrana.

The Chile international has been constantly linked with a move away from Turin, with both the Catalan giants and Real Madrid rumoured to be keen.

And Sanchez has insisted that his countryman would be the perfect type of player for his team.

“Arturo would be perfect for Barcelona,” Sanchez is quoted as saying by CalcioNews24.

“He is the player that we need, he has great qualities and I would be extremely happy if he ended up here in Spain.”

Fiorentina's Joaquin misses Juventus clash

Fiorentina have named their squad for the Europa League clash with Juventus on Thursday, and will be without Joaquin.

The Viola travel to Turin this week for the first leg of their Last 16 clash, just four days after their League loss.

However, they will do so without the Spanish winger, who has picked up a thigh injury in training this week.

Alessandro Matri has been called up to face his old side with Mario Gomez also in the travelling squad.

Fiorentina squad for Juventus: Ambrosini, Aquilani, Borja Valero, Bakic, Bertolacci, Compper, Cuadrado, Fernandez, Gomez, Ilicic, Matri, Neto, Pasqual, Pizarro, Rodriguez, Roncaglia, Rosati, Ryder, Savic, Tomovic, Vargas.

AC Milan want to be in Europa league, says Galliani

AC Milan's chief executive has scuppered suggestions that the seven-times European champions do not want to take part in next year's Europa League.

"Qualifying for the Europa League will be our target from now until the end of the season," Adriano Galliani told Milan's television channel.

"We must beat Parma on Sunday which will put us five points behind them. Milan have always been in Europe in the last few years and we want that to continue.

"It's not true that Milan don't want to take part in the Europa League."

Milan were knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday after losing 4-1 to Atletico Madrid and have only a mathematical chance of qualifying for the flagship competition next season.

They are 10th in Serie A with 35 points, nine behind Inter Milan who are in fifth which is the final Europa League spot.

Parma are sixth with 43.

Neymar frustrating for Barcelona while Messi stars

With Lionel Messi firing on all cylinders again, Barcelona's Champions League challenge is very much alive but coach Gerardo Martino would be much happier if marquee signing Neymar was not on such patchy form.

Messi scored his eighth goal in five appearances in the latest edition of Europe's elite club competition in Wednesday's 2-1 win at home to Manchester City, which sent the Spanish champions through to the quarter-finals for the seventh straight season, 4-1 on aggregate.

It was a typically brilliant piece of skill from the Argentina forward as he dinked the ball over City goalkeeper Joe Hart in the 67th minute, his 28th goal of the season during which he has spent two months on the sidelines with a thigh injury.

Neymar started the last 16, second leg match at the Nou Camp instead of Alexis Sanchez and Pedro, who have both been on good form this term, but the Brazil forward squandered the chances that came his way and turned in a generally disappointing performance before making way for Alexis 10 minutes from time.

Out for several weeks in late January and early February with a twisted ankle, Neymar has only scored once for Barca since the turn of the year, the sixth goal in a 6-0 La Liga drubbing of minnows Rayo Vallecano.

It is hard not to think that the controversy surrounding his move from Santos in the close season, which has prompted charges of misappropriation of funds and tax evasion, and the pressure of playing for one of the world's richest clubs are having some effect on the 22-year-old.

It must also be perplexing for Martino that Neymar can head off on international duty and net a hat-trick in a friendly against South Africa this month but fail to step up when he pulls on the Barca shirt.

Martino defended Neymar at his post-match news conference on Wednesday and noted the player was still working his way back after the ankle injury.

"Neymar made a big contribution to the team and did some great work helping in defence," the Argentine told reporters.

"In the first half he had two good chances and the process of rejoining the team means he still can't manage the 90 minutes."

However, Barca did not buy Neymar to help out in defence and they will be expecting more from him as the season enters a crucial phase with the club still alive in all three competitions they are contesting.

Chasing a fifth La Liga title in six years, they are four points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid in third and play at their arch rivals on March 23.

The Champions League quarter-finals, where they could be drawn against Real, are at the start of April and they meet them again in the final of the King's Cup on April 16.

Barca slipped to third in La Liga behind Atletico Madrid last weekend after a shock 1-0 defeat at Real Valladolid and anything other than a win at home to Osasuna on Sunday could see them drop out of the domestic title race.

There have been plenty of doubts about their style of play this season, in particular surrounding the defence, which has been vulnerable in the air from set-plays.

It has been a difficult first year in charge for Martino, who arrived with his own ideas and felt that the team needed to have more in its armoury than just their typical short-passing football.

He has tried several different styles looking to make the team more direct, including interchanging long and short balls and switching possession from different wings.

However, a number of lacklustre displays have added to the sense that Barca are a club in decline after a spectacular run of success under former coach Pep Guardiola.

"The team has had ups and downs and we are coming to this point in the season with less calm than we wanted," Martino said. "In Valladolid we were lacking in football not in intensity.

"In the same way that we put on a poor show there, today we turned that around."

Bartra to sign new Barcelona deal

Marc Bartra will next week put pen to paper on a new contract that ties him to Barcelona until the summer of 2017.

The club’s official website has confirmed that the defender’s new contract includes a release fee of €25m.

Bartra made his Barca debut as a right back under Pep Guardiola in 2010, having come through the academy at La Masia following a short spell at Espanyol.

He has featured more regularly in the first team this season under Tata Martino, to date making 20 appearances in all competitions.

The deal will be formally completed on March 18.

 Bayern president Hoeness jailed for three-and-a-half years for tax evasion

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison after being found guilty of tax evasion.

Prosecutors had argued that Hoeness's voluntary disclosure - that he had failed to pay taxes - was incomplete and thus did not meet a vital requirement needed for amnesty under German tax laws designed to encourage tax evaders to come clean.

Hoeness has admitted he evaded 27.2 million euros (£22.7m) in taxes on income earned in secret Swiss bank accounts but the 62-year-old was hoping for leniency in one of the most closely watched tax evasion cases in German history.

"The voluntary disclosure is not valid with the documents that were presented alone," said the judge.

Hoeness, 62, bowed his head and stared at the floor when the verdict was delivered, his face turning red.

The case hinged on the question whether Hoeness, who as a player helped West Germany win the 1974 World Cup, fully cooperated with his voluntary disclosure. It shocked the nation and prompted thousands of tax dodgers to turn themselves in.

Prosecutors originally charged Hoeness with evading 3.5m in taxes. But on the first day of the trial Hoeness stunned the court by admitting he had actually evaded five times that amount - or 18.5m.

That figure was raised even further to 27.2m on the second day of the trial when a tax inspector testified that the amount was higher. Hoeness's defence team acknowledged the higher figure.

Hoeness apologised to the court and pleaded for leniency.

"I deeply regret my wrongdoing," he said on Monday. "I'm doing everything I can to put this unhappy chapter behind me."

Tax evasion is a serious crime in Germany. Peter Graf, the late father of tennis champion Steffi Graf, was sentenced in 1997 to three years and nine months for evading 12.3m marks (6.3m euros). He was released after 25 months.

Hoeness, once one of Germany's most admired football administrators, voluntarily alerted tax authorities in January 2013 about his bank account and undeclared income. He said the Swiss account was a personal account created for financial market trades.

Some 55,000 tax evaders have turned themselves in over the last four years and paid a total of about 3.5bn euros in back taxes, according to the taxpayers association. The number of voluntary disclosures rose four-fold in 2013 from 2012.

Hoeness had been a friend of Chancellor Angela Merkel and a popular TV talk show guest. He spoke out for higher taxes and railed against tax evasion. His case has led to calls to change German laws that allow tax evaders to avoid prosecution if they turn themselves in before an investigation starts.

Manuel Neuer: Not quite the best keeper in the world

"He's the most complete goalkeeper worldwide," said Andreas Koepke of Manuel Neuer this week, the German national team goalkeeping coach gushing in his praise of the young man he gets to work with intermittently for their country. But is he really the world's best custodian?

There is little doubt the Gelsenkirchen-Buer-born Neuer has more than one outsized, begloved hand in the success of Bayern Munich, just as - at times - he cradled his hometown club, Schalke, in his grasp, lifting them to heights - such as their March 2011 Pokal win at Bayern - they otherwise would not have scaled.

It is hard to believe Schalke almost rejected him, only finally accepting to take him on after he was asked how tall his parents were. With a father measuring 1.89m and his mother coming in at 1.74m, the potential packed within Neuer's genes helped convince the club they should take a gamble.

That, though, is all too frequently what Neuer does: gamble.

An illustrious predecessor in the Bayern goal, Oliver Kahn, said that "when Manuel was at Schalke, I often thought it was madness the way he interpreted the goalkeeper's role." That came after his rick against Kazakhstan in last March's World Cup qualifier, a high-profile gaffe in a list rather too lengthy for someone of Neuer's renown. Remember his Bayern debut? I bet Igor De Camargo does, given an ill-advised, poorly judged sortie by Neuer allowed the Belgium international to give Borussia Moenchengladbach a rare victory in Bavaria.

"Of course mistakes happen in the course of a career," stated Joachim Loew in a Kicker feature on Neuer. That is true, of course. I remember my jaw dropping when the previously infallible Petr Cech gifted Turkey passage through to the EURO 2008 quarter-finals at the Czechs' expense, just as I was preparing to pack my bags and follow the Chelsea keeper and cohorts to Vienna for a last-eight tie. But Cech's errors are - at least it seems to me - far fewer in quantity and lower in profile than those of his German colleague.

For example, even though Lukas Podolski's strike at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday had little consequence ultimately, Neuer hardly looked "complete" as he was beaten at his near post. Though Cech is not perhaps the immovable force he once was, is he really less of a presence than Neuer? What about Thibaut Courtois? David de Gea (admittedly no stranger to a gaffe himself)? Hugo Lloris?

Perhaps where Neuer does have the upper hand on some of his colleagues is, ironically, in the use of his feet. The fact was illustrated in the 1-1 draw against Arsenal, highlighting the importance of Neuer to Bayern beyond the realm of shot-stopping. He did not actually touch the ball with his hands until the 18th minute, when he claimed a corner with a dictatorial authority that can only be a massive confidence boost to his back four. But more importantly, he superbly fulfilled what is "asked of modern goalkeepers, to take on the role of libero", as Loew put it.

While Lukasz Fabianski was unsure and wayward in his kicking, Neuer was sure-footed and largely unerring, true to UEFA's stats that have him as the goalkeeper with the most passes attempted and the highest completion rate at an impressive 82 per cent. With Neuer almost as adroit as his outfield colleagues - "he could play outfield," claimed Loew's assistant Hansi Flick in the Kicker article - he is a potent pawn in Pep Guardiola's plan to press opponents high up the pitch. With Neuer emerging readily from his goal, the entire Bayern XI starts play 10 metres deeper into opponents' territory.

It is those sorties, however, that can get him into trouble, and the highlight reel errors are perhaps the price to pay for the modern goalkeeper. Before you get on your high horse, let me say there is little doubt Neuer is a prodigious talent, and - as Loew pointed out - "exudes an unbelievable aura". That was evident on Tuesday when, with Arsenal pressing 10 minutes from time, Neuer came to imperiously claim another corner, and with that catch, all but ended the contest, sucking - as it did - the wind from the visitors' sails.

But "the most complete goalkeeper in the world"? This particular one-man jury remains out.

Rihanna set pulses racing as she poses half-naked in new topless pictures

Cara Delevingne's BFF flashes the flesh again as she showed off her incredibly toned body on Instagram.

RIHANNA is amazing. Full stop.

But we wish, for our sake, she would put some clothes on now and again, as she's starting to make us feel bad.

The raunchy star flaunted her booty and prized assets again in some very revealing snaps she shared on Instagram.

Cara Delevingne's BFF certainly didn't look shy as she paraded her curvaceous figure on a very posh yacht in Brazil earlier today.

RiRi left very little to the imagination in the skimpy shots, donning only a teeny-tiny gold bikini and a smile.

Showing off a lot of side-boob, Chris Brown's ex-girlfriend was clearly happy to let it all hang out.

The raunchy star flaunted her booty and prized assets again in some very revealing snaps she shared on Instagram.

Cara Delevingne's BFF certainly didn't look shy as she paraded her curvaceous figure on a very posh yacht in Brazil earlier today.

RiRi left very little to the imagination in the skimpy shots, donning only a teeny-tiny gold bikini and a smile.

Showing off a lot of side-boob, Chris Brown's ex-girlfriend was clearly happy to let it all hang out.

PSG complete confortable aggregate win over Leverkusen

Champions League, Parc des Prince – Paris Saint-Germain 2 (Marquinhos 13’ Lavezzi 53’) Bayer Leverkusen 1 (Sam 6’). PSG win 6-1 on aggregate.

PSG progressed to the Champions League quarter finals with a 2-1 victory against Bayer Leverkusen.

Leverkusen gave themselves hope with a goal on six minutes, when Sidney Sam headed in a Giulio Donati cross from the right wing. Hope promptly disappeared when Marquinhos thundered in a header from a corner seven minutes later.

There was another chance for the German side when Christophe Jallet conceded a penalty, pulling back Eren Derdiyok in the box. Rolfes struck his penalty firmly, but it was an easy save for Salvatore Sirigu to beat away.

Either side of the penalty, PSG had chances as Zlatan Ibrahimovic hit the bar, and Edinson Cavani shot against Bernd Leno from point blank range.

PSG went ahead on 53 minutes when Lucas Digne pulled the ball back for Lavezzi to take one touch to finish at the near post.

Bayer responded by going close with shots from Donati and Derdiyok, both bringing saves from Sirigu, but the match essentially ended when Emre Can performed an obvious dive and received a second yellow card, allowing PSG an easy finish.

KEY EVENTS

6’ – SAM GOAL -  A Donati cross from the right wing is powered into the corner of the back post as Sam is left unmarked.

13’ – MARQUINHOS EQUALISER – The corner is swung in from the right and Marquinhosthunders in his header that Leno can only get a hand to but not stop crossing the line.

19’ – IBRAHIMOVIC HITS THE BAR – In space in the box, Ibrahimovic does brilliantly to chip the ‘keeper but it bounces off the woodwork.

27’ – ROLFES PENALTY – After Jallet pulls back Derdiyok, Rolfes has his penalty pushed away as Sirigu dives left.

38’ – CAVANI CHANCE – Spinning his marker after receiving a pass from Ibrahimovic, the striker shoots straight against Leno’s legs.

53’ – LAVEZZI GOAL – Digne finds Lavezzi’s run into the box with his low pass from the left wing, and the striker fires into the near side of the goal.

55’ – SIRIGU SAVE – Donati has space on the right of the box, but his fierce shot is palmed away.

68’ – CAN IS OFF – His second yellow, this for diving, Can leaves the pitch for a woeful attempt at deception.

84’ – PASTORE CHANCE – From close range, Javier Pastore smashes his shot against the ‘keeper’s chest.

KEY STATS

Paris SG are unbeaten in their last 28 home games in European competition.

Paris SG are unbeaten in their last six Champions League knockout games (W3 D3).

Paris SG are also unbeaten in their last six games against German clubs (4 wins, 2 draws), in all competitions.

Bayer Leverkusen have never progressed further than the last 16 of the Champions League since they were finalists in 2002.

Bayer Leverkusen have lost their last seven games in the Champions League knockout stages (6 goals for, 24 against).

Paris SG have scored in each of their last 16 Champions League games. The last time they failed to find the net was in Porto on 3 October 2012.

Leverkusen have never scored more than three goals away from home in the competition (in 36 outings).

TALKING POINT

How far can PSG go? They played well in the first leg, demolishing Bayer, but found it hard to get going in the second leg. The only way they can be assured of doing themselves justice is finding a way to rid themselves of any complacency. That job is the manager's, who has not yet proved his credentials at the highest level.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Marquinhos (PSG): On a night when his fellow defenders struggled to provide a solid base for the home side, Marquinhos defended resolutely and also equalised for his side.

PLAYER RATINGS

PSG: Sirigu 7, Jallet 6, Marquinhos 7, Thiago Silva 6, Digne 6, Pastore 5, Cabaye 5, Rabiot 5, Cavani 6, Ibrahimovic 6, Lavezzi 6. Subs: Camara 6, Menez 6, Lucas 6.

Leverkusen: Leno 6, Donati 6, Wollscheid 6, Toprak 6, Guardado 5, Rolfes 5, Reinartz 6, Can 5, Sam 6, Derdiyok 6, Castro 5. Subs: Heung-min 6, Brandt 5, Wagener 6.

Zabaleta sees red as Messi and Alves end battling City's hopes

Champions League last 16 second leg, Camp Nou - Barcelona 2 (Messi 67, Dani Alves 90+1) Manchester City 1 (Kompany 89); Barcelona win 4-1 on aggregate.

Lionel Messi helped to finalise Manchester City's departure from the Champions League with the opening goal in a 2-1 win at the Camp Nou that carried Gerardo Martino's Barcelona into the last eight 4-1 on aggregate.

The Argentina forward showed his trademark alertness when he picked the pocket of Joleon Lescott to lift the ball over Joe Hart on 67 minutes and into the net from a hopeful Cesc Fabregas pass. Messi has now scored more Champions League goals for a single club than any other player with a haul of 67.

The visiting side ended the night with 10 men after Pablo Zabeleta was sent off for complaining about an awful decision by the French referee Stephane Lannoy with 10 minutes remaining.

Substitute Edin Dzeko - on for the injured Sergio Ageuro at half-time - was clearly fouled by Gerard Pique in the home area, but the match official decided otherwise to the disbelief of the City players and the visiting bench.

Lannoy reacted by showing the protesting Zabaleta a second yellow card, but there was still time for two more goals. Vincent Kompany bundled the ball home in the final minute, but Dani Alves handed Barcelona the win on the night when he scored from Andres Iniesta's pass a minute into stoppage time.

City had several chances to make life uncomfortable for the home side, but could not find a finish that much of their energy had hinted at for large swathes of the night. In the end, the 2-0 loss at home three weeks ago was too much of a hurdle to overcome.

KEY MOMENTS

8' - MESSI DENIED PENALTY: Messi takes a tumble in the City box. Appeals for a penalty, but referee doesn't want to know about it. Caught late by Lescott. Should have been a penalty.

11' - KOMPANY CLEARANCE: Messi races into the City box. Ball breaks off Hart, who can't collect. Fortunately for City, it breaks kindly for Kompany to make the clearance. Hart almost embarrassed there. Should have collected that loose ball.

17' - NEYMAR GOAL WRONGLY RULED OUT: Neymar tucks the ball into the gaping net, but an offside flag goes up. Not sure if he was offside or his team-mates. Looks to be another fortuitous call in City's favour.

35' - HART SAVE: Neymar manages to give Kolarov the slip. Lescott can't get back, but Hart dives to nudge the ball wide of his goal. Decent stop.

36' - MORE HART HEROICS: Another save by Hart to deny Xavi from eight yards out. City amost paying the price for going to sleep at the wrong moment.

39' - BRILLIANT CITY ATTACK: Stunning move by City. Toure into Silva, whose backheel fell perfectly for Nasri, but he could only drive the ball into the arms of Valdes. Real chance for City to snare the opening goal.

43' - FERNANDINO HEADS OFF HIS LINE: Hart left stranded in his box. Forced to confront Neymar from the Messi pass. Neymar goes beyond the England goalkeeper, but his shot is headed off the line by Fernandinho. Brilliant defending in the end by City.

52' - VALDES DENIES DZEKO: Valdes with a brilliant one-handed stop to claw the ball over the bar from Dzeko's header. Delightful cross from Kolarov. City so close to the opening goal.

55' - ZABALETA EFFORT: Another chance for City after a surging run by Kolarov, but Zabaleta this time hooks a volley wide from 12 yards or so. Just couldn't direct the ball on goal. Chances here for the visitors.

67' - MESSI OPENER: Ball breaks into the path of Messi from the Lescott error, and he lifts the ball over Hart. Awful error by Lescott. A 1-0 lead for Barca.

79' - RED CARD FOR ZABALETA: Dzeko clearly taken out of the action late by Pique, but no penalty. A shocking decision by the referee. Was a penalty. Dreadful decision. Zabaleta walks for protesting.

89' - KOMPANY EQUALISER: Kompany bundles the ball into the net from the Dzeko header. Milner with the header. Barca appealed for offside, but think the City skipper was onside. 1-1 on the night.

90+1' - ALVES WINNER: Alves scores for Barcelona. Iniesta plays provider. A second goal in six matches in the Champions League for Alves. City's 10 men badly exposed. Barca 2-1 clear on the night. 4-1 on aggregate.

KEY STATS

City have been shown two red cards in consecutive Champions League games after not collecting any in their first 18 games in the competition.

Lionel Messi has now scored 67 goals in the Champions League, more goals in the competition for a single club than any other player.

Lionel Messi has matched his Champions League goal total from last season, but in five appearances compared to 11 in 2012-13.

Sergio Aguero made just six touches in the first half against Barcelona.

TALKING POINT: Where now for Manchester City? Well, they head for Hull City on Saturday lunchtime. Gone are the hopes of a quadruple. Now City can only chase a Premier League and League Cup double. If they fail to wipe out the nine-point gap between themselves and Chelsea, this season will go down as a failure given the squad at Manuel Pellegrini's disposal.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Vincent Kompany (Manchester City): The difference in class between Kompany and Lescott is all too obvious. A magnificent performance from Kompany, who is one of, if not the best defender in world football with his pace and ability to read the game.

PLAYER RATINGS

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés 7, Piqué 6, Mascherano 6, Jordi Alba 6, Daniel Alves 7, Fàbregas 7, Xavi Hernández 7, Iniesta 7, Busquets 6, Messi 8, Neymar 6. Subs: Sergi Roberto 6, Alexis Sánchez 6.

Manchester City: Hart 7, Kompany 8, Zabaleta 7, Lescott 5, Kolarov 6, Milner 6, Nasri 6, Silva 6, Fernandinho 6, Touré 7, Agüero 5. Subs: Jesús Navas 6, Negredo 6, Džeko 6.

Title memories give City belief

Captain Vincent Kompany will take inspiration from the dramatic title success of 2012 as Manchester City look to turn the tables on Barcelona.

City face a mountainous task as they bid to overturn a 2-0 deficit against the Spanish champions in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Nou Camp on Wednesday.

City, having reached this stage of the competition for the first time, have little European experience or precedent to draw inspiration from ahead of the clash.

But no-one connected with the club will have forgotten the way they struck twice in the closing minutes of the final game of the season two years ago to snatch the Barclays Premier League crown.

Those memories, Kompany believes, should give the team all the motivation they need.

The influential defender said: "It is one of those games where obviously everyone has to be at their best.

"You won't achieve anything if you have passengers but we have done it before performance-wise. That is what we are trying to get out of everyone tomorrow.

"Football is made out of nights like this, it is why you play football.

"It is a tough ask, but emotionally you won't really beat what we experienced on the day we beat QPR.

"If anything should give you belief about chasing lost causes it should be that day.

"I am really excited about this one and the whole team is the same.

"We will try to make the best of it. The motivation and the belief are still there."

Kompany, speaking at a pre-match press conference at the stadium, would not be drawn on suggestions Barca could be vulnerable after some indifferent recent results domestically.

Gerardo Martino's side slipped to third in La Liga last weekend as they were beaten 1-0 by relegation battlers Real Valladolid.

Despite this month's Capital One Cup triumph, City themselves have not been at their fluent best of late and on Sunday they slumped to a shock loss to Wigan in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Kompany said: "It goes quickly in football. Last week we won the first trophy of the season then we got beaten at home by Wigan.

"I guess whichever team wins tomorrow will be on a high again but we will focus on our own game.

"I am looking to the strikers we have - (Sergio) Aguero, (Alvaro) Negredo, (Edin) Dzeko - that is what I want to focus on. We have firepower up front.

"If everything goes well we are capable of hurting Barcelona.

"I would say we have a chance to come here and we don't have anything to lose.

"It is all about that first goal. If we get the lead then I believe the dynamics of the game will change. I am convinced of that, but obviously it is one of the toughest places in the world to come and try to achieve something like this."

City will be without direction on the evening from manager Manuel Pellegrini as the Chilean begins a two-match touchline ban for his controversial comments about the referee after the first-leg loss.

Pellegrini took a training session at the Nou Camp but will be forbidden from making contact with players or his coaching staff after they arrive at the stadium for the game.

Kompany said: "It is a first for me. In 10 years I have always been used to the manager in the dressing room before the game.

"But ultimately it is the kind of game where you don't need too much extra motivation.

"I will presume the message will be clear for everyone before we get to the stadium, then from that moment on everyone knows what they have to do."

Pellegrini will be allowed to watch from the stands but will have to leave decisions to his coaching staff.

One of them, assistant manager Ruben Cousillas, even stood in for him for him at the press conference.

Media duties are normally obligatory for managers in the competition but can be excused in cases of suspension.

Cousillas, an Argentinian who has worked with Pellegrini at numerous clubs in the past, said: "I know the way he thinks. I know practically everything to do with the decisions that have to be made.

"I know he has got full confidence in me and if it has got to be done I am up to the challenge."