3 reasons why Manchester City should fear Barcelona

If you lose it’s a crisis and if you win it’s hyperbole of the positive variety. This has become the narrative in a La Liga title race where draws are the new defeats — as Andoni Zubizarreta said: “We construct theses that only last a day.”

“THIS IS NOT OUR BARCA” slammed Sport, the Catalan daily, after Barcelona were beaten against Athletic Bilbao in December, “THIS IS OUR BARCA” they announced after they progressed to the Copa del Rey final and “SUPERBARCA” was their offering after “an exhibition of football and goals” saw off Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.

Gerardo Martino is inclined to agree with the latter ahead of his side’s trip to Manchester City on Tuesday night: “It is the best moment we could have hoped for to face the last 16 of the Champions League,” he admitted.

But why now? What has changed since defeats against Athletic and Valencia and a disappointing draw with Levante to make Tata think his side are ready for Manuel Pellegrini’s free-scoring City.

Return of the Messi?

Messi back in form

In an interview with Argentine radio station Radio La Red, Lionel Messi conceded that he’s previously tried to rush back from injuries—not this latest one though. The 26-year-old took plenty of time off to recover before Christmas and has now admitted that he is slowly beginning to reach 100 percent again.

It’s certainly evident in his performances.

On Saturday he scored two against Rayo as he peppered their goal with seven shots. His first was an easy-on-the-eye chip from just outside the area which brought Camp Nou to its feet, while his second was a clean, if less impressive, finish to make it 5-0.

Goals breed confidence and Messi has now scored five in his last three matches. Some of them, as you’d expect, have been quite good. Man City, as if they didn’t know, will have to be wary.

Form of Iniesta and Fabregas

Iniesta in full flow

So often lauded, Andres Iniesta has struggled to find his best form recently… until now.

He offered arguably his best performance of the season against Rayo in every aspect of his game. He created four chances, one of which converted, while his flicked pass to Cesc Fabregas in the build up to Pedro’s goal was sublime.

Drifting into space and ghosting past players, he recreated the image of himself that had people clamouring over him at Euro 2012, also completing 91 percent of nearly 100 passes.

Fabregas is another one shining in Barcelona’s midfield. In an interview with the BBC he admitted that he’s feeling the benefits of the faith Martino has showed in him, and that is certainly evident on the pitch.

He set up two of the goals against Rayo and is continually a threat, whether it’s creating or scoring, in the attacking third.

So often we see gaps in the defensive areas of Man City’s midfield, the sort of gaps that will be punished by Iniesta and Fabregas in average form, let alone the sort of form they go into the match in.

Attacking depth

Neymar back from injury

Neymar returned with a bang on Saturday, to produce a firework of a goal which fizzed into the net from close to 30 yards—“it’s good to be back,” he told Barcelona’s official website.

Martino will surely be of the opinion it’s good to have him back too, even if it does lead to some tough decisions regarding who plays in Barca’s forward line at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.

Pedro and Alexis Sanchez also scored against Rayo, while Leo Messi is Leo Messi. Suggestions have been made that only two of Barca’a four attackers will start though, with Xavi returning to midfield alongside Iniesta, Fabregas and Busquets.

The return of Neymar might have been spectacular, but he’s unlikely to be restored to the starting line-up so soon after fighting off an injury—he’s much more likely to be used as a not-so-secret weapon of the bench.

That means Tata will have to decide between Pedro and Alexis. Not that it should be a problem, he is “paid to make these decisions” after all.