Barcelona 1-0 Manchester City (3-1 agg.) - 5 talking points

Barcelona reached the last-eight of the Champions League for the eighth successive season thanks to Ivan Rakitic's goal. After a 2-1 win in the away leg, the catalans knew that a draw will take them into the next round. But instead of sitting deep and keeping possession, the home side played in the only way they know how to.Their attacking play yielded rich rewards as Rakitic scored from close range with a sublime chip over Hart after a wonderful cross from Lionel Messi on the right flank. From then onwards it was a case of how many more can they get. But an inspired Joe Hart ensured that there was no more goals and Sergio Aguero's missed penalty meant that there was no final flourish for the reigning English champions who were once again knocked out in the Round of 16.Here are the major talking points.

#1 Hart doesn\'t deserve to be on the losing side

Manchester City players are often criticised for giving it their all and throwing in the towel far too soon. But Joe Hart showed that not everyone is like that. The English shot-stopper had one of his best games of his career, as he did everything he possibly he could from the first minute till the last. Although he did get some help from the post and a couple of his defenders late in the game, for the most part, it was him against Barca's attacking trio. Whether it was coming off his line and acting as a sweeper, or staying big and getting the better of Barcelona's attackers or simply showcasing his fantastic reflexes, Hart made sure that the visitors came away from the Camp Nou with a respectable score line instead of the hammering that their lackadaisical play rightly deserved.

#2 Naive City get dumped again

The defending champions of England against one of Europe's most-consistent sides in the recent past. This was billed as the clash of the titans. But City's naivety over the course of the two legs made sure that this was never really a contest. Whether it was Pellegrini's ridiculously offensive approach to the first leg or their tendency to give away silly fouls at Nou Camp, City looked like an amateur who had won the competition to play the Catalans and not like the reigning English champions. Another failure in Europe will mean that the pressure on the Chilean will be greater than ever. If City fail to win the league, which is looking very likely or at least finish in the top three, no trophies this season will mean that it might well be Pellegrini's last.

#3 Toure is not a central midfielder

When he is rampaging forward from midfield using his pace and power, there are few better than Yaya Toure. But when he is asked to play as a central midfielder, be more disciplined and curb his instincts to go forward, he is nowhere near as effective. The amount of times, Barcelona managed to knock the ball behind the 31-year-old and take him out of the game highlighted a major flaw in Pellegrini's plan. And it was only when he was moved further forward, that the Ivorian started to get into the game. In the big games, the reluctance to play Toure further forward has cost City as he has been a liability in central midfield, just as he was on Wednesday.

#4 Barca\'s attacking trio starting to form a deadly partnership

When the catalans signed Luis Suarez from Liverpool last summer, a lot of eyebrows were raised. Not only at the transfer fee, but also because many wondered whether they needed another attacking player. Although he struggled initially, the Uruguayan striker is starting to find his feet at Barcelona. Although he didn't score against City, it was his runs, that were dragging defenders out of position and creating space for both Neymar and Messi to run into. The number of times, the trio stretched the visitors defence, through their pace, skill and ability to dribble past defenders went well into double digits. Although they only scored one, it was only because they ran into a goalkeeper in inspired form and on any other day, the trio might have all finished with at least a few goals to their name. Which, in itself is a frightening prospect for any potential team in the next round.

#5 English football on the way down in Europe

As good and competitive as the Barclays Premier League is, the fact that there is no English side in the quarter-finals of the Champions League speaks volumes for the quality of its clubs. The only English still in Europe is Everton, a club who are struggling in the bottom half of the table. For all the talk of the attacking, enterprising brand of end-to-end football produced by the Premier League, it cannot hope to retain the four places it currently holds for Champions League qualification for much longer.

With Liverpool and Manchester United still in the rebuilding process, it looks as though it might be a long time before English clubs are considered the best in Europe and that is a poor reflection on what some consider as the best league in the world.