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| Barcelona's Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring his second goal against Manchester City during the Champions League round 16 match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium, in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira) |
Manchester, England – A pair
of goals from Luis Suárez gave FC Barcelona a 2-1 triumph here Tuesday in the
first leg of a Champions League round of 16 match-up.
The Uruguayan international was
outstanding in his first match in England since Liverpool shipped him to Barça
last summer.
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique went
with his usual starting 11, featuring a front line of Suárez, Neymar and
super-striker Lionel Messi.
Manuel Pellegrini, who was
criticized for his defensive-minded approach last year after the Catalan club
eliminated City in the Champions League knockout stage, deployed two attackers
instead of one for this year's battle.
With midfield stalwart Yaya Touré
missing due to a suspension, Barça found plenty of room to maneuver and drew
first blood in the 16th minute, when a mistake by City defender Vincent Kompany
set up Suárez's first goal.
The man who led the Premier League
in scoring last season got his second of the night at the 30-minute mark on a
pass from Jordi Alba, after Messi eluded three City players.
The visitors might have led 3-0 at
the half if Dani Alves' shot hadn't bounced off the crossbar.
Manchester City generated chances in
the second half, but it was not until the 69th minute that the home side got on
the board with a goal from Sergio "Kun" Agüero.
The English club's hopes of
salvaging a draw were dashed when Gael Clichy was ejected just four minutes
later for a second yellow card.
City goalkeeper Joe Hart blocked a
penalty kick from Messi in stoppage time.
Tuesday's other Champions League
clash likewise ended 2-1, with host Juventus edging Borussia Dortmund.
Carlos Tevez put the Italian side
ahead 1-0 with a goal in the 13th minute, only to watch Marco Reus equalize for
the visitors five minutes later.
Juventus regained the lead for good
with Alvaro Morata's goal in the 43rd minute.
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