City set for second attempt at solving Barça puzzle

This time last year, Manchester City FC came up against an insurmountable object in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 – an FC Barcelona side who dumped Manuel Pellegrini's team out of the competition with a 4-1 aggregate victory. The question 12 months on is: are they any better placed to find a way past Barcelona?

Last season
For Pellegrini, the turning point last term was the 53rd-minute sending off of Martín Demichelis in the first leg in Manchester. City, playing with one striker, had contained Barcelona in the first half but Lionel Messi tucked away the resulting penalty and against ten men, Daniel Alves added a late second. In an end-to-end second leg at the Camp Nou, Messi broke the deadlock before late goals from Pablo Zabaleta – who was subsequently sent off – and Alves.

Positives
For City the biggest positive is that Sergio Agüero, their 22-goal leading scorer, is fit to lead the attack. He missed the first instalment last season through injury and managed only 45 minutes of the return. It goes without saying that without Agüero's finishing powers, City would not even have reached this stage – his hat-trick in the comeback victory over FC Bayern München revived their Group E campaign. When he is on his game, they will always have a chance.

Edin Džeko hit form at Newcastle©AFP/Getty Images

The evidence of Saturday's 5-0 Premier League dismantling of Newcastle United FC is that Edin Džeko is also in the mood again. The Bosnian international has had a disappointing campaign but after the arrival of Wilfried Bony, he seems determined to provide a reminder of his worth. According to Pellegrini, City are also fresher than they were 12 months ago. In December and January last year they played 18 matches but this term, owing to early cup exits, they played only 13.

What's changed
City acquired last month an additional goal threat in Bony, a consistent scorer for Swansea City AFC over the past 18 months. While it is unlikely he will be unleashed alongside Agüero, it would certainly give Barcelona's defence something to think about if he appeared at some point. Further back, it remains a moot point whether last summer's signings in defence (Eliaquim Mangala) and midfield (Fernando) have really improved the team – City have kept just five clean sheets in 20 home fixtures this season.

Expert analysis
According to Andy Hinchcliffe, the former City and England left-back, the English champions need to take the game to Barcelona. City have been starting sluggishly at home – conceding the first goal 11 times this term – but Hinchliffe, who will be working at the match for Sky Sports, hopes they will be positive from the off.

Sergio Agüero scores City's third goal against Bayern©Getty Images

"Whether they can impose their game on Barcelona is what this tie is all about," he says. "If you try and play Barcelona at their game you don't have a hope; I don't mean going gung-ho but City's strength is to play on the front foot. I think maybe what they've learned from last year is you have to try to stop Barcelona doing what they do well and not allow them to dominate possession. They have to get in among them and engage them higher up the field."

The pity for Hinchcliffe is that the ideal player for that task, Yaya Touré, will be missing through suspension. In his absence during the recent Africa Cup of Nations, City won just one of six fixtures and Hinchcliffe asks: "Can City impose their own game on Barcelona without him? He would have given their midfielders a bit more to think about."

Form
A few weeks ago, City fans might have been pessimistic about their side's prospects but suddenly Pellegrini's team have hit form – winning 4-1 at Stoke City FC then thrashing Newcastle. Factor in Barcelona's surprise Liga home loss to Málaga CF and the mood is more upbeat, even with Touré unavailable.