Champions League: Man City down — but not out

Manchester City’s 2-1 home defeat to Barcelona in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 was a stumble, but their second half performance saved them from a face plant.

As Sergio Agüero deftly tucked the ball into the back of the net to cut Barcelona’s lead in half midway through the second period, City fans could not help but let their minds roam. Was this yet another epic comeback in the making, a stunt they pulled off in the group stage against Bayern Munich?

Well, not quite.

Still, City’s second half performance was an absolute masterpiece. The effort was valiant, as a number of City players noticeably elevated their games after the interval. The team’s ability to weather the tempest and to turn the tide of the match in the latter 45 minutes was nothing short of remarkable. City waddled through the first half with little vigor and faced a two-goal deficit within the opening half-hour, thanks to poacher Luis Suárez, but the second half brought City optimism and promise — and an all-important goal.

To say that Manuel Pellegrini’s side had their backs against the wall in the first half would be an understatement. City were experiencing the cruel treatment Barcelona so often inflict on their victims. They were trapped in Barcelona’s intricate labyrinth of mesmerizing passing and intricate footwork. City chased the ball—and the game—and could not find an escape from Barcelona’s incessant offensive pressure.

It was, however, evident from the onset of the second period that City were a different team, full of newfound energy and gumption. The proof? Just a few seconds into the half, they won a corner. Barcelona clearly had to turn off cruise control for the second half because City came out flying.

They were placing more and more pressure on the Barcelona defense, but precious seconds were ticking away and the scoreboard still read 2-0 in favor of the visitors. Sergio Agüero was displaying his usual energy, while Samir Nasri and David Silva were looking increasingly threatening on the flanks.

Chance after chance went begging, leaving City with nothing to show for their efforts. Edin Džeko squandered a handful of chances, but City arguably did not deserve to level the scoring so soon after awakening from their first-half stupor (read as: Barcelona had 62% of the possession in this game and City were wildly subpar in the first half).

The high-press defense was working for City early in the second half, as Fernando and James Milner corralled stray balls in the midfield and managed to keep possession for extended periods of time in Barcelona’s half. Džeko was throwing his weight around in and around the box, as he drew attention to himself as a goal-scoring threat. City forced turnovers and won a few corner kicks, some of which were nearly converted into goals. It had taken 45 minutes for Pellegrini’s troops to find their legs, but they were finally playing like the defending Premier League champions.

At times, City gave Barcelona a taste of their own medicine by keeping possession, as they waited for spaces to open and then played incisive passes to forwards and wingers. They had grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck and put Barcelona on their heels.

The faithful at the Etihad could feel the breakthrough coming.

The Champions League gods rewarded City for their efforts in the 69^th minute, as Sergio Agüero beat Marc-André ter Stegen after a goal that was as tenacious as it was skillful.

In an eerie turn of events, Barcelona players like Sergio Busquets and Lionel Messi were caught in possession in their own half. City amped up the pressure and looked like they might grab a second goal while their momentum was still sky-high.

Despite Gaël Clichy’s second yellow card and subsequent sending off, reducing City to ten men with just under 20 minutes remaining, the Sky Blues defended with all their might. The penalty giveaway by Pablo Zabaleta in the final minute of stoppage time was a heart-in-mouth experience for the home crowd, but Joe Hart fended off Lionel Messi’s spot kick and kept City’s hopes of advancing intact. It was a miraculous moment.

A harbinger of what is to come?

City fans certainly hope so. The late plot twist gone awry for Barcelona will undoubtedly serve as added momentum and motivation for City as they prepare for Act II on March 18.

City might have emerged from the post-Clichy ejection unscathed, but overall, the 2-1 defeat was a disappointment.

Playing with ten men obviously affected Pellegrini’s substitution tactics. Jesús Navas or Frank Lampard could have been brought on in an attempt to draw City level had they not been at a man disadvantage, but instead it was outside-back Bacary Sagna who was brought on in relief. The collateral damage from the red card could have been catastrophic, but City’s defense frantically warded off danger time and time again in the game’s closing moments.

The lack of center-mid Yaya Touré was a tough pill to swallow, especially when you factor in Touré’s physicality and his ability to somewhat effortlessly dominate the middle of the park. But the defensive unit as a whole obviously had their hands full with Barcelona’s countless weapons, including outside backs Jori Alba and Dani Alves, who are pacey down the wings and are more than willing to join the attack.

Success at the Nou Camp may seem impossible at first blush, but City will stand a chance if they can shore up the play from their back line and can put away an early chance in the second leg.

A 2-1 defeat at the Etihad was certainly not the result the Citizens were seeking, but they are heading to Cataluña with a seed of hope and, in turn, a realistic prospect of advancing to the last eight.

Don’t pencil in Barcelona for a quarterfinal spot just yet.

Josh Cohen is a freshman majoring in broadcast and digital journalism. His column, “The SCoreboard,” runs Mondays.