People laughed at the idea that Manchester City played well in their first game against Barcelona two weeks ago. But they lost 4-0, it was pointed out. They ended up with 10 men. They handed Lionel Messi his latest Champions League hat-trick on a plate. All true, yet City did play well in the Camp Nou, between their various defensive mishaps they showed a willingness to get at Barcelona and make chances. If that was a sign of a new tenacity under Pep Guardiola it came to full fruition when Messi and his team were vanquished at the Etihad.
Perhaps vanquished is an over-dramatic word for a 3-1 victory that could have been narrower – although with better finishing City could easily have hit four or five – but when you have played the same opponents six times in the past three years and lost the first five the eventual breakthrough victory is bound to be cathartic.
Related: Selfless Sergio Agüero lights spark that fires Manchester City to victory | Andy Hunter
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