City travelled to Spain this evening for a friendly game with Barcelona at the Nou Camp and walked away with a superb victory thanks to a first half strike from Martin Petrov.
The blues faced the Catalan club who were crowned European champions in May following their easy 2-0 win against Man United in Rome and chairman Khaldoon Al Muburak was in the stands to watch his expensive team play the Spanish champions and he must have been pleased with the way they performed.
Seemingly unsettled Bulgarian winger Martin Petrov started for City, as did teenage sensation Vladimir Weiss, while Carlos Tevez also started the game.
Barcelona dominated the game from the off but it was the blues who took the lead after 28 minutes. A superb defence splitting pass from Stephen Ireland sent Petrov clear and the winger coolly slotted past the keeper, showing United how it should have been done.
Barcelona continued to dominate but City looked dangerous on the counter attack with the confident Weiss tormenting the Barca defence and was a continual thorn on the right wing. Weiss thought he’d put Petrov through again only for the linesman to signal a clear offside.
With just seconds of the first half remaining, City won a free kick after Weiss was brought down. The free kick was swung in and Gareth Barry got his head to the ball which flew agonisingly wide of the post. The referee blew his whistle and the blues went in at half time a goal to the good.
The half time statistics showed that Barcelona had 72% possession of the ball to City’s 28% but, as we all know in football, it is goals that matter. And just to make half time sweeter for blues fans, a full time from Turf Moor reads Burnley 1 Manchester United 0. Can it get any better?
The second half began with Barca again in control but still unable to find a way through the City defence. Woeful crossing and poor finishing seemed to be Baca’s downfall, but the City defence was holding firm.
Just before the hour mark, a dangerous cross was whipped into the box, which scooted across the goal, before another poor cross was delivered from the Barcelona right. This coming just seconds after the impressive Weiss threatened to take on the entire Barca defence single handed.
Craig Bellamy replaced Carlos Tevez after 65 minutes. The Argentinean failed to get on the score sheet but some good touches and excellent positional play showed why Mark Hughes was determined to land the striker. Kelvin Etuhu replaced Gareth Barry just moments after Richard Dunne made a brilliant last minute tackle to deny Gai a goal.
The City defence was leading a charmed life Barca started to look more and more dangerous in front of goal. Tal Ben Haim gave away a silly fee kick after 70 minutes and Barca hit the crossbar from the resulting set piece with Shay Given well and truly beaten. Etuhu then ran the ball virtually into the Barca penalty area to relieve the pressure on the City defence.
On 73 minutes, Barca found a rare gap in the City defence, but Shay Given was there to preserve the lead with his feet and Weiss cleared the danger. Moments later Barca had a shout for a penalty with Ben-Haim bringing Ibrahimovic down, but the referee ruled a fair challenge and awarded a corner to the home side.
Weiss looks like a real talent for the future on this display and don’t be surprised if you see him in the team a few times this season. This lad has so much confidence he could take on the entire Premiership on this showing. The youngster was brought down on the edge of the box after 80 minutes following another impressive run at the Barca defence. The resulting free kick flew narrowly over the bar.
Moments later Barca won a free kick after the hapless Ben Haim handled thirty yards out but Dani Alves fired hopelessly over the bar. On this showing, Ben Haim is looking more a liability than anyone in the city squad. On 85 minutes, Shay Given rushed off his line to stop another Barca attack. Ibrahimovic setting Keta free in the box but Given dived to take the ball first.
There was a huge scare in the City defence on 89 minutes as Barca suddenly get some space but the defence somehow hang on and clear the ball. All hands on deck for City. Thiago tries a long range shot moments later but easy for Given to collect.
Into injury time and a deflection takes a Barca goal bound effort out for a corner which comes to nothing. Barca showing some neat touches but still the equaliser eludes them. Almost heartbreak for the blues as Barca again hit the woodwork with one minute of injury time remaining. City almost make the match secure as Craig Bellamy is through put puts his shot wide but it doesn’t matter as the referee blows for full time and City have recorded an incredible victory at the Nou Camp. City managed to do what United couldn’t and beat Lionel Messi and Barcelona.
Final score Barcelona 0-1 City