Brazil superstar Neymar was named on the substitutes bench for Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie at Manchester City on Tuesday.
Neymar made a goal-scoring return from a month-long injury lay-off in Barcelona's 6-0 demolition of Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Saturday, but coach Gerardo Martino elected to leave him out at the Etihad Stadium.
Lionel Messi was joined in attack by Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez, with Sergio Busquets, Xavi and Andres Iniesta lining up in midfield.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini opted for an apparently conservative 4-4-1-1 system, with Fernandinho returning alongside Yaya Toure in central midfield after missing three matches with a muscular problem.
Alvaro Negredo was fielded as a lone striker, while left-back Aleksandar Kolarov was selected on the left side of midfield.
Barcelona have reached at least the semi-finals of the Champions League for the last six seasons in succession, but City are making their first appearance in the competition's knockout phase.
Starting line-ups in the Champions League last 16 first-leg match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday:
Manchester City (4-4-1-1)
Joe Hart; Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany (capt), Martin Demichelis, Gael Clichy; Jesus Navas, Fernandinho, Yaya Toure, Aleksandar Kolarov; David Silva; Alvaro Negredo
Barcelona (4-3-3)
Victor Valdes; Dani Alves, Javier Mascherano, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba; Sergio Busquets, Xavi (capt), Andres Iniesta; Cesc Fabregas, Lionel Messi, Alexis Sanchez
Referee: Jonas Eriksson (SWE)
Brazil superstar Neymar was named on the substitutes bench for Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie at Manchester City on Tuesday.
Neymar made a goal-scoring return from a month-long injury lay-off in Barcelona’s 6-0 demolition of Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Saturday, but coach Gerardo Martino elected to leave him out at the Etihad Stadium.
Lionel Messi was joined in attack by Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez, with Sergio Busquets, Xavi and Andres Iniesta lining up in midfield.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini opted for an apparently conservative 4-4-1-1 system, with Fernandinho returning alongside Yaya Toure in central midfield after missing three matches with a muscular problem.
Alvaro Negredo was fielded as a lone striker, while left-back Aleksandar Kolarov was selected on the left side of midfield.
Barcelona have reached at least the semi-finals of the Champions League for the last six seasons in succession, but City are making their first appearance in the competition’s knockout phase.
Starting line-ups in the Champions League last 16 first-leg match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday:
Manchester City (4-4-1-1)
Joe Hart; Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany (capt), Martin Demichelis, Gael Clichy; Jesus Navas, Fernandinho, Yaya Toure, Aleksandar Kolarov; David Silva; Alvaro Negredo
Barcelona (4-3-3)
Victor Valdes; Dani Alves, Javier Mascherano, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba; Sergio Busquets, Xavi (capt), Andres Iniesta; Cesc Fabregas, Lionel Messi, Alexis Sanchez
Referee: Jonas Eriksson (SWE)
