Champions League

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Champions League | Round-Of-16

Feb 24, 2015 at 7.45pm UK

Man City Manchester City
1-2
Barcelona

Aguero (69')

FT(HT: 0-2)

Suarez (16', 30')

Half-Time Report: Luis Suarez brace puts Barcelona in control against Manchester City

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 24 February 2015

Luis Suarez scores twice to hand Barcelona a 2-0 lead over Manchester City at the halfway stage of their Champions League last-16 first leg at the Etihad Stadium.

Luis Suarez has put Barcelona in total control of their Champions League last-16 clash with Manchester City courtesy of a first-half brace at the Etihad this evening, with the Spanish giants going into the break 2-0 up.

Luis Suarez of Barcelona celebrates scoring their second goal during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match between Manchester City and Barcelona at Etihad Stadium on February 24, 2015 © Getty Images

The visitors started brightly, with Neymar and Lionel Messi both threatening to get in behind the defence, but it was Suarez who had the first chance of the game, rippling the side-netting with an effort at the near post.

The former Liverpool man would get another opening just three minutes later, however, and this time he made it count. A cross from the right hit Vincent Kompany and bounced kindly for the Uruguayan, who swung his left leg at it to drill an effort into the bottom corner.

Barcelona's Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez watches his shot go past Manchester City's English goalkeeper Joe Hart during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium in Mancheste © Getty Images

Barcelona continued to dominate and Suarez perhaps should have doubled his personal tally for the night when he was played through on goal, only for Joe Hart to come out and thwart the striker.

The relentless pressure told again after half an hour, though, and Suarez was once more the man to hurt City, racing in front of his marker to slide home a Jordi Alba cross following a slick move from Barcelona.

Neymar was the next to threaten as he was played through on goal, but his lofted effort over Hart did not have enough on it as Kompany got back to clear it off the line.

Barcelona's Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez celebrates scoring the opening goal with Barcelona's Brazilian defender Dani Alves and Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Man © Getty Images

Hart was called into action yet again shortly afterwards as this time Messi almost scampered through, but the England number one snuffed out the Argentine before he could poke it past the keeper.

Just before the interval, Dani Alves came within inches of further adding to the lead with a clever chip that beat Hart but bounced off the top of the crossbar.

City had to wait until the final minute of the half as Sergio Aguero teed up Samir Nasri, whose low shot forced a save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen.