Manchester City have been knocked out of the Champions League courtesy of a 4-1 aggregate defeat at the hands of Barcelona.
Barca won 2-1 on the night against a City side that was forced to play the last 10 minutes a man down after Pablo Zabaleta was sent off.
The first opening of the match went to the hosts in the 12th minute as Lionel Messi burst into the City box before seeing his effort well saved by Joe Hart.
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Barca thought that they had broken the deadlock just seven minutes later when Neymar put the ball in the back of the net, but Jordi Alba was adjudged to have been offside, although replays suggested otherwise.
Neymar was involved again five minutes before the break when he drove past Aleksandar Kolarov before trying to find the bottom corner, but his effort went into the side-netting.
The hosts threatened again moments later when Xavi found himself in an advanced position, but Hart made a crucial stop to deny the Spanish midfielder from close range.
City's best chance of the first half came in the 43rd minute when David Silva's flick released Samir Nasri, but the Frenchman fired his effort straight at Victor Valdes.
There was still time for Barcelona to come close again before half time as Neymar curled an effort towards the top corner only to see Fernandinho clear it off the line.
The hosts continued to test the opposition goal in the second half and came within inches of breaking the deadlock just seven minutes after the restart when Messi's low curling effort came back off the post.
City came close themselves moments later, however, as Edin Dzeko met James Milner's cross with his head, only to be denied by a fine save from Valdes.
The visitors threatened again just before the hour mark as Zabaleta latched on to a loose cross inside the box, but he sliced his eventual shot over the bar.
Messi was the next to almost find the opener as he worked space to shoot on the edge of the box, only for his low strike to move just wide.
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The Argentine was not to be denied for much longer, however, and he finally did break the deadlock in the 67th minute when he latched on to a loose ball inside the box before lifting his shot over Hart and into the far corner.
Messi was involved again five minutes later as he teed up Xavi, but Hart was equal to the midfielder's low strike.
Manchester City's misery was compounded with just over 10 minutes of the match remaining as they were reduced to 10 men for the second consecutive Champions League match when Zabaleta was shown a second yellow for dissent.
The visitors did get a late equaliser when Vincent Kompany tapped in from close range following a corner that the hosts failed to deal with.
However, Barcelona responded with a second goal of their own to clinch the victory on the night, Andres Iniesta setting up Dani Alves to apply the finish.
Barney Corkhill
