Loss of Yaya may prove costly for Manchester City

By David Lee Wheatley

Manchester City may possess enough firepower to threaten Champions League last-16 foes Barcelona, but the first-leg suspension of powerhouse Yaya Toure could prove pivotal.

A great deal of water has gone under the bridge since Manchester City and FC Barcelona met at this stage of the same competition 12 months ago, with the Catalans advancing by way of a comfortable 4-1 aggregate margin.

City eventually claimed the Premier League crown, while Barca missed out on honours both domestically and in Europe to rivals Atletico Madrid. Additionally, ex-player Luis Enrique assumed the Nou Camp coaching reins in place of misfit Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino at the end of that campaign.

Normal service seemingly resumed when Barcelona won five out of six Champions League Group F contests to qualify above fancied French side Paris Saint-Germain. Meanwhile, the Citizens faced almost certain elimination having failed to win any of their opening four group encounters.

Astonishingly, Manuel Pellegrini’s men scraped through at the death courtesy of a home win over Bayern Munich and a subsequent away triumph at the Stadio Olimpico against Roma.

Now the two sides clash again on Tuesday night a year on from what can only be described as a massively one-sided affair in favour of the Blaugrana, but with many observers openly voicing their belief in City’s ability to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the very first time.

They’ve got Sergio Aguero delivering almost a goal-per-game this term, while David Silva is pulling the strings beautifully, as recently evidenced by a man-of-the-match performance against Newcastle United last Saturday.

However, there is the crucial matter of Yaya Toure’s enforced absence from the first leg, which could tip the balance of the tie in favour of the Catalonian side before they welcome City to the Nou Camp.

Former Barcelona star Toure’s galloping runs, supreme physicality and eye for goal will all be keenly missed by his team-mates who feed off his barnstorming performances.

The 31-year-old has undergone a turbulent spell at the Etihad, with persistent rumours of his unhappiness at the club. But, he remains a potent weapon in their armoury and represents several attributes their Spanish conquerors from last season simply can’t replicate from within their own squad.

Andres Iniesta is still one of the world’s best passers of a ball, while Ivan Rakitic has quickly grown into a key player following his move from Sevilla last summer. Argentine superstar Lionel Messi continues to devastate in between the lines of midfield and attack, with Sergio Busquets undertaking a deep role in helping Barca tighten their grip on possession.

It’s certainly a highly subjective debate, but the likes of Fernando, Samir Nasri, Fernandinho, Jesus Navas and even the fabulous David Silva cannot legitimately claim to be better than their Barcelona counterparts.

What’s more, not one of those aforementioned players offer the beast-like presence of Yaya Toure, who can win a game single-handedly when on top form.

He could well make the difference for Manchester City in the second leg of this glamourous tie once he’s served the last of a three-match ban imposed for his November sending-off against CSKA Moscow, but by then it could be too little, too late.

Follow @davewh1980

Time to get tough on racism in football

By David Lee Wheatley

UEFA’s punishment of CSKA Moscow for the latest in a string of racism-related incidents inside various football stadia is far, far too lenient.

What do the ‘fans’ involved care if they must uproot themselves from their usual position to another part of the stadium in order to continue conducting their vitriolic abuse of opposing players from other ethnic groups and races?

The only way for the leaders of European and world football to make a clear stand against such hideous prejudice is to begin deducting points and even banning clubs from European competition altogether.

Actions such as those will send a strong message that such vile behaviour will not be tolerated and will truly strike at the very core of clubs and their followers. A lack of top-tier continental action would harm them from a financial point of view, as well as taking away the prestige which taking part in the Champions League and Europa League delivers. Only then will it prove the zero-tolerance policy that UEFA claim to have for this kind of situation actually exists, as partially (or fully) closing stadia does absolutely nothing at all to deter the morons who perpetrate these heinous crimes.

More drastic and assertive measures from the powers-that-be would also act as a kick up the backside for the clubs themselves, making it impossible for them to ignore what is going on in front of their very eyes. Piffling fines and stadium bans serve not as a deterrent, but more as a way of proving just how toothless the aforementioned organisations are.

Tough new regulations must be put in place swiftly and what a legacy it would be for either or both Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini if they were to spearhead a disciplinary revolution leading to the eradication of such abusive and unwanted behaviour in the seating decks of football grounds across the world.

As we currently stand, the degenerates causing all of the aggravation and trouble are simply laughing at the governing bodies at present and have been doing so for a very long period of time. They would be laughing on the other side of their faces if their beloved clubs were kicked out of European competition for such offences.

With the assistance and backing of lawmakers and the police forces that patrol matches, it’s now high-time FIFA and UEFA got a grip to help rid this disease from the sport we love as soon as possible.

Twitter: @davewh1980