FC Barcelona took a giant step towards securing their place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals last night, escaping the Etihad Arena with a 2-0 win in the first-leg of their Round of 16 clash with Premier League runners-up, Manchester City. It marked the first time in two years that the Blaugrana had won an away tie in the Champions League knockout stages; now City face an uphill task to salvage their place in the competition -- Barcelona have progressed on each of three other occasions that they have won away from home in this competition since 2009.
Manchester City have to roll with it, some might say that progress in this competition comes in small increments -- little by little if you will. Don't look back in anger; focus on the positives and learn from the negatives -- that's the recipe for success in this famous competition.
For Barcelona on the other hand, this result represents progress, hopes and perhaps now expectations. If we can defeat one of the best clubs in Europe at their fortress-like home, one might hope and expect us to put up a better fight if we are paired with Bayern Munich again. Who knows, maybe this win instills Barcelona as one of outright favourites for the competition, potentially even ahead of Bayern Munich, depending on the result of their first-leg against Arsenal?
