City to face Barcelona

July 23, 2009

CITY will clash with European Champions Barcelona at the Camp Nou in a friendly on Wednesday August 19.

The Blues were originally scheduled to face Everton in the Premier League on that day but the game had to be postponed because of the Toffees' Europa League commitments.

And City will now travel to Spain to take on Pep Guardiola's Barca in a mouthwatering clash. The last time City faced Barca they beat them 2-1 thanks to goals from Nicolas Anelka and Trevor Sinclair.

City's first game of the season is away at Blackburn on Saturday August 15.

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DarthGorb (23/07/2009 at 10:52)

I bet we give them a better game than the rags did

The Iceman Cometh, The Blue Planet (the one before the Red Planet) (23/07/2009 at 11:01)

Not sure if this is a good idea. Surely we should be concentrating on a good start of the season to build on?

The Blackburn game is going to be a big game for us with extra attention from the Media. A good win will set the tone for the next 6 games, but anything else and Hughes will get battered by the press.

All Blue Tinners, Blackley (23/07/2009 at 11:02)

Any hear the Glaziers Solicitor on Sky sports admit they pay £44 million a year on interests payments out of there £80 million Profit!

Doesnt say they are paying of the outstanding debt! They are just paying interest payments!!!! This must mean the debt isnt decreasing?

I do worry for them if they fail to finish in the top 4! ha ha ha

manchester city (23/07/2009 at 11:07)

accordin to daily mail toure deal is close any thoughts

50yrs of mostly downs, Warrington (23/07/2009 at 11:09)

I can only imaging this game is being taken to show our increased 'standing' in world football and make us more marketable. I do not see any other reason for taking a midweek match on of this high profile.

Jack Thorley Trafford, Timperley (23/07/2009 at 11:17)

United were comprehensively beaten by Barcelona in the most one sided Champions League final in years,in theory they should beat us also. The game is a bit too soon in our development but who knows!

Urmston Blue, Manchester (23/07/2009 at 11:24)

This is a stupid decision. We had a great advantage in having a full week to prepare for the Wolves game, knowing that they have to play midweek, but now we've gone and removed that advantage and turned it into a disadvantage by choosing to play 3 games in a week and throwing flight travel into the bargain. Why have we done this???? If this was a pre-season game, i'd be loving it, but it isn't.

Brisbane Blue (23/07/2009 at 11:30)

Iceman, I actually think it's a good idea. The friendlies that we have lined up are pretty top notch. Rangers, Celtic and Barcelona. I think that the midweek game just offers a final chance for the the squad to hone its cohesiveness before the first home game.

I agree on the MH point. Our first dropped points are going reverberate around every page in every paper. We'd best enjoy it whilst we can.

Rick, Glos (23/07/2009 at 11:39)

I'd love to read more into this....like that this means Mascherano is heading to Barca and we are getting Yaya Toure from them, so this game is part of that deal...I'll keep dreaming...Yaya, Ashley Young, Lescott and Terry and we would be top 4, maybe better...

And It's Neville to Goater ... GOAAAAL !!! (23/07/2009 at 11:50)

seems a daft one, maybe this is an agreement which comes with the transfer of a player, yaya?

Kicker Conspiracy.. , Manchester (23/07/2009 at 11:52)

This is officially a 'very friendly'.. following our Catalonian friends triumph over the evil empire.

Martin Petrov is quicker than my car, Manchester (23/07/2009 at 12:01)

Yes its a bit of a strange one this. You can argue that the rest between games would have done them good, on the other hand they should be as fresh as daisies at this point of the season. I just hope that they dont whoop us.

The Iceman Cometh, The Blue Planet (the one before the Red Planet) (23/07/2009 at 12:11)

Brisbane Blue. I still think friendlies should be pre-season, however, as long as we dont get tonked, then it may sharpen us for the wolves. Here's hoping we dont pick up any injuries over there.

hmmm, here (23/07/2009 at 12:23)

Barcelona are perhaps the most entertaining and best side in many years. Coming off the back of a stunning record breaking season where they scored for fun and won a unique treble. Teams of their pedigree don't even exist most seasons, so the chance to play one should be taken when it comes along.

There will be a lot of talent on show and happily not all on the same side. Tons of media interest which will only be good for the club. What's more it's a sign of the club's efforts to foster good relationship with major footballing institutions.

We do have a battle for points on our hand next season. But as Villa showed last term, resting players guarantees nothing.

Do we want to be a club that shuns the chance to play one of the great club sides, to sure up points against Wolves? Probably, for many success starved blues. Jealously grasp for any success at any cost. For me, we're getting there, we can do both - and there has to be something more to the beautiful game.

Blue Pete, Manchester (23/07/2009 at 12:45)

It will be good for our players including the young ones to go there to play a quality team like Barca. I know it's a friendly but being around top players and playing against them should be a good experience. Apart from the obvious skill & flair that their players have, the thing that impressed me when I watched them on the box last year was how good their work rate is as a team all over the pitch.

Rangers and Celtic will also be good warm ups. It should be a good crowd for the Celtic game with the following they have. I went up to Celtic Park last year with a couple of mates and my uncle and they made us really welcome.

The Wright-Phillips Show, A Football Ground Near You (23/07/2009 at 12:46)

"Teams of their pedigree don't even exist most seasons, so the chance to play one should be taken when it comes along."

hmmm, here
23/07/2009 at 12:23

Couldnt put it better

Blues Clues, City Centre (23/07/2009 at 12:46)

I see this invitation to play this prestigious game as an olive branch offering from the Barcelona hierarchy for the way Laporta and Co. handled the Eto'o situation. I think it makes great sense to play this game in a free week....hopefuly it is used to hone his first 11, rather than a jolly for all, which will be a lot more useful than just practice games. We will probably only lose one training session but will be a great stage on which to witness our progress, albeit very early days in terms of development of this team. With our unpredictable summers I would much prefer a couple of days of Catalan sun on my back! With the huge interest in our summer spending I expect this to catpture the imagination of the world press, so can only be good for the ever increasing profile of the club.

Overall I think this is just another step in our evolution to the 'top table' of world football and makes great strategic and commercial sense from a business perspective which Messrs Cook, Mubarek, Mansour are driving on spectacularly.

KiteSurfer Gal, Cheshire/Barcelona (23/07/2009 at 13:07)

Can't believe the negative comments about playing FC Barcelona but maybe I am biased.

Alongside the kudos of such a friendly we are (according to the press) being paid more than they have ever paid a club to turn up. If that isn't showing our club respect before we've earned a place on the top table then I don't know what is.

Do you think they would consider playing a team that they believe might struggle to beat Wolves or will not finish top 4 for their most prestigious pre-season friendly?

There's a lot of interest to see how FC Barcelona perform against City. There is genuine excitement about seeing a real fantasy football team that seems to be based on attacking football.

This match can be an added motivator for the team to make a top 4 position.
It could be a target of where they should be aiming to play in the future if they pull out every last ounce of talent, effort and belief from themselves.

I expect Sheikh Mansour can barely contain his joy at seeing his City play this game. He deserves it for all the money he's gifted the club and I wouldn't bet against him turning up to see it.

We obviously do need quality defenders signed before we turn up. The thought of Dunne marking Messi or Ibrahimovic doesn't bare thinking about. Otherwise, we should cry off with alcohol poisoning!

RED ARMY 1999, swinton (23/07/2009 at 13:10)

Dont get used to it - you'll never play them again!!!

Red Apache, Didsbury (23/07/2009 at 13:20)

its the only European team you will be playing this season.

Cowplain Blue! (23/07/2009 at 13:21)

Dont get used to it - you'll never play them again!!!
RED ARMY 1999, swinton
23/07/2009 at 13:10

It was a bit of a messi affair last time you played them, plus you will probably go out in the group stages this year so you won’t be playing them again either.

Colinski no.8, In the rain. England (23/07/2009 at 13:27)

This is fantastic news imo. From a publicity point of view it just doesn`t get any bigger than Barca v City right now, and the entire world will follow this one. Barcelona obviously have considered this. From a development point of view too, this will be of great value to lads like Nedum, Micah and superman etc. Gives our squad an insight into what`s around the corner. I`d wager this will be played out in a very friendly atmosphere, and it`s only Spain. Hardly a major strain to fly out Tuesday morning and return after the game. Brilliant news! Barca at Camp Nou....the first time of many as we enter a new era.

Pivo, Manchester (23/07/2009 at 13:30)

Players always say that playing games is better than training, and what better way to get the first 11 gelling than to hop on a plane for a short trip to Barca and have a friendly against the current best team in Europe. The fact that we've been invited speaks volumes about how we are now viewed by the top teams in Europe. I suspect this won't be the last invitation we receive.

bluedefence (23/07/2009 at 13:38)

Friendlies should be pre-season or on free Saturdays i.e. when we arent in the FA Cup or something, maybe this is part of a looming deal or just to say to the world we are now on the big stage, however, irrespective of the reason its high risk.

Since the middle east guys took over we have all been happy with the cash for players and non exploitation of us fans in any way shape or form, I suppose we have to take the rough with the smooth and accept this as part of the deal.

united be afraid very afraid, warrington (23/07/2009 at 13:57)

i wish the m.e.n would set the rags up with there own page to comment on
then they wouldnt have to be on ours all the time

who's not worried????????

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