Manchester City top scorer Sergio Agüero played just 11 minutes as his team lost 4-0 at Camp Nou, but manager Pep Guardiola has insisted he was right to leave out the Argentine.
City had contained their opponents well for the first 50 minutes, only conceding when a defensive lapse allowed Lionel Messi a clean run on goal, but fell apart after goalkeeper Claudio Bravo saw red for handling outside the box.
Up until that point, the home side had managed just two shots on target – the same number as the visitors – while possession was relatively even.
And Guardiola has stood by his decision not to start Agüero.
“He didn’t warm up, but it was ok,” he said. “I wanted one more midfield player in that position and that was the reason why [he didn’t start].
“My perception is that we did well knowing where we’ve come from and who we are,” Guardiola told the Manchester Evening News.
“We’ve been brave. But when they reach your goal they are very dangerous and punish you.”
It seems likely that Agüero would have made it onto the pitch earlier were it not for Bravo’s red card and a second-half injury to Pablo Zabaleta, but ultimately he had to wait until the 79th-minute before replacing İlkay Gündoğan.
By then, City were 3-0 down to a Lionel Messi hat-trick, and Neymar would later complete the scoring shortly after seeing his penalty saved by substitute Willy Caballero.
The defeat leaves City second in the group, five points adrift of Barcelona and just one clear of third-placed Borussia Mönchengladbach. They will welcome the Spanish champions to the Etihad Stadium in two weeks’ time.
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