I think we stand an outside chance and the fact we beat Pep's current side should help Pel. He had never won against him while he was manager of Barca so having put on bogey to rest he might now fancy doing the same with Barca.

It's exactly the draw I wanted, to be honest.

Any of your guys had a look at your domestic fixture list around the two legs? Be interested to know.

Home - Feb 18th

Away - March 12th.

comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 34 minutes ago
It's exactly the draw I wanted, to be honest.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not sure which I'm looking forward to more, Arsenal getting pumped by Bayern, or watching you guys have a fantastic match vs Barca

Very unlucky on the draw.
But unfortunately this is the price of finishing 2nd in the group.

As you can see, the G00ns do their continual group mess-up and reap what they sow.
Your group performance this season deserved an easier first KO round draw IMHO.

If we were ever to win the CL I'd rather do it beating the best along the way.

comment by Boris 'Inkinho' Gibson (U5901)
posted 33 minutes ago
Home - Feb 18th

Away - March 12th.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yep,

I checked Barça fixtures around those dates and they've been very lucky - all of them very much winnable games even without playing full strength sides, bar perhaps the away game to R. Sociedad right after the first leg, but nothing to jeopardise their domestic campaign or to stop them putting out their strongest possible side against City.

That's why I asked what fixtures you guys have. Crunch PL games around those dates could make it harder for you than for Barça.

comment by gratedbean (U4885)
posted 1 minute ago
If we were ever to win the CL I'd rather do it beating the best along the way.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That's the best way to do it.

But believe me, it doesn't matter how you get there, most people don't remember the journey, if you win, it only matters who you played in the final tbh.

Cup weekend before the home leg and Villa at home before we travel to the Nou Camp.

And who do you face right after both legs? Any of the big PL guns to threaten your domestic campaign?

Stoke at home, Hull away.

City have

Sunderland 12 Feb (H)
Barcalona 18 Feb (H)
Stoke 22 Feb (A)

Villa 8 Mar (H)
Barcalona 12 Mar (A)
Hull 15 Mar (A)

United have

Palace 22 Feb (A)
Olympiakos 25 Feb (A)
City 1 Mar (H)

Liverpool 15 Mar (H)
Olympiakos 19 Mar (H)
West Ham 22 Mar (A)

For the sake of completion

Arsenal have

United 12 Feb (H)
Bayern 19 Feb (H)
Sunderland 22 Feb (H)

Swansea 8 Mar (H)
Bayern 11 Mar (A)
Spurs 22 Mar (A)


Chelsea have

Everton 22 Feb (H)
Gala 26 Feb (A)
Fulham 1 Mar (A)

Villa 15 Mar (A)
Gala 18 Mar (H)
Arsenal 22 Mar (H)

I'd say City have fractionally the easiest games out of the English clubs.

I'd agree with that. I think Arsenal have the toughest, closely followed by United, then Chelsea, then City.

Panned out nicely. The ones with the seemingly easier draws have somewhat tougher domestic fixtures, but all in all most of those lists look manageable. Arsenal seem to have drawn the short straw, but if come that string of games they're top or close to the top it's going to make things even more interesting than they are already.

City may have the easier schedule but two games against barca can be energy consuming to say the least.

City have

Sunderland 12 Feb (H)
Barcalona 18 Feb (H)
Stoke 22 Feb (A)
............

Stoke away again?? Will it be a cold Tuesday night??

It's Stoke at home.

You're right, sorry Boris! Got one wrong.

The search for flights and hotel has started

Ryanair had a reasonably priced flight but it leaves Sunday. Can't really have that much time off work as I'm having 3 weeks off in January.

You concerned about your draw 85?

Easyjet from Liverpool £400+