Messi and Ibrahimovic shine in the Champions League

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates after he scores the first goal of the game from a penalty during the Champions League first knock out round soccer match between Barcelona and Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, Tuesday Feb. 18, 2014. (AP Photo/Jon Super)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Lionel Messi and FC Barcelona took a huge step towards the next round of the Champions League with a 2-0 win over big spender Manchester City on Tuesday in the City of Manchester Stadium.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic helped Paris Saint Germain breeze past the second-placed team in the Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen, 4-0 in Germnay.
Messi and company looked comfortable against the “citizens” in the first-leg of the Round of 16 match up. Barcelona enjoyed the majority of possession of the ball throughout the match, which was surprising as Manchester City coach Manuel Pellegrini strengthened his midfield for the match by adding Aleksander Kolarov –general a left-back–  to the left side.
Early on in the first half Barcelona looked like the home side, they moved the ball around without much problem, but they were not turning their possession into clear scoring chances –a problem Barcelona has had in the past.
About 20 minutes into the first-half of the Champions League match up City seemed to wake up. Alvaro Negredo started throwing his size and weight around and causing havoc in the Barcelona box. The first 45 minutes ended 0-0.

The second-half of the match saw Manchester City more lively early on, but their night was about to take a turn for the worst.
In the 53rd minute –after a giveaway by Jesus Navas on the right side of the City midfield– Andres Iniesta put Lionel Messi through to goal, but the Argentine forward was taken down in the box –replays show the contact may have originated just outside the box–  by Man City defender Martin Demichelis. The referee pointed to the penalty spot and sent Demichelis off. It was a doubly-crushing blow for a City team that seemed to have things somewhat under control.
Lionel Messi put Barcelona 1-0 over Manchester City in the 54th minute.
10-man City managed to created a couple of dangerous chances. David Silva hit a right-footed rocket saved by Victor Valdes and near the end of the match Eden Dzeko nearly leveled the game, but the Barcelona number 1 came up big again.
When it seemed the English side would be heading into the March 12 return match down only 1-0 Barcelona struck again in the 90th minute.
Newly fit Neymar played a nice ball into the City box and right-back Dani Alves slotted the ball in between Joe Hart’s legs.
The 2-0 Champions League hole that City is in may be too much to for them to come back from.