Barca presents tough grind for Man City

Manchester City faces a huge challenge if it is to reach the last eight of the Champions League for the first time ever by overturning a 2-1 first leg deficit when it travels to Barcelona on Wednesday.

The English champion was outplayed at home for the second season in a row at this stage of the competition three weeks ago and could have been even further behind traveling to the Catalan capital had Joe Hart not saved a Lionel Messi penalty in stoppage time at Etihad Stadium.

Both sides also come into the game at Camp Nou in contrasting form domestically. City's title challenge appears all but over after a 1-0 loss at relegation-threatened Burnley on Saturday while Barca has soared to the top of La Liga in recent weeks on a run of 16 victories in its past 17 games.

Yet, City boss Manuel Pellegrini is insistent his job is not on the line should elimination all but seal a trophyless season.

"I have no sense whatsoever that my job's at risk," the Chilean told The Guardian.

"The Champions League is very important but it can't distort everything."

Pellegrini was criticized by many for his over-eager attacking intent in the first leg, which allowed Barca's star front three of Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar to prosper.

However, he believes that philosophy is what still gives his team a chance despite the daunting prospect of having to win at Camp Nou.

"The starting point is that it is possible to go to Barcelona and win. We have to have that mentality, our mentality.

"Our identity is to have a big-team mentality, to go to win. And now losing 2-1, we have to attack."

By contrast, Barcelona now has a treble in its sights with a potentially decisive La Liga clash with eternal rival Real Madrid to come on Sunday and a Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao to look forward to at the end of the campaign.

The backbone of the upturn in form from Luis Enrique's men has been Messi as the Argentine took his tally for the season to 43 goals in just 39 games with a double against Eibar on the weekend.

However, Suarez has also begun to make his presence felt after a club record move from Liverpool in the summer as last season's Premier League Player of the Year has struck six times in his past five games, including both of his side's goals in the first leg.

"It is pleasing to help the team with important goals in a Champions League knockout game and, of course, to return to England and beat a team you're always motivated to face," Suarez told Uefa.com.

"Players like me get inspired when fans boo them - it helps motivate me a bit more."

Barca will be without the injured Sergio Busquets, so Jeremy Mathieu is expected to deputize in central defense with Javier Mascherano moving into midfield.