Test time for Pep’s City

MANCHESTER City’s progress under new manager Pep Guardiola will be tested when the Premier League leaders visit Barcelona in the pick of the Champions League fixtures tonight (Wednesday).

Guardiola’s return to the Nou Camp is the highlight of the third match day of Europe’s premium club competition and could go some way to deciding the outcome of Group C, where Barcelona have six points and City four.

“It will be a great match against the team of an old friend,” Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said.

Guardiola won six league titles and a European Cup as a player with Barca before capturing 14 trophies – including two Champions League titles – as a coach there.

It will be a second homecoming for the coach, who took Bayern Munich to Barcelona for the 2014-2015 semi-finals when the Germans lost 3-0.

City, who reached the last four last season, travel to Spain after being held 1-1 by Everton, while Barcelona swept to a 4-0 defeat of Deportivo La Coruna, with Lionel Messi – back after a month out – scoring after just three minutes.

“We all want to win (the Champions League),” City striker Sergio Aguero told British newspapers. “In the past we didn’t do well, but last year was different and we must raise our game and give everything for our fans this year.”

Holders Real Madrid and city neighbours Atletico meanwhile warmed up with goalscoring sprees in La Liga.

“That was just what we needed after our recent disappointments (four consecutive draws),” Real coach Zinedine Zidane said of the Liga goal gala. “Now we have to continue like this: with passion, speed and precision.”

On-form Atletico travel to Russia to face Rostov, hoping to keep their three-point lead at the top of Group D, where German champions Bayern Munich greet PSV Eindhoven.

Back in style for Atletico from injury is winger Yannick Carrasco, who banged in the first hat-trick of his career in Saturday’s 7-1 slaughter of Granada. - IANS