Bravo tries to ramp up pressure on Barcelona

Claudio Bravo believes the pressure is all on Barcelona ahead of his reunion with his old club this week.

The Manchester City goalkeeper is making a quick return to the Nou Camp less than two months after his move to the Etihad Stadium as the clubs meet tomorrow in the Champions League.

After dropping points at Celtic in their last Group C outing, City go into the first of tough back-to-back clashes against Barca already trailing the Spanish champions, but Bravo is not fazed.

The 33-year-old said: “Barcelona have to win at all costs. They’re playing at home. We have to do our things well, with our weapons, and keep our rhythm going.

“Every team has a chance. They have important players but we have to go there with the intention to do things well.”

Bravo made 75 appearances for Barca between 2014 and 2016 but, interestingly, did not play for them in the Champions League where Marc-Andre ter Stegen was preferred.

His return to his former club is just one of a number of talking points ahead of the glamour clash with the main focal point being Pep Guardiola’s return.

City’s new manager is a revered figure at Barca after winning 14 trophies in a glittering four-year spell as coach, including three LaLiga titles and two Champions Leagues, following a highlysuccessful playing career.

His impact at City since taking charge in the summer has also been impressive, with the team opening the campaign with 10 successive wins in all competitions. The early excitement has been tempered slightly after a run of three games without a win.

City will hope to make a bigger impression on the Spaniards than in their last meetings in the last 16 of the competition in both 2013-14 and 2014-15. Barca won both of those two-legged ties fairly comfortably.

Claudio Bravo: played 75 times for Barcelona.