COACH Pep Guardiola was left thrilled after Manchester City revived its Champions League bid by beating his old club Barcelona 3-1 in a gloriously open Group C encounter at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

    Ilkay Guendogan scored twice and Kevin De Bruyne netted a superb free kick in a magnificent display from the home side that ended Barcelona’s 100 percent record and made handsome amends for City’s 4-0 drubbing at the Nou Camp two weeks ago.

    Guardiola’s men now have seven points from four matches, two behind leader Barca. Borussia Moenchengladbach is on four points after drawing 1-1 with bottom club Celtic.

    City’s victory looked unlikely when Lionel Messi followed up his hat trick in the game at the Nou Camp with a dazzling opener on the counter attack in the 21st minute and Barca was in control before Guendogan cashed in on a Sergi Roberto mistake.

    In a game peppered with fine attacking and dubious defending, City then ran Barca ragged as the exceptional De Bruyne netted in the 51st minute before helping set up Guendogan’s second after 74.

    City’s best Champions League night left Barca frustrated as the side failed to gain the win that would have sealed its place in the knockout stages for a 13th successive season.

    The home side’s big night started brightly as Raheem Sterling appeared to be brought down in the box by Samuel Umtiti only to be booked, harshly perhaps, for diving.

    Then, in a devastating counter attack initiated by Javier Mascherano when he broke up a City thrust in his own box, Messi found Neymar on the left before marauding down the field to latch on to the Brazilian’s pass and claim his 90th Champions League goal.

    Barca looked poised to take over, threatening a second goal until Sergi Roberto stroked a pass carelessly across his own defensive line, allowing Sergio Aguero to intercept and feed Sterling who crossed for Guendogan to tap the ball in.

    A poor touch from Sterling stopped him putting City ahead at the start of the second half but they did not have to wait long to go ahead as De Bruyne’s free kick dipped over the wall and beat the despairing dive of Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

    City earned reward for its domination when De Bruyne’s pass set up Jesus Navas to whip in the cross that eventually fell to Germany midfielder Guendogan who hammered his fourth goal in two games.

    Meanwhile, two goals from Robert Lewandowski ensured Bayern Munich progressed to the knockout phase of the Champions League as the side came from a goal down to beat PSV Eindhoven 2-1 in their Group D match at the Philips Stadium.

    Paris Saint-Germain joined Arsenal in progressing from Group A and set up a mouth-watering head-to-head for top spot at the Emirates when Thomas Meunier volleyed a spectacular last-minute goal for a 2-1 win at Basel.

    (SD-Agencies)