Barcelona 4-0 Manchester City-Player Ratings

MARC ANDRE TER STEGEN. 8.5. Ter Stegen was always going to look good in comparison to his old teammate Claudio Bravo (sent off), but in truth he was great. There were moments in the match where City actually brought good pressure, and Ter Stegen came up with some big saves, especially after a wonderful run from Ilkay Gundogan in the first half. Impressive day from the German keeper.. GK. Barcelona

Mascherano continues to grow into a role on the right side, whether as part of a back three or as a full-on fullback. Today he was counted on as the latter, and delivered. Oddly enough, despite his past as a midfielder, this is probably the most license he’s had to go forward, and he’s done quite well with it.. RB. Barcelona. JAVIER MASCHERANO. 8

6. Pique looked commanding at the start, but a little knock forced him off in the first half. Unfortunately for him, he spent probably 10 minutes more on the pitch than he should have, and it nearly cost Barcelona when Gundogan waltzed past him. Nevertheless, Luis Enrique will be praying his stalwart defender is fine.. CB. Barcelona. GERARD PIQUE

SAMUEL UMTITI. 7.5. Finally back and healthy, Umtiti took up a role in the middle of the back four, and played well. Faced some adversity when City would get the odd break, but stayed sturdy for most of the match and made some important interventions and clearances.. CB. Barcelona

N/A. Alba’s day was ended quite shortly, with an early injury forcing him off before the game really got going. Coming off an injury, perhaps he wasn’t fully fit from the start. If so, that is a big issue.. LB. Barcelona. JORDI ALBA

7. Busquets, as always, went about his business quietly and effectively. He dictated play well, and remains the source that makes Barcelona tick in the center of the park. When Jeremy Mathieu was sent off, Busquets quickly dipped back into a center back role, and did a job there too.. CDM. Barcelona. SERGIO BUSQUETS

CM. Barcelona. ANDRES INIESTA. 6.5. It wasn’t a vintage Iniesta performance, with City actually taking a lot away from Barcelona’s midfield. However, the Spaniard worked hard, and still managed to get himself an assist before a worthy substitution for his efforts. Continues to be an undervalued influence behind Barca’s front three.

CM. Barcelona. IVAN RAKITIC. 7. Rakitic continues to impress in a box-to-box role where he is virtually everywhere on the pitch. We saw him make a tackle in the corner, and within seconds he was putting a cross in from the opposite corner. Though hardly rewarded for his work, his effort should be praised as always. One little nutmeg late in the game practically from his backside reminded us of his class.

10. Messi’s ranking could have just as easily been a million instead of just 10. The greatest player in the world continued to show why that is the case, as he often does. A lovely hat trick and an assist just for fun at the end, but a purely dominant performance from the first kick. Some may argue about the fortune leading up to some of his goals, but it doesn’t matter-in the end, Messi always puts them home.. RW. Barcelona. LIONEL MESSI (MOTM)

8.5. Suarez didn’t have a glorious game, but, much like Rakitic, can’t be undervalued for his work. Time and time again, the Uruguayan sprinted after balls considered lost causes, and always worked to open up space for his teammates. He would have been rewarded with a goal when Claudio Bravo illegally used his hands, but settled for getting the keeper sent off. Showed his unselfishness finding Messi for his hat trick as well.. ST. Barcelona. LUIS SUAREZ

9. Neymar at times drifted in and out of the game, but when he was on the ball he was always a threat. Unfortunately for him, his chance at a goal seemed gone after a poor penalty, but a dazzling bit of footwork and a good finish gave him a deserved goal. He is overshadowed by Messi yet again, but is still so important.. LW. Barcelona. NEYMAR

LB. Barcelona. LUCAS DIGNE. 6.5. Unexpectedly thrust into the match after Alba’s injury, Digne did quite well for himself. He did his work defensively, and contained the in-form Raheem Sterling brilliantly. Though his contributions going forward weren’t overly impressive, he did his job at the back and it helped Barcelona nonetheless.

Unlike his fellow defender who came on for an injured teammate, Mathieu did not cover himself in glory after entering for the injured Pique. The Frenchman was sent off after two bad yellows, and really wasn’t too effective before that anyway. It didn’t hurt his team, but it’s not the first time Mathieu has been a liability this year.. CB. Barcelona. JEREMY MATHIEU. 4

N/A. Gomes came on late for Iniesta and really didn’t have much to do but make sure the game didn’t have any issues late on. If that’s how we’re judging him, he gets a 10! However, he didn’t have enough time to impose himself on the match.. CM. Barcelona. ANDRE GOMES