City upbeat on eve of Barca clash

5-0 thrashing of Newcastle the best tonic before crucial last-16 Champions League encounter at home

Contrasting weekend results have given Tuesday's Champions League last-16 reunion between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium a different allure to what might have been expected only days ago.

Barcelona, 4-1 aggregate victor when the teams met at this stage last year, had found scintillating form since a l-0 loss to David Moyes's Real Sociedad on Jan 4, winning its next 11 games in all competitions.