Manchester City 0 Barcelona 2: Dietmarr Hamann admits Barcelona were 'different class' to City, but shouldn't have had a penalty

Hamann admits that it felt inevitable that the Catalans would score against his former side, but believes the referee should've awarded a free-kick when he sent Martin Demichelis off

Barcelona players celebrate Dani Alves' goal - which may have put the tie beyond Manchester City (Getty Images)

Former Manchester City midfielder Dietmarr Hamann believes that even though Barcelona pose less of a threat than they did a few years ago, the completely outclassed Manuel Pellegrini’s side in their 2-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

City looked strong as they held the Catalan side until the 54th minute, when Lionel Messi broke clear from defender Martin Demichelis only to be brought down as the centre-back slid in on his Argentinian compatriot to earn himself a red card. Messi converted the resulting penalty, with Brazilian right-back Dani Alves adding a second late on to put City on the verge of Champions League elimination.

They will be without Demichelis for the second leg and could also see Pellegrini banned for his post-match attack on referee Jonas Eriksson. However, Hamann told Sky Sports’ that his former side were completely outclassed by Gerardo Martino’s side, and feels that they dealt City a lesson in how to be successful when it comes to European football.

“Barcelona may not be the team they were five or six years ago, but they were in a different class to Man City,” Hamann said after the match.

“Even in the first half, Barcelona were well in control of the game. They didn't create an awful lot of chances in the first half but over the 90 minutes, you have to say Man City have been outclassed.

“This was a wake-up call for them for what you need to win the competition.

“Now it's a big ask to come back from 2-0. Sergio Aguero will be back hopefully for the second leg but at 2-0 down, I think it's too much for them.”

The 40-year-old German accepted that the Demichelis red card changed the game for the home side, but stressed that Barcelona were on top regardless and that Messi shouldn’t have been allowed to run onto Andres Iniesta’s pin-point through ball unopposed.

“It was very clever movement from Messi and an inch-perfect pass from Iniesta,” he added, before claiming that a free-kick should’ve been awarded rather than a penalty.

“Demichelis brought Messi down and it's a sending off. It should have been a free-kick but it's very hard for the ref to see. The contact is six to eight inches outside the box and sometimes you have to have sympathy for the ref,” Hamann continued.

“But it was nothing less than Barcelona deserved. They were well on top for the first 50 minutes, and you always felt the first goal would go to Barcelona.

“They shouldn't have had the penalty but later Gael Clichy played Cesc Fabregas onside for Pique's 'goal' - and that should have counted.

“So I don't think City can say they were hard done by, because there was no doubt about the sending-off and if this goal went in, Barcelona may well have put the tie to bed.”

Pellegrini blasts referee claiming he 'favoured Barca from the beginning'

Fabregas tells critics, including Mourinho, to 'shut up'

Analysis of Lionel Messi

Hamann’s fellow Sky Sports pundit John Collins admitted that he cannot see a City comeback given that only five side’s in Champions League history have overturned a two-goal deficit to progress.

“City are a good team but you can't see City going there and winning by three goals,” said Collins.

“You never know in football. If they got an early goal and Barcelona got a player sent off, who knows? And City will go there with hope - but I can't see it happening.”

The Spanish champions enjoyed the bulk of the possession during the match, and while that is not uncommon for the Catalan side, it is very unusual to see that from the Premier League title candidates this season, as Collins explained.

“Barcelona got possession for large periods of the game,” he said. “You expect that, but not quite as much as we saw. For City, it was a shock to the system because they're so used to doing that week-in, week-out and keeping the ball in the Premier League.

“But there were periods when they sat too deep around their box. We've said that many times and it's easier said than done to go up and press the Barcelona midfielders.

“Then conceding a goal and getting a red card at the same time was a killer blow for them.”