Club Journalist @dclayton_mcfc takes a look back at the weekend result and ahead to Wednesday’s trip to the Nou Camp...
1 Silva polish
Last season was probably the hardest of David Silva’s career.
Blighted by an ankle injury picked up while on duty with Spain during the autumn, his mobility was restricted and he found it difficult to find his best form. Arguably the best midfielder City have ever had, decided to play on rather than take the rest he probably needed, partly because Samir Nasri has been ruled out for much of the campaign and partly because he wanted to help the team.
The summer break came at the right time and Spain’s relatively early exit from Euro 2016 meant he could finally rest for the best part of a month.
He returned refreshed, batteries fully recharged and ready to play a pivotal role in Pep Guardiola’s new-look City - and hasn’t looked back since.
In fact, the player the fans have nicknamed ‘El Mago’ is shaping up to have his best season yet for the Blues in this, seventh season with the Club.
Whether it is because he has regularly worn the captain’s armband or being totally free of pain or perhaps just the perfect role of being integral to everything that the team do, Silva has been mesmerising so far this campaign and his display against Everton had a touch of everything - silk, steel and energy.
It could be that he is set to enjoy his best season yet for City, which is bad news for the rest of the Premier League and, hopefully, our Champions League opponents...
2 Spot of bother?
What’s with the penalties this season?
One thing is for sure, the way City play intricate passes in and around the box means defenders will be drawn to make rash challenges and, as Phil Jagielka found to his cost on Saturday, unless you get the tackle spot on. you’re going to give away a penalty.
The Blues have won EIGHT spot-kicks already in just 13 matches, dispatching four and missing four.
Undoubtedly the two misses against Everton cost the Blues two points with both Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne’s attempts at that cliched ‘nice height for a keeper’. Kun has missed four for Club and country this season but, rightly, Pep insists he is happy for the Argentine to continue taking them.
The fact is, you only have to look at Lionel Messi who has missed 17 for Barcelona and has a success rate of 76% - yet do the Catalans take the penalty-taking duties away from him? Of course not. He scores at a rate of three in every four he takes and Sergio will score more than he misses - therefore, the risk is worthwhile.
3 In Sane we trust...
As he adjust to life in the Premier League, a new club and a new country, it’s fair to say we haven’t seen the best of Leroy Sane yet - but his performance against Everton suggested he’s not far off showing the sort of form that made him one of Germany’s most exciting prospects.
Sane effortlessly shifts through the gears but apart from speed, he is strong and physically imposing.
His trickery bamboozled the Everton defence on several occasions during the first half and on another day, he might have won a penalty. He is different, unpredictable there is much more to come from the 20-year-old.
4 300 up for Vincent
It almost went under the radar that Vincent Kompany made his 300th City appearance on Saturday.
The City skipper came on in the dying moments of the 1-1 draw with Everton as a makeshift forward and it will have felt good to get a few minutes under his belt.
Only Joe Hart also managing the feat so it is a rare achievement in the modern era - it’s unlikely Vincent will be celebrating too much, but it’s great to see him back nonetheless.
5 Another fine Messi
So Lionel Messi took just three minutes to score after coming on as a 55th-minute sub at the weekend. Three minutes.
Of course, we knew the Argentine genius would be fit for this game as the nature of his injury suggested he’d be fit around about now - no surprises there, then. Will he be at his sharpest? That’s another story, but even if he’s running at 75%, he will be a major threat.
And the Catalans rested Andres Iniesta and Luis Suarez played for just 45 minutes ahead of Wednesday’s game, though full-backs Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto and goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen are all doubtful.
So the question is, is this a good time to face Barcelona? The answer is, there is no good time to face Barcelona... but this should be a fascinating game with City fans perhaps looking forward this trip to the Nou Camp as Pep, Nolito all return to their former stomping ground.
You can watch the match for free in the UK on BT Sport, find out more.
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