Manchester City's Champions League hopes live on....just! Joe Hart's late penalty save from Barcelona star Lionel Messi give City a chance going into the second leg said City boss Manual Pellegrini. City were beaten 2-1 by the Catalan giants and had Gael Clichy sent off.

There was actually an element of misfortune about Barcelona's first goal on 16 minutes. The ball Messi levered in from the right could have fallen anywhere after it had struck Kompany but happened to drop at the feet of Suarez, whose slash at the ball with his left foot saw it soar into the net.

In response, Dzeko headed wide from Clichy’s cross, but Barcelona were in control, with Messi nonchalantly nutmegging David Silva inside his own half shortly before Suarez hared onto Neymar’s pass and forced Hart to make a sprawling save.

Suarez didn't have to wait long for his second goal, as Messi drifted through two tackles and passed to Jordi Alba, whose delayed cross was glanced in by a sliding Suarez.

Heads were bowed as the City players left the field at halftime.

Ter Stegen had rather more to do in the opening stages of the second half, but City could not convert the initial opportunities they made.

Dzeko squandered two headed chances - putting one wide and sending another straight at Ter Stegen from six yards out - while the German also caught a header from Demichelis and saw Aguero fire a shot just wide.

City's goal came when when Gael Clichy stole possession from Messi and delivered a ball which, after David Silva's delicate touch, Aguero burst on to in the area and blasted home.

Barcelona do give you chances. But just when City found some hope it was ripped away by Clichy's dismissal for a high challenge on Alves, his second yellow card after an earlier foul on Rakitic.

Messi won Barcelona a late penalty after he was felled by Argentina team-mate Zabaleta, but his spot-kick was parried by City goalkeeper Joe Hart and he headed the rebound wide of the left-hand post.

Photo: Action Images

Manchester City Polls