When Vincent Kompany speaks he tends to make sense. So when, after Manchester City’s trouncing of hapless Newcastle, the Belgian claimed Stoke could be tougher opponents than Champions League visitors Barcelona, heads turned. Did he really just say that? He did — and Manuel Pellegrini’s leader had a point. ‘Barcelona’s ability is not about hurting you all game,’ Kompany explained. ‘You can have tougher games when you go to Stoke. It’s about the fact Barcelona can decide a game within a second. Barcelona's attacking trio of Neymar (left), Lionel Messi (centre) and Luis Suarez Sergio Aguero and David Silva can provide the magic for Manchester City, believes Vincent Kompany
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Vincent Kompany says you can have harder time at Stoke than Barcelona
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But Barcelona have the quality to 'decide a game within a second'
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Manchester City face the Spanish giants in Champions League last-16
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They were beaten by Barcelona at the same stage last season
From relative comfort, @placeholder found themselves a goal down and a man short, all because of a tiny lapse in concentration.