UCL Round of 16 - 1st Week Discussion/Match Day(s) Thread

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Man City v. Barcelona

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This should be reallllly good.

For the City v. Barcelona match, I am absolutely terrified. These past two years watching City go from such lows in the UCL as the Tevez debacle at Bayern to highs as playing brilliantly at Real and Bayern this season has increased my love for City, but continues to increase my innate fears that being a fan of this club has always had.

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The club have been previously branded as "everyone's second favourite club" due to their reputation as being one of the most tumultuous and unpredictable teams in English football with an innate ability 'to do things the hard way'. Supporters refer to inconsistent results and unexpected events as "Typical City", or "City-itis" and media often refer to City as a "soap opera" club. Historical events and results labelled as "Typical City" include being the only team to score and concede 100 league goals in one season (1957-58) and the only reigning champions in English football to be relegated. However, despite anguish, many City fans regard success and failure as part of being a loyal and real football supporter and specifically what it means to be a Manchester City supporter.

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- wikipedia

Barcelona is the club that City has decided to emulate if you will by bringing in the former director of football to do the same job at City. As a fan, along with most other fans, it was a dream to play a club like Barcelona at home, and now our dreams are coming true.

I know that many scoff at City's high spending, something that is the equivalent of your favorite team winning the lottery. At the heart of the club though are determined fans who have seen all of the ups and downs a club can go through, and now we're on the precipice of the greatness. We are in the situation now that we can not only be excited to play Barcelona, but even have a good shot at winning.

Do I think we can? YES
Do I think we will? Probably not, but there is always that hope.

I am not trying to paint this out to be some underdog story at all considering City has a fantastic, well financed team, but to me, to City fans, it feels just unbelievable.

In the end, win or lose, I'm proud of the club and happy for the supporters who get to witness something they never thought they'd see. This tie against Barca will be magnificent to watch.

Prediction:
2-1 City (Nasri, Jovetic, Messi)

Other Predictions:
3-0 PSG
3-1 Munich
2-1 Milan