Barcelona will take a one-goal advantage into the second leg of their last-16 Champions League clash against Manchester City following a 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium. Luis Suarez's first-half double was enough to hand the Catalan giants victory, as they take two valuable away goals into the second-leg clash on March 18 at the Nou Camp. Here, Sportsmail's Martin Keown gives his big match verdict to Tuesday night's events in Manchester. Luis Suarez celebrates the crucial first away goal for Barcelona after an emphatic finish past Joe Hart . Manuel Pellegrini wants his teams to play with two strikers. That’s his philosophy but it left Man City exposed, especially in the first half. They only played one striker in this fixture last year, so he clearly wanted to go on the offensive. But David Silva and Samir Nasri are not designed to chase and press teams. They needed one striker sitting deep but with two further forward and the City midfield chasing shadows, Barcelona could dominate. Manchester City playmaker David Silva (middle) is not the type of player to chase and press teams . Samir Nasri (middle) is another of those luxury players, like Silva . Playing against Barcelona, you don’t want to give anything away. But that’s exactly what the first goal was. A gift. It was far too easy for Luis Suarez. The second was not too good, either. Fernando was dragged wide and with no midfield protection, Vincent Kompany came flying out of the defensive line. That left space for Messi to drive into and once City started retreating, left back Jordi Alba bombed forward and was able to pick out his pass, which is not hard when the defenders are like mannequins. Six City players left Suarez unmarked as he notches Barcelona's second goal at the Etihad . Suarez, who scored only once in six games against City at Liverpool, was on song on his return to England . The 28-year-old, pictured scoring his second goal, was afforded too much space in crucial areas of the pitch . I thought we might have seen the best of Lionel Messi, but he was excellent. He receives the ball in positions where almost every player in the world would lay it off. It was the Messi of old — though I can’t remember Messi missing a penalty or spurning an open goal too often! Lionel Messi (middle) looks to go in between both David Silva (left) and Fernandinho (right) Messi (right) watches on as City stopped Hart does brilliantly to save his last-minute penalty . The 27-year-old then sent his headed rebound well wide - but despite that impressed for Barcelona on the night . It feels like another false dawn for City. Before the match all the talk was of how they can match Barca, but they were still short. They did well to get it back to 2-1 but it will be difficult at the Nou Camp. It seems that City’s quest for Champions League greatness is going to take longer than they thought. City trio Nasri (left), skipper Vincent Kompany (middle) and Fernando (right) look on despondently . Barcelona's front three were magnificent. Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar were all so willing to run straight at defenders. It was terrific to watch. With Suarez as a focal point in the middle, Neymar and Messi could cut inside onto their stronger foot and they tore into City. No longer do Barcelona just pass for the sake of it. They are more direct, can play on the counter and their current system is getting the best out of Messi and Neymar. Neymar, like Suarez and Messi, was in inspired form as Barcelona secured a impressive 2-1 win at City .
Barcelona beat Manchester City 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday .
A Luis Suarez double was enough to give the Catalan giants victory .
Sportsmail's Martin Keown believes City's tactics against Barca left them completely exposed and the result was  inevitable .
Keown felt they needed one striker sitting deep in order to thwart Luis Enrique's men breaking on the counter-attack .
The former Arsenal defender also thought Lionel Messi was brilliant .
Barcelona will take a one-goal advantage into the second leg of their last-16 Champions League clash against Manchester City following a 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium. Luis Suarez's first-half double was enough to hand the Catalan giants victory, as they take two valuable away goals into the second-leg clash on March 18 at the Nou Camp. Here, Sportsmail's Martin Keown gives his big match verdict to Tuesday night's events in Manchester. Luis Suarez celebrates the crucial first away goal for Barcelona after an emphatic finish past Joe Hart . Manuel Pellegrini wants his teams to play with two strikers. That’s his philosophy but it left Man City exposed, especially in the first half. They only played one striker in this fixture last year, so he clearly wanted to go on the offensive. But David Silva and Samir Nasri are not designed to chase and press teams. They needed one striker sitting deep but with two further forward and the City midfield chasing shadows, Barcelona could dominate. Manchester City playmaker David Silva (middle) is not the type of player to chase and press teams . Samir Nasri (middle) is another of those luxury players, like Silva . Playing against Barcelona, you don’t want to give anything away. But that’s exactly what the first goal was. A gift. It was far too easy for Luis Suarez. The second was not too good, either. Fernando was dragged wide and with no midfield protection, Vincent Kompany came flying out of the defensive line. That left space for Messi to drive into and once City started retreating, left back Jordi Alba bombed forward and was able to pick out his pass, which is not hard when the defenders are like mannequins. Six City players left Suarez unmarked as he notches Barcelona's second goal at the Etihad . Suarez, who scored only once in six games against City at Liverpool, was on song on his return to England . The 28-year-old, pictured scoring his second goal, was afforded too much space in crucial areas of the pitch . I thought we might have seen the best of Lionel Messi, but he was excellent. He receives the ball in positions where almost every player in the world would lay it off. It was the Messi of old — though I can’t remember Messi missing a penalty or spurning an open goal too often! Lionel Messi (middle) looks to go in between both David Silva (left) and Fernandinho (right) Messi (right) watches on as City stopped Hart does brilliantly to save his last-minute penalty . The 27-year-old then sent his headed rebound well wide - but despite that impressed for Barcelona on the night . It feels like another false dawn for City. Before the match all the talk was of how they can match Barca, but they were still short. They did well to get it back to 2-1 but it will be difficult at the Nou Camp. It seems that City’s quest for Champions League greatness is going to take longer than they thought. City trio Nasri (left), skipper Vincent Kompany (middle) and Fernando (right) look on despondently . Barcelona's front three were magnificent. Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar were all so willing to run straight at defenders. It was terrific to watch. With Suarez as a focal point in the middle, Neymar and Messi could cut inside onto their stronger foot and they tore into City. No longer do Barcelona just pass for the sake of it. They are more direct, can play on the counter and their current system is getting the best out of Messi and Neymar. Neymar, like Suarez and Messi, was in inspired form as Barcelona secured a impressive 2-1 win at City .
clash against Manchester City following a 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium. Luis Suarez's first-half double was enough to hand the Catalan giants Camp. Here, Sportsmail's Martin Keown gives his and press teams. They needed one striker sitting against Barcelona, you don’t want to give they thought. City trio Nasri (left), skipper were magnificent. Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, like Suarez and Messi, was in inspired