Barcelona vs Manchester City: SunSport columnist Lothar Matthaus on how Pep Guardiola can beat former club

Here, the Germany legend analyses how Pep Guardiola can return to Barcelona and orchestrate a stunning Champions League triumph.

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Pep Guardiola will have his hands full trying to stop Lionel Messi

Three’s Kompany for Pep

THE great thing about any Pep Guardiola team is that you never know how they will play.

Even if you can get the first team right, he will change the system if he wants to do that.

He always wants to surprise the opposition and the fans — and sometimes the players, too.

Pep played  a back three against Everton and, while Barcelona are a very different team, City can benefit by doing the same in the Camp Nou. The return of Vincent Kompanycan make it even easier.

City could play with a normal defensive line in a 4-1-4-1 and the key then is that they are compact because you can’t let Barca have the space to play their game.

But I think Guardiola will want to show something special going back to his old team. Tactically it gives you five at the back when Barca come at you, but three in the line when you have the ball.

The two wing-backs then go into the centre  to close that space up where Barca play short passes.

Pep always wants at least one extra man in  midfield  than the opposition and that means the wing-backs can push in and play around the defensive midfielder.

It’s a real plus when it comes to ball possession as well.