Football
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Andres Iniesta warns Barcelona of 'dangerous' Man City after win

Andres Iniesta says that Manchester City's 2-1 defeat in their Champions League round of 16 tie with Barcelona means the English side will be "more dangerous" in the second leg.

Barca completely controlled the first half of Tuesday's first leg at the Etihad stadium, and got their rewards through Luis Suarez's double strike. However a more even second period featuring a Sergio Aguero goal for City, and a missed Lionel Messi penalty, means the tie remains at least open heading into the return game at the Camp Nou on March 18.

Iniesta told Catalan station TV3 that City would have to attack now as they had no other option, however Barca should go through in front of their own fans.

"We have taken an important step, but nothing is decided," Iniesta said. "The tie remains open. When a team is almost totally lost, like City are now, they become more dangerous. In the return we have to play with the same ambition and concentration. A big thing in our favour to make the next round is we are playing at home, with our fans behind us."

Iniesta said he was pleased that Barca had bounced back from Saturday's 1-0 La Liga home defeat to Malaga, and Messi's failure to convert the injury time penalty -- or head in the rebound after Joe Hart had saved -- was not such a big deal.

"Apart from the penalty, which was unfortunate, we are leaving Manchester very satisfied," he said. "[At 3-1] the tie would not be over either. We are leaving feeling positive. It was important to show a good image after Saturday's defeat. They had their chances, but the team did a good job. With the scoreboard against them they threw everything forward. We did not defend badly, but they scored a goal."

Barca's minds must switch back to La Liga immediately, Iniesta said, with full focus now on trying to cut into Real Madrid's four point lead by winning on Saturday afternoon in Granada.

"Before the second leg against City, we return to a competition in which we cannot slip up again," he said. "On Saturday we have, on paper, an easy game in Granada, but I believe it will be difficult."

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