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Manchester City drop Sergio Aguero to bench; Lionel Messi starts for Barca

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has left leading scorer Sergio Aguero on the bench and will play Kevin De Bruyne as a "false nine" at Barcelona.

Guardiola returns to his old club in the Champions League hoping to be able to stifle the threat of a Barcelona side that will contain Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez from the start.

Messi, back from injury, was a substitute in the weekend's La Liga game against Sporting Gijon -- coming on and scoring within three minutes -- but is in the starting XI on Wednesday.

Speaking on Tuesday, Guardiola said he would try to take on Barcelona at their own game.

The Catalan is trying to transform City's playing style, introducing a high-pressing game to dominate possession and control matches.

"I would like to defend well and attack well but to change the way you think, the way you believe in playing football, it's impossible," the City boss told a news conference. "The players aren't going to believe me [if I do that].

"Of course you adjust many things because it's a special team, how they play, build up, high pressing, they control all the departments and you have to adjust -- and try to be ourselves as much as possible."

Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen; Pique, Rakitic, Sergio, Iniesta, Suarez, Messi, Neymar, Mascherano, Alba, Umtiti.

Manchester City XI: Bravo, Zabaleta, Otamendi, Stones, Kolarov, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Silva, Sterling, Nolito, De Bruyne.