Barcelona 1-0 Manchester City (agg 3-1): Ivan Rakitic goal ends English hopes in the Champions League

Marc-Andre ter Stegen dived to his right, getting both hands to the ball. It was over. Goodnight from them, and goodnight from us.

Manchester City would not be appearing in this season’s Champions League quarter-finals, and neither would a representative from England.

Last to fall, only by dint of the television schedule, City blew what little chance they had with 13 minutes remaining, when Ter Stegen saved Sergio Aguero’s penalty. Gerard Pique had committed the foul that handed City an unlikely lifeline, clumsily felling Aguero in the box, a foul seen instantly by referee Gianluca Rocchi of Italy.

Aguero stepped up to finish his handiwork and against a cacophony of catcalls and whistles struck his kick too near Barcelona’s goalkeeper. There would be no grandstand finish, no second miracle in the Nou Camp for the English game — after Chelsea’s remarkable triumph here in 2012. And maybe that is just as well.

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Blatter loses Appeal

credit: fox sports Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has had his appeal to overturn his six-year ban from all footballing activities unsuccessful.

Hull City Manager chides Tottenham's Jan Vertonghen following Spurs' 2-1 win

Following Spurs' 2-1 win over Hull City, City manager Steve Bruce lashed out at Tottenham's Jan Vertonghen for exaggerating to get Hull City's Ramirez Gaston red-carded. Bruce castigated such act as unhealthy for the Premier League. The Uruguayan midfielder Ramirez got the red card for kicking at Belgian Jan Vertonghen. Bruce argued his man only showed "petulance" when he was provoked by Jan. And such behaviour could not be regarded as "violent". The City went down when Tottenham's Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen found the net in the game's second half. Speaking with his news conference, Bruce said, "Ramirez has shown petulance. Vertonghen has had a little go at him, and Ramirez has flicked out. The law says it is a violent conduct. For me, it is an act of petulance -- it is not violent conduct." Via espn

Headmaster Pep Guardiola injects new rules into City camp; bans mobile phones

It's safe to say Pep is a perfectionist and also a headmaster, lol. But seriously, Pep has no intentions to drop his standards after a record-breaking 2017/18 season. He doesn't plan to chart a course like his colleague Ranieri of Leicester City did. Pep recently banned the use of mobile phones, and he also banned lateness to training. Every violation comes with a corresponding fine, ask Benjamin Mendy. Pep plans to repeat his outstanding triumph like he did last season.

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