Good evening and welcome to LIVE text coverage of one of the matches of the season so far, as Manchester City host Barcelona in the first leg of a mouthwatering Champions League last-16 tie at the Etihad. Kick off 7.45pm GMT.

PHOTO: Suarez celebrates his opener.

Much, much better from the hosts who could and SHOULD have reduced the arrears already.

HUGE MISS! Silva's corner is flicked on by Kompany at the near post for Dzeko who has all day to pick his spot with a free header from eight yards, but he plants his effort straight into the arms of Ter Stegen.

GREAT BLOCK! Mascherano puts his body on the line to deny Nasri an almost certain goal after a cut back from the left from Silva saw the Frenchman take aim from 10 yards.

Another City corner. Silva flings an outswinger towards Dzeko who guides a header wide from eight yards. Better from the home side.

City fast out of the traps and win an early corner. Nasri to take it.... it drops for Fernando but his first touch bounces off his knee and Barca hack it to safety.

RESTART! City get the second period up and running with it all to do.

City 0-2 Barca. Suarez's double separates the sides. Barca have been superb while City have struggled at both ends of the pitch.

Nasri flashes in a drive that is well saved by Ter Stegen down to his left.

Alves booked.

OFF THE BAR! Another wonderful counter sees Alves burst free from the right and clip a delicate chip onto the top of Hart's bar with the keeper stranded. Unlucky.

Barca playing keep ball, waiting for the moment to hit city again...

Good defending by Alba as he nods to safety under real pressure from Zabaleta from Milner's probing cross.

Rakitic booked.

Milner feeds Clichy on the left but the full-back's cross is disappointing. Replays showing that Dzeko's shot hit Pique's arm. Would have been harsh to give a spot kick though.

Dzeko lets fly from distance and sees his shot blocked by Pique. Was that a hand? The referee says no. The Barca defender was just inside his own area there.

Barca's attacking trio are loving this. City aren't getting anywhere near them. Pellegrini is going to have to make some big calls in that dressing room at half time.

It's so tight and intricate by Barca. More nibble feet from Neymar see him glide a pass into Messi who almost flicks it underneath Hart, but the England stopper makes another decent save and is the only City player coming out of this half with any credit at present.

City looking stunned. Barca cruising at present. The home crowd singing 'Blue Moon' but the visitors are the side on song here.

But perhaps it's ex-Liverpool defender, Steve Nicol who sums up the first period best.

Plaudits flying in via the Twittersphere!