Joe Hart has given Man City a lifeline against Barcelona, says ex-striker

Niall Quinn says Joe Hart has kept Manchester City's hopes of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals alive - just.

City lost the first leg of their last 16 clash with Barcelona 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night, but it could have been worse for Manuel Pellegrini's side had Hart not kept out a stoppage time penalty from Lionel Messi.

And that has at least given the Premier League champions a lifeline, according to Quinn, although he is warning it will have to be some performance at the Nou Camp to overturn the deficit.

Speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, the ex-City striker said: "It was eerie when the penalty was given. It was a hopeless challenge from [Pablo] Zabaleta and you thought, that is it, that is City out, but that lifeline is important.

“It would have to be some turnaround, a tactical revolution almost for Pellegrini to go over there now and upset Barcelona.

“It was a clinical display. The way that first half went, the triangles Barcelona played and the four in City’s midfield getting nowhere near them, it was a mile off what Man City needed and it will have to be some turnaround. But, if it does happen, they will look back to Joe Hart’s moment.”