Barcelona's Luis Suarez shown during his side's 1-0 loss to Malaga in La Liga on Saturday. Lluis Gene / AFP / February 21, 2015
Barcelona's Luis Suarez shown during his side's 1-0 loss to Malaga in La Liga on Saturday. Lluis Gene / AFP / February 21, 2015
Barcelona's Luis Suarez shown during his side's 1-0 loss to Malaga in La Liga on Saturday. Lluis Gene / AFP / February 21, 2015
Barcelona's Luis Suarez shown during his side's 1-0 loss to Malaga in La Liga on Saturday. Lluis Gene / AFP / February 21, 2015

Barcelona’s Luis Suarez licking his chops over Man City’s ‘weakness at the back’


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Luis Suarez will aim to exploit what he considers a vulnerable Manchester City defence when he returns to England for the first time as a Barcelona player.

The former Liverpool striker, who moved on to the Camp Nou last summer, has not scored so freely in Spanish football as he did in the Premier League.

But he is relishing a crack on Tuesday night at unlocking Uefa Champions League rivals City's backline, picking it out as the soft spot in Manuel Pellegrini's team.

He said ahead of the Etihad Stadium last-16 match that City have quality “in midfield and up front, but they also have weakness at the back”.

The reigning Premier League champions kept Suarez scoreless in their matches against Liverpool last season, so may have something to say about his verdict.

Suarez was speaking in an interview with Uefa, according to Barcelona’s website.

City’s form had been shaky before they returned to convincing ways with wins over Stoke City and Newcastle United this month, but Suarez senses they can rise to the big occasion.

“People may doubt them because of the run they have been on lately, but they are Manchester City,” Suarez said. “They are Premier League champions and they have top quality players all over the pitch.”

He added: “I think when you play against the big teams you never know what they’re doing on the pitch.

“They have really good players and really good quality with the ball but we are Barcelona and we know what we can do against City.”

Barcelona were beaten 1-0 by Malaga at the Camp Nou on Saturday, with the attack of Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar unable to prevent a defeat that damages the La Liga title hopes of Luis Enrique’s team.

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