Manchester City played out an entertaining 3-3 draw with Barcelona on Wednesday night at Camp Nou.
City were the guests in a charity friendly organised in honour of ex-Barcelona goalkeeper Juan Carlos Unzue who was diagnosed with incurable ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) two years ago. All proceeds will go towards ALS research.
After taking a first-half lead through Julian Alvarez, City found themselves trailing late on thanks to goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay. Cole Palmer got on the scoresheet earlier on, but it was Riyad Mahrez who secured the draw with a penalty deep into injury time.
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City fans got the opportunity to see some of the players who haven't featured much this season, but there will be concern for the well-being of Luke Mbete after the young defender was stretchered off wearing a neck brace after suffering a head injury.
Here are a few key things we spotted during the game.
Walker at centre-back
Pep Guardiola was expected to name a much-changed line-up from the one that played in Newcastle on Sunday, but nobody foresaw Kyle Walker starting at centre-back.
Pep had just two fit senior centre-backs at his disposal thanks to the injury absences of Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake, so perhaps he was trialling a contingency plan should Ruben Dias or John Stones pick up any issues in the coming weeks.
Cole Palmer in midfield
Cole Palmer got a first start of the season, but it wasn't in his usual right-wing role.
The 20-year-old spent most of his evening in the left-sided number eight role usually taken up by Bernardo Silva or Ilkay Gundogan.
The academy graduate looked a little sloppy early on - as did his teammates - but he scored City's second of the night by making an excellent run into the box.
City pulled no punches
This was a friendly played for an admirable cause, but City didn't travel to Catalonia to play at a snail's pace. The Blues were on the back foot for much of the first half, with the likes of Rico Lewis and Kalvin Phillips making some hefty challenges.
Friendly by name but not necessarily by nature.
Relentless Alvarez
City knew they were getting a 'street fighter' style forward when they signed Julian Alvarez from River Plate, but everyone at the club has been surprised to see just how hard-working the 22-year-old is.
City didn't enjoy their usual high share of possession in the first half, but Alvarez still made all the runs off the ball required of him and was relentless in his pressing.
His goal was an example of that. The finish couldn't have been simpler as goalkeeper Inaki Pena spilt the ball right onto his boot, but it was Alvarez's willingness to get to goal - despite Sergio Gomez's cross being too close to the goalkeeper - that put Pena under pressure.
Encouraging Gomez debut
Sergio Gomez only signed for City a week ago but Guardiola took the opportunity to give the young left-back a first run-out.
Gomez was replaced by Josh Wilson-Esbrand at half-time but he looked solid during his 45-minute showing. The Spaniard made one particularly good intervention when Raphinha came twisting and turning into the City penalty area, and looked dangerous when collecting the ball out wide in attack.
Gomez was an unexpected signing, but he could prove to be a very good one.
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