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Better than Barcelona? How does Mario Balotelli's Manchester City boast stack up?

Is Mario Balotelli's right to claim Manchester City have the best attack in world football?

Mario Balotelli - Is there any truth to Balotelli's boast?
The magic number: Balotelli claims City have the best attacking trio in the world Credit: Photo: AP

MANCHESTER CITY

Carlos Tevez
The league's best striker on current form, especially since that nasty business about relationships with the club's top brass "breaking down completely" quietly went away as quickly as it arrived. Joint top of the Premier League's scoring charts with 14 so far this season. Added another cracker last night to open scoring against Leicester.

Mario Balotelli
Injured currently, but is yet to pull up many trees in the Premier League, save for a hat-trick (well, with two penalties) against Aston Villa. Has mainly attracted attention for his much-vaunted "fiery" temper and curious choice of hats. Claims United fans stop him in the street and beg him to sign for them. Perhaps does not understand Manchester sense of humour just yet.

Edin Dzeko
City's Bosnian new recruit was ineligible for last night's FA Cup replay against Leicester as he was not registered before the original game at the Walkers Stadium. Time will tell if he can replicate his goalscoring form for Wolfsburg in this country, but looked bright on his debut last weekend.

BARCELONA

Lionel Messi
Two-time world player of the year, two-time Champions League winner, has averaged a goal a game in his last two seasons, the lynchpin of an awe-inspiring Barcelona side. Impossible to knock off the ball, never dives, widely regarded as the best player of his generation.

David Villa
A fearsomely gifted striker who has led the line in Spain's triumphant Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010 sides. Suceeded Raul as the wearer of the country's iconic number seven shirt and was a perrenial top scorer for Valencia in five hugely successful years at the club.

Pedro
Very much George Harrison compared to the Lennon and McCartney he plays with. But Pedro is another wonderful attacking talent with 11 goals in 19 games so far this season. Has already won the Spanish league twice and one Champions League medal.

IN CONCLUSION: City have scored 37 goals in the Premier League this season - just two more than Newcastle. And against their main rivals - Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal - they have scored once. Tevez is a serious talent, and both Balotelli and Dzeko have huge promise. But as yet, City have delivered nothing to back up Balotelli's boast.