Barcelona host Manchester City in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Wednesday desperately in need of a good performance to distract attention from a dreadful start to 2014 on and off the field. Despite being hastily appointed just two weeks before the campaign kicked off as Tito Vilanova was unfortunately forced to resign due to on-going health problems, coach Gerardo Martino oversaw Barca's best ever start to a La Liga season. Martino's first defeat in charge came in the Champions League to a youthful Ajax side in November, but it mattered little as Barca also strolled through to the last 16 as winners of Group H.

Dallas Stars forward Rich Peverley was rushed to a Dallas hospital after collapsing on the bench in the opening period of a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Stars said the 31-year-old Peverley was conscious after being carried by the team's trainers from the players' bench in the first period and then loaded into an ambulance. "Thank you for your prayers, thoughts and well wishes everybody," the Stars said on their Twitter site on Monday. "Rich Peverley remains conscious and continues to be treated.