Raheem Sterling has acknowledged that Manchester City were 'punished' by Barcelona on Wednesday night.

The Catalan giants trounced City 4-0 at the Nou Camp in the Champions League with three of the goals coming in the second half after City keeper Claudio Bravo was sent off for handling the ball outside his area.

Sterling feels City were in the contest during the first half but eventually succumbed to Barca's quality in attack as Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick and Neymar added a late sealer.

"It was an interesting game - it was a top team we played, we played really well at times and we could have scored a few goals of our own," said Sterling.

"We handed them some goals as well, and with the sending off it was really disappointing because at that point we were into the game.

"With a team like this we've got to have 11 men on the field working and pressing hard but that wasn't the case and they punished us, so we have to pick ourselves up and go again."

He added: "It's a big difference when you give the ball to those players up front - Messi, Neymar and (Luis) Suarez because they are going to punish you they are going to score goals every time they get a chance.

"That's what we needed to cut out... giving the ball to those guys in areas like that because they are ruthless in front of goal."