Joe Hart hails "fantastic" Luis Suarez

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has acknowledged that he came up against a "fantastic player" in Luis Suarez during tonight's Champions League last-16 clash at the Etihad Stadium.

The Uruguayan striker was making his first return to England since leaving Liverpool in the summer and put in an instrumental display for Barcelona, scoring both of their goals in a 2-1 victory.

Hart was powerless to prevent either goal and thwarted Suarez on a number of other occasions to prevent things getting even worse for the hosts in a difficult first half.

"Luis Suarez is a fantastic player, he took his goal well," the England number one told ITV Sport after the match.

Despite a perceived slow start to his Barcelona career, Suarez - who also beat Hart twice while playing for Uruguay at last summer's World Cup - has now been involved in 20 goals in his 23 matches for the club.