Tottenham Hotspur face a daunting task on Wednesday evening as they attempt to put their first Champions League points on the board when playing host to Barcelona.
The Lilywhites suffered a dramatic 2-1 loss to Inter Milan in their Group B opener last month, but they have since returned to form and have proven pedigree when it comes to overcoming Europe's finest at Wembley.
Tottenham Hotspur
© Reuters
Defeat at San Siro was Tottenham's third in a row in all competitions, following on the back of losses to Watford and Liverpool in the Premier League to increase the pressure just a little on boss Mauricio Pochettino.
The former Espanyol player and manager was quick to take the blame for that late loss in Italy, with goals from Mauro Icardi and Matias Vecino downing Spurs in the final five minutes of the match.
Tottenham have responded well to their toughest run yet under Pochettino by racking up three wins on the bounce. As well as seeing off Brighton & Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town on their travels, the Lilywhites also progressed through to the fourth round of the EFL Cup with a penalty-shootout victory over Watford last week.
After nearly three weeks away from Wembley, Spurs return to their temporary home on Wednesday evening with the aim of getting their Champions League campaign back on track.
For that to happen Pochettino's men will have to pull off a shock result, much in the same manner as their 3-1 triumph over three-in-a-row champions Real Madrid here 13 months ago. As well as beating Madrid on home soil last season, Spurs also took all three points off Borussia Dortmund and APOEL.
That was enough to send the Lilywhites through to the last 16, where they met their match in Juventus over two legs. It was a disappointing end to their latest European adventure, and now the Premier League side have their work cut out to get out of a difficult group this time around.
The 2010-11 quarter-finalists are no longer rookies on the biggest stage of them all, though, with this their third successive participation in the group stage, and Wednesday's starting lineup will not be too dissimilar to the one that was fielded against Madrid in 2017-18.
Another famous night for the Lilywhites under the arch would lift them firmly back in the mix for a top-two spot in Group B, and there is arguably no better time to be facing the Spanish champions.
Recent form in Champions League: L
Recent form (all competitions): LLLWWW
Barcelona
© Reuters
In contract to their opponents, who have a perfect record since their last European outing a fortnight ago, Barcelona have failed to win any of their last three encounters since brushing aside PSV Eindhoven.
That opening European fixture was a walk in the park for Barca, as they were on top throughout and pulled away with a few late goals at Camp Nou, including a couple for Lionel Messi to add to his first-half strike.
That was Messi's eighth Champions League hat-trick, moving him in front of Cristiano Ronaldo in that regard, and it ensured that the feel-good factor remained alive in Catalonia.
Having won six in a row at that point, however, Ernesto Valverde's men have since collected just two points from the last nine on offer in La Liga, allowing the chasing pack to catch up.
Draws at home to neighbours Girona and Athletic Bilbao sandwiched an even-more-shocking 2-1 loss at Leganes, with Valverde coming under particular fire for the 1-1 draw against his former club at the weekend.
The 54-year-old rested Sergio Busquets and Messi for the visit of Athletic, claiming that it would be the best option for his side ahead of their midweek trip to Spurs. That gamble backfired spectacularly, though, as Barca are now badly out of form and on the brink of a mini crisis should they suffer defeat in London.
This competition was arguably at the top of Valverde's list of priorities in the summer, having seen his side crash out at the quarter-final stage in shock circumstances last season for the third year running.
A third La Liga title in four years, as well as another Copa del Rey success, could only partially paper over the disappointment of yet another European failure, made all the more difficult to take due to Real Madrid's triumph in Kiev.
Barca do have a formidable record up until that stage, however, having topped their group in each of the last 11 editions en route to the quarter-finals, and you would certainly not bet against them putting things right at the ground that they lifted the trophy in 2011.
Recent form in Champions League: W
Recent form (all competitions): WWWDLD
Team News
© Reuters
Barcelona will be without a couple of defenders for their trip to Wembley, as Sergi Roberto was forced off in the draw to Athletic and Samuel Umtiti is both injured and suspended.
Nelson Semedo is therefore expected to continue operating at right-back, while Clement Lenglet and Gerard Pique are the preferred pairing at centre-back.
Valverde may opt to tinker with his attacking setup, meanwhile, having gone five games without a clean sheet, so Arturo Vidal in line for another start in place of Ousmane Dembele to give Barca more steel in midfield.
As for the hosts, Pochettino is definitely without Dele Alli and he is also sweating on the fitness of Christian Eriksen, Jan Vertonghen, Mousa Dembele and Hugo Lloris.
With Michel Vorm also suffering an untimely injury, third-choice keeper Paulo Gazzaniga is expected to start in goal for the fourth match running.
Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose were used at wing-back in the 2-0 win at Huddersfield on Saturday, but Pochettino likes to rotate in that department so one or both of Serge Aurier and Ben Davies could return.
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; Trippier, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Davies; Dembele, Dier; Moura, Eriksen, Lamela; Kane
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Ter Stegen; Semedo, Lenglet, Pique, Alba; Busquets; Coutinho, Rakitic; Vidal; Messi, Suarez
Head To Head
These two sides have only met twice before, with those fixtures coming in the semi-finals of the 1982 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.
Barcelona came out on top 1-0 in the second leg at Camp Nou to progress through after playing out a 1-1 draw in reverse tie at White Hart Lane.
The Blaugrana's most recent trip to England was a 1-1 draw at Chelsea in last season's round of 16 first leg, and they also lost 3-1 at Manchester City in the 2016/17 group stage to leave them without a win in their last two visits to England.
We say: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Barcelona
Barcelona may be giants of the continent, but they have won just five of their last 16 away games in the Champions League and have lost four of their last nine. Spurs, who tasted their first success against Spanish opposition on home soil at the sixth attempt when beating Real Madrid last year, will be quietly confident of getting a first point on the board in this season's competition.
No Data Analysis info
