Barcelona will need to produce another miraculous comeback to avoid elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Juventus on Wednesday night.
The Catalans overcame a 4-0 first-leg deficit against Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16, and now must repeat the feat at Camp Nou after suffering a 3-0 defeat to the Bianconeri at Juventus Stadium.
Could Messi & Dybala play together?
They will find it a tougher task this time, however, against a defensive unit packed with tried and tested veterans such as Gianluigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini.
| Game | Barcelona vs Juventus |
| Date | Wednesday, April 19, 2017 |
| Time | 19:45 GMT, 14:45 ET |
TV CHANNEL & LIVE STREAM
In the UK, the match will be available to watch live on television on BT Sport 2 and by stream via the BT Sport app.
| UK TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| BT Sport 2 | BT Sport app |
In the US, the match will be available to watch live on television on FS1 and by stream via Fox Soccer 2Go.
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| FS1 | Fox Soccer 2Go |
SQUADS & TEAM NEWS
| Position | Barcelona players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Ter Stegen, Cillessen |
| Defenders | Pique, Mascherano, Alba, Digne, Sergi Roberto, Umtiti |
| Midfielders | Rakitic, Busquets, Denis Suarez, Iniesta, Gomes, Alena |
| Forwards | Luis Suarez, Messi, Neymar, Alcacer |
Barca have Sergio Busquets back in contention after suspension and are likely to give their three-man defence another go with the anchorman returned to the team despite its lack of success in the first leg.
Jordi Masip and Jeremy Mathieu have been deemed surplus to requirements for this match and are not in the squad, while Arda Turan, Rafinha and Aleix Vidal are all injured.
Potential starting XI: Ter Stegen; Mascherano, Pique, Umtiti; Busquets; Sergi Roberto, Rakitic, Iniesta, Neymar; Messi, Suarez.
| Position | Juventus players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Buffon, Neto, Audero |
| Defenders | Chiellini, Benatia, Alex Sandro, Mattiello, Barzagli, Bonucci, Dani Alves, Rugani, Lichtsteiner |
| Midfielders | Pjanic, Khedira, Cuadrado, Marchisio, Lemina, Asamoah, Sturaro, Rincon |
| Forwards | Higuain, Mandzukic, Dybala |
Marko Pjaca is the only absentee for Juventus, so their squad is exactly the same as the one Massimiliano Allegri chose from for the first leg.
Allegri may well name the same starting XI after resting all four of the defenders that started the home fixture, as well as Gianluigi Buffon and Sami Khedira, for the win over Pescara in Serie A at the weekend. Miralem Pjanic was substituted at half-time and Paulo Dybala came off in the 54th minute.
Potential starting XI: Buffon; Dani Alves, Bonucci, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Khedira, Pjanic; Cuadrado, Dybala, Mandzukic; Higuain.
BETTING & GAME ODDS
Getty Images
Barcelona are available at around 4/9 to win at home, according to Oddschecker, with Juventus outsiders at 6/1 and the draw priced at 4/1.
When is the Champions League draw?
Lionel Messi is the 16/5 favourite to score first, with Luis Suarez and Neymar priced at 7/2 and 6/1 respectively and Gonzalo Higuain the top Juventus choice at 15/2.
GAME PREVIEW
Getty Images
Luis Enrique was surprisingly upbeat, rather than annoyed, at the task facing his side after a second heavy defeat in a row away from home in the Champions League. "This is a bit similar to the PSG match but in theory we need to score fewer goals - instead of four, just three to square things," he noted.
Apparently not particularly confident about his side's ability to keep a clean sheet, though, the coach added that he wanted five. "If we score the first goal early, the Camp Nou atmosphere will help conjure a second and third... that'll take care of itself," he continued.
"Right now we've nothing to lose. There's only one option: attack, attack, attack."
While Barca need fewer goals this time, though, they face sterner opposition in Juventus. They have conceded a grand total of two goals in nine games in this season's Champions League and are yet to suffer defeat.
The Catalans will take encouragement from the four Juve shipped to Bayern Munich in last season's round of 16, but the 4-2 defeat the Bianconeri suffered that night would still see them through this time. It is also worth noting that three of Bayern's goals came after 90 minutes had passed.
Barca need another miracle, in short, and a season which looked as if it might be salvageable after the incredible comeback against PSG may be over - the Copa del Rey final aside - without favourable results on Wednesday night and in Sunday's Clasico. Despite all he achieved in his first two seasons at the club, Luis Enrique's legacy is on the line.
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=640&quality=60)