Barcelona will welcome Inter Milan to Spotify Camp Nou on Wednesday evening in a game that they desperately have to win in order to keep their Champions League Round of 16 qualification hopes alive.
The Blaugrana lost 1-0 to Inter Milan at the San Siro last week courtesy of a first-half strike from Hakan Calhanoglu. Prior to the defeat to the Nerazzurri, Xavi Hernandez’s side had lost 2-0 away to Bayern Munich.
With Bayern looking well-placed to take the top spot in Group C, Barcelona and Inter must fight for the second berth with Viktoria Plzen virtually eliminated. On that note, let us take a look at the key player battles that could define the game at the Spotify Camp Nou.
#Robert Lewandowski vs Inter Milan centre-backs
Barcelona’s leading goalscorer this season, Robert Lewandowski will be a man on a mission to help his new employers take all three points from Inter Milan.
After a fantastic hat-trick in the 5-1 win over Viktoria Plzen, Lewandowski has blanked against Bayern Munich and Inter Milan. Thus, the Pole will be keen to return to his former self in a game that the Blaugrana must win to stay alive in the Champions League.
Having kept Lewandowski quiet for the entire game at San Siro last week, the Inter back three of Milan Skriniar, Stefan De Vrij and Alessandro Bastoni will look to repeat the same on Wednesday evening. It will be difficult for the Inter backline to stop the Barcelona star again, but not impossible.
#Nicola Barella vs Sergio Busquets
With Inter’s reliance on the drive and direct running of midfielders Nicola Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu and Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Barcelona’s on the distribution and creativity of Sergio Busquets, Gavi and Pedri, the outcome of the game is likely to be decided in the centre of the pitch.
That is why the battle between Nicola Barella and Sergio Busquets will be one to keep an eye on. Barella’s energy, drive and tenacity make Inter tick in midfield, something Busquets must stop while helping Barcelona dominate the ball.
If the Barcelona skipper can disrupt Barella’s rhythm in the middle of the park, as well as, provide Gavi and Pedri passes in key areas, the home side’s chances of winning will become much higher.
#Edin Dzeko & Lautaro Martinez vs Gerard Pique & Eric Garcia
Barcelona’s defensive injury crisis is likely to see Xavi Hernandez opt for the centre-back pairing of Gerard Pique and Eric Garcia.
Pique has not played much this season as Xavi has decided to use Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo and Eric Garcia more in central defence. However, the veteran Spaniard’s experience and winning mentality on such a big night will be key, and having such an established player at the back should also give Garcia some much-needed confidence.
On this theory, naturally, Barcelona’s pair of central defenders are braced for a double goal threat from Inter’s Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez. Dzeko and Martinez will lick their lips at the prospect of facing Pique and Garcia and exploiting their lack of pace on the break.
It promises to be a tantalising battle between Inter’s strikers and Barcelona’s centre-backs, as the outcome of the game could very well be decided on it.