Lionel Messi the hat-trick king and more essential stats for Tottenham v Barcelona

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  • It’s a game that Tottenham simply can’t afford to lose after the last-gasp gut-punch inflicted by Inter Milan in their Champions League opener.

    If there’s any time to face Barcelona it is now, however, as the Blaugrana stumble into Wembley having picked up two league points out of a possible nine against modest competition.

    Meanwhile, Spurs have built up a sizeable head of steam, with two league victories sandwiching a come-from-behind penalty shootout win against in-form Watford in the Carabao Cup.

    We’ve picked out some of the most intriguing statistics, including form, history and a couple concerning a certain Lionel Messi

    What impact will Messi have at Wembley?

    Lionel Messi scored his eighth Champions League hat-trick in the opener against PSV, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo (7) for most-ever in the history of the competition.

    Tottenham have kept only one clean sheet in their last seven Champions League matches, last keeping out Cypriot side APOEL at Wembley in December 2017.

    Mauricio Pochettino’s side won all three home games in last season’s group stage. But, before beating Borussia Dortmund on matchday one, they had won just one of their last five home games in Europe.

    Luis Suarez will fancy his chances of a goal in England, having scored four times in seven appearances for Liverpool against Spurs.

    The 3-1 victory against Real Madrid last season was Tottenham’s first success at home to Spanish opponents in their sixth fixture (D2 L3). It was also only their second success in their 12 clashes against La Liga clubs.

    Spurs overcame Real Madrid last season.

    After losing 3-1 at Manchester City in the 2016/17 group stage, Barcelona are without a win in their last two visits to England – having won the previous three away games.

    Barcelona have hit the woodwork eight times in La Liga this season, with an unfortunate Lionel Messi seeing six of his shots find the frame of the goal.

    The 1981/82 European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-finals was the scene of the only other game between the two sides. After a 1-1 first-leg draw at White Hart Lane, Allan Simonsen sent Barca through to the final at the Nou Camp with the only goal of the game.

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