Barcelona star Luis Suarez has to step up in Lionel Messi's absence against Inter Milan

Here’s a look at the key players for Wednesday’s game.

Luis Suarez vs Mauro Icardi

Luis Suarez‘s start to the season was deceptive, a brace in Barcelona’s 8-2 thrashing of Huesca making up the bulk of his tally of three goals from his first four club games.

But before he scored against Sevilla on Saturday, the Uruguayan had gone six straight games without finding the back of the net.

Hopefully, that goal is a signal of Suarez’s return to form. With Messi absent, Barcelona’s goalscoring burden falls squarely upon the 31-year-old. Whether he can serve as an effective outlet for Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele without Messi’s influence will be a key factor in this game.

Form has not been an issue for Icardi, who popped up with an injury-time winner in the Milan derby for the second straight year on Sunday night. The Argentine has six goals in nine appearances this term, showing what a poor decision being left out of his country’s World Cup squad this summer was.

Whether fuelled by that particular disappointment or simply buoyed by his first taste of the Champions League, Icardi is reaching new heights this season. Inter’s hopes of an upset rest upon his shoulders.

Philippe Coutinho vs Matteo Politano

Coutinho is the player who will be most expected to fill Messi’s shoes, even if that’s an unreasonable ask. But in the Argentine’s absence, the former Liverpool man is Barcelona’s best creative outlet.

He’s been in good scoring form as well, bagging three goals in his last five club appearances, and that’s just one more way the Brazilian will be asked to replace Messi’s output.

This is a great opportunity for Coutinho, who at 26 is five years younger than Messi and thus has a chance to show what the future holds for Barcelona.

Coutinho’s opposite number Matteo Politano is in a similar situation. With Radja Nainggolan having been forced off early in Inter’s win over AC Milan, and Ivan Perisic and Marcelo Brozovic also likely to miss this game with injuries, Politano will be the Nerazzuri’s chief creative force against Barcelona.

It’s a role he’s already fulfilling. Though the Italian has tallied just one goal and two assists across competitions so far this season, he leads Inter in chances created, with 23.

Coming up against one of the best left-backs in the world in Jordi Alba, this fixture will offer a fair test of Politano’s credentials.

Gerard Pique vs Miranda

Gerard Pique has been under the microscope recently, as a dip in form coincided with Barcelona going winless in four straight league games. The defender has looked far from his best, proving to be a shaky presence at the back and making errors that have cost his side.

Pique, who will likely lead the side out as captain on Wednesday in Messi’s absence, looked more like his usual self in Saturday’s win over Sevilla. Hopefully, that’s a sign that he’s turned the corner. In Icardi, the Spaniard will be facing one of the hottest strikers in Europe.

While Barcelona’s veteran defender has seen his form criticised, Inter’s Miranda has had no such problems. The Brazilian has led his back line superbly whenever he’s featured, though at 34 it’s understandable that he’s been rested as often as he has this season.

Miranda has made only five appearances during Inter’s campaign, and he missed Sunday’s derby – likely in preparation for this fixture, as he also appeared in Inter’s other big game of the group stage, against Tottenham.

At his best, Miranda is a composed, resolute defender. He’ll relish the battle against Suarez and company.