Barcelona host Tottenham in what will be the most important game of the season for the Londoners so far this season.
The Catalans have already qualified for the knockout stages and can deem this tie inconsequential but the visitors need a win to seal the runners-up spot. A draw would suffice if Inter fail to defeat PSV Eindhoven.
The hosts enter the fixture after a 4-0 thumping of Espanyol in the Catalan Derby while Spurs saw off Leicester City comfortably, winning 2-0 at the King Power Stadium.
Regardless of how seriously Barcelona will treat this fixture, a face-off between two of the best attacks in Europe promises to be a feisty affair.
We take a look at the talking points ahead of the big game.
FRINGE PLAYERS LOOK TO IMPRESS
Carles Alena.
Since the result of this game will do no harm to Barcelona’s chances in the Champions League, we might be looking at Ernesto Valverde providing an opportunity to the likes of Denis Suarez, Munir El-Haddadi, Juan Miranda and Carles Alena to impress.
Suarez and Munir put on an impressive display against Cultural Leonesa in the Copa Del Rey fixture last week and will be looking to build on it and make a case for a spot in the starting line-up in times of unfriendly scheduling amid congested fixtures.
Alena broke headlines in Barcelona after his promising cameo against Villarreal was capped with a sumptuous goal. The La Masia graduate can gain a lot of experience on Tuesday when he will be pitted against the likes of Dele Alli and Cristian Eriksen.
Valverde should not think twice about leaving Jordi Alba out and handing Miranda a chance. The former Valencia man has not been rested for a while now and deserves a breather in this meaningless fixture.
DO OR DIE FOR SPURS
Harry Kane.
Tottenham have enjoyed their best ever start to a Premier League campaign but weren’t quite so quick off the blocks in the Champions League. After losing a game that was there for the taking at San Siro, the Londoners were humbled by a Messi-led Barcelona at Wembley.
Spurs then failed to beat PSV at the Philips stadium before edging them out at Wembley. A win over Inter made a late bid for the runners-up spot but a mammoth task stands in their way in the form of an in-form Barcelona.
This game can prove to be a major influencer of how Spurs evaluate their season at its end. With London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea putting pressure on them in the league, Mauricio Pochettino’s men will have to work very hard to ensure a top four finish.
Elimination in the group stages of the Champions League to go with failing to secure a spot in next year’s competition would be disastrous. A win at Camp Nou would not only see them progress but also instil some confidence that can motivate them to do better in the league.
SON TO FINISH 2018 ON A HIGH
Heung-Min Son
Son Heung-min can be proud of a successful 2018 and will be looking to end it on a high with a masterclass at Camp Nou. The South Korean helped his country eliminate Germany at the World Cup before earning them a gold in the Asian Games.
Upon his return to the Spurs team, the 26-year-old scored three and assisted two in seven starts. Son has had a great year individually and will be hoping that his dominating performance against Chelsea in the derby two weeks ago won’t be his best of the year as he looks to push his team into the Champions League knockouts.
He created problems on Barcelona’s vulnerable right flank in Wembley and even bagged an assist in the process.
The Catalans have always had a problem in that area of the pitch and with the promising, yet unstable Nelson Semedo filling in for the injured Sergi Roberto, Son will be optimistic about his chances to make a difference.
