Defending Champions League winners FC Barcelona host Bayer Leverkusen at the Camp Nou and the main question is: Can the Catalans cope without the injured Lionel Messi?
Read: Why Neymar Could Leave Barca
UEFA Champions League
Teams: FC Barcelona vs Bayer Leverkusen
Venue: Camp Nou
Time: 8.45pm
The Argentine tore a medial collateral ligament in his left knee over the weekend and could miss up to eight weeks of action.
His injury will be welcome news for the visitors – Messi scored five goals the last time Leverkusen visited the Camp Nou, a match in which Barcelona thrashed the Germans 7-1.
Overall, the Catalans have won their past five games against the German side, who last beat Barcelona in 2001.
Leverkusen come into the fixture on the back two consecutive Bundesliga wins, after losing the previous three games.
They enter the match as Group F log leaders after beating BATE Borisov 4-1 in the opening round, while Barcelona drew 1-1 in Rome.
However, the Blaugrana remain favourites to win this tie, with the likes of Neymar, Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta expected to shine in Messi's absence.
Here is how the teams will line up:
FC Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Mathieu; Busquets, Iniesta, Rakitic; Sandro, Neymar, Suarez
Bayer Leverkusen: Leno, Donati, Tah, Papadopoulos, Wendell, Kampl, Kramer, Calhanoglu, Bender, Bellarabi, Hernández
What's your prediction for the tie and how do you think Barcelona will cope without Messi? Have your say in the comments section below.
