Mauricio Pochettino’s side will welcome the Spanish giants at Wembley on Wednesday to contest the second Group B fixture
Tottenham Hotspur face a massive challenge on Wednesday when they host Barcelona in the Champions League at Wembley to contest the second fixture of Group B.
The north London side tasted a devastating defeat to Inter in their opening game, falling 2-1 after conceding two goals in five minutes, while the Spanish giants completed a 4-0 demolition of PSV Eindhoven.
Spurs were in danger of registering three consecutive defeats heading into the Barcelona game but a 2-0 victory over Huddersfield in the Premier League is sure to lift spirits, while Ernesto Valverde’s men aren’t sporting a massively inspiring run of form either – having failed to register a La Liga win in their last three games.
| Game | Tottenham v Barcelona |
| Date | Wednesday, October 3 |
| Time | 8pm BST / 3pm EST |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
In the United States (US), the game can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial).
New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.
In the United Kingdom (UK), the game can be watched live on BT Sport 2 and livestreamed through BT Sport Live.
| UK TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| BT Sport 2 | BT Sport Live |
Squads & Team News
| Position | Tottenham players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Vorm, Gazzaniga |
| Defenders | Trippier, Rose, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Sanchez, Aurier, Davies |
| Midfielders | Dier, Son, Winks, Lamela, Wanyama, Sissoko, Eriksen, Lucas, Dembele |
| Forwards | Kane, Llorente |
Pochettino faces an injury crisis heading into the fixture with Dele Alli definitely ruled out, while the fitness levels of Christian Eriksen, Jan Vertonghen and Mouse Dembele are still uncertain.
Second-choice goalkeeper Michel Vorm has also picked up an injury but Hugo Lloris is fit, and will play.
Potential Tottenham XI: Lloris; Trippier, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Davies; Winks, Dier; Moura, Eriksen, Lamela; Kane.
| Position | Barcelona players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Ter Stegen, Cillessen, Inaki Pena |
| Defenders | Semedo, Pique, Lenglet, Alba, Vermaelen, Miranda |
| Midfielders | Rakitic, Busquets, D. Suarez, Coutinho, Melo, Rafinha, Vidal |
| Forwards | L. Suarez, Messi, Dembele, Munir |
Barcelona will be without Sergi Roberto – who was forced off in the draw to Athletic Bilbao – while Samuel Umtiti is injured and also suspended for the tie.
Nelson Semedo is expected to be deployed at right-back, with Clement Lenglet and Gerard Pique partnering each other in central defence.
Potential Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Lenglet, Pique, Alba; Busquets; Coutinho, Rakitic; Vidal; Messi, Suarez.
Betting & Match Odds
Barcelona are priced at odds of winning 19/20 according to bet 365, while a draw is available at 29/10. A win for Spurs is also priced at 29/10.
Match Preview
Spurs are no stranger to Groups of Death in the Champions League, placed alongside the likes of Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund last season and finishing first, but overcoming an experienced Barcelona side in the group stage is still, by no means, an easy feat.
The north London side were stunned to have lost the opening fixture at San Siro despite netting first to make it 1-0, and know that they must win their home tie against Barcelona if they want a reasonable chance of progressing through to the last 16.
Pochettino’s team did well to respond to the 2-1 loss in Italy by bouncing back with wins over Huddersfield and Brighton as well as seeing Watford off in the Carabao Cup through a penalty shootout last week.
They will, however, rue the loss of midfielder Dele Alli, and the likely absence of Mousa Dembele.
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Barcelona are top of their group after registering a 3-0 win over PSV Eindhoven, though their La Liga form has been somewhat of a disappointment – amassing just 14 points from their opening seven games and failing to record a win in their last three fixtures.
Valverde’s side were stunned by a 2-1 loss to bottom-placed Leganes and were unable to clinch victory over Girona and Athletico Bilbao, leaving them top of the table through goal difference only.
The Spanish giants, however, are experienced in Europe and will be seeking to win the competition in its entirety this year – last claiming victory in 2015.
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