Best Odds: 4/5
Bookmaker:
In what is a heavyweight Champions League showdown on Wednesday night, Barcelona will welcome Inter Milan to the Nou Camp.
Barcelona
Starting with the hosts, left hugely frustrated away at the San Siro last week as they were hit with a controversial 1-0 loss on foreign soil, Barcelona know that they face a must-win showdown on Wednesday night. While Xavi s superstars might have continued to impress since opening the 2022/23 campaign, the former Spanish champions have managed to muster just a single victory from their opening three Group C battles. Currently sat third in the table and fearing that they could once again miss out on a Champions League knockout stage ticket this season, fans around the Nou Camp will be calling on their side to lay down a marker here. However, despite that 1-0 loss away at Inter Milan last week, the mood in Catalonia should still be at a real high. Last seen over the weekend picking up some momentum as they claimed a 1-0 victory at home against Celta Vigo, Xavi s side have won three of their previous four matchups across all competitions.
Team News
While summer arrival Robert Lewandowski might have bagged a single strike in his last five appearances for club and country, the former Bayern Munich star will spearhead Xavi s charge here.
Bagging the winner against Celta Vigo on La Liga duties over the weekend, 19-year-old Pedri should be joined by Gavi and Sergio Busquets in midfield on Wednesday night. However, Xavi s side will be without the likes of Memphis Depay, Hector Bellerin, Jules Kounde and Franck Kessie in midweek.
Inter Milan
As for the visitors, suffering back-to-back defeats against Udinese and Roma on either side of September s international break, Inter Milan still have the feel of a side seeking some stability. Nevertheless, managing to cling to that 1-0 victory last week as they welcomed Barca to the San Siro, Simone Inzaghi s men find themselves tipped in pole position to book their Champions League knockout stage ticket this year. Holding a three-point buffer over Wednesday s opponents, the Nerazzurri also picked up some momentum while on domestic duties a few days ago. Eventually claiming a 2-1 victory away at Sassuolo, the ex-Lazio boss will now be calling on his side to find some defensive resolve. Including that shock 3-1 loss away at Udinese on September 18th, the Italian icons have recorded just a single clean sheet from any of their previous four appearances across all competitions. Despite potentially smelling the chance to spring another upset when they travel to Spain in midweek, Inter should face a real test on the road.
Team News
Bagging both goals in Inter s 2-1 victory away at Sassuolo over the weekend, former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko will be hoping to retain his spot on Wednesday night.
While Inzaghi might remain hopeful that attacking talisman Romelu Lukaku could play some part at the Nou Camp, the Belgium international is likely to start on the bench here. Inter have already confirmed that they will be without the likes of Marcelo Brozovic, Alex Cordaz, Joaquin Correa and Gabriel Brazao due to injury issues.
Key Factors to Consider
