Champions League: Barcelona vs. Tottenham team news, group B permutations, TV channel
Mauricio Pochettino’s side head to the Camp Nou for a huge European fixture
Barcelona vs. Tottenham Hotspur
- What: Champions League group B matchday six
- When: Tuesday 11 December
- Where: Camp Nou, Barcelona
- Kick-off: 8pm (UK time)
- TV channel: live on BT Sport 3
If Tottenham are to qualify for the Champions League last 16 then their task tonight is to beat Barcelona at the Camp Nou or hope that Inter Milan don’t pick up more points than them in their home clash against PSV Eindhoven.
The chances of Spurs winning in Barcelona are slim given that they were beaten 4-2 at Wembley in the corresponding fixture in October. In addition, few English clubs taste success at the Camp Nou, with Liverpool the last to do so in 2007.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
One glimmer of hope for Mauricio Pochettino’s players is that Barcelona have already qualified as winners of group B so there is less incentive for them to go flat out against their visitors.
“The idea was to come to Barcelona already qualified [and] we deserved better results in Milan and Holland,” said the Spurs manager. “If we want to deserve qualification we have to win.”
Keeping an eye on Inter
Asked if he will be following events from Milan and relaying the news to his players, Pochettino said: “We are going to know what’s going on. It’s important to know what’s going on but focus on what we have to do.”
Barca are up for it
Barcelona have omitted Luis Suarez from their matchday squad because of a knee twinge. The Spanish press claims that coach Ernesto Valverde has hinted that Lionel Messi may also sit out the match as he looks to give some of his front-line players a rest. But he dismissed suggestions that he is taking the tie lightly.
“Inter has nothing to fear,” said Valverde. “We respect Inter and Spurs but we have done our main job. We like this competition and we will go out with the idea of winning, which is what we always do.”
Group B permutations
Uefa.com explains what can happen on matchday six in group B.
- Tonight’s fixtures: Barcelona vs. Tottenham; Inter Milan vs. PSV
- Qualified teams: Barcelona are group winners
- Who can still qualify in second: Spurs and Inter Milan
- Spurs are second on head-to-head away goals so will go through if they win in Barcelona, or at least if Inter do not pick up more points than them
- Inter will finish second if they pick up more points than Spurs
Team news and possible starting XIs
Barcelona team news
As stated former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez won’t play against Spurs while Lionel Messi could start from the bench. Brazil midfielder Arthur Melo is in contention to play but Malcom, Samuel Umtiti, Sergio Roberto and Rafinha are on the injury list.
Tottenham team news
Spurs are without injured full-backs Kieran Trippier and Serge Aurier. The BBC reports that Kyle Walker-Peters could start for the first time in a European tie.
Juan Foyth is not available for the Champions League but Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen will start after being rested for last Saturday’s trip to Leicester. Erik Lamela is also fit to play after recovering from a thigh injury.
“We are going to be ready to compete in our best condition,” promised Pochettino. “We need to think like this if we are going to do something important.”
Possible starting XIs
How the two teams could line up tonight at the Camp Nou, according to talkSPORT.
- Barcelona possible starting XI: Cillessen, Semedo, Vermaelen, Lenglet, Miranda, Oriol Busquets, Alena, Arthur, Coutinho, Messi, Dembele
- Tottenham possible starting XI: Lloris, Walker-Peters, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Rose, Dier, Winks, Eriksen, Alli, Son, Kane
Matchday six fixtures and TV guide
Tuesday 11 December
- Group A: Club Brugge vs. Atlético Madrid (8pm, live on BT Sport Extra 4); Monaco vs. Borussia Dortmund (8pm, live on BT Sport Extra 3)
- Group B: Barcelona vs. Tottenham Hotspur (8pm, live on BT Sport 3); Inter Milan vs. PSV Eindhoven (8pm, live on BT Sport ESPN)
- Group C: Red Star Belgrade vs. Paris Saint-Germain (8pm, live on BT Sport Extra 2); Liverpool vs. Napoli (8pm, live on BT Sport 2)
- Group D: FC Schalke 04 vs. Lokomotiv Moscow (5.55pm, live on BT Sport 1); Galatasaray vs. FC Porto (5.55pm, live on BT Sport ESPN)
Wednesday 12 December
- Group E: Ajax vs. Bayern Munich (8pm, live on BT Sport Extra 2); Benfica vs. AEK Athens (8pm, live on BT Sport Extra 3)
- Group F: Manchester City vs. 1899 Hoffenheim (8pm, live on BT Sport 2); Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Lyon (8pm, live on BT Sport Extra 4)
- Group G: Real Madrid vs. CSKA Moscow (5.55pm, live on BT Sport 1); Viktoria Plzen vs. Roma (5.55pm, live on BT Sport ESPN)
- Group H: Valencia vs. Manchester United (8pm, live on BT Sport 3); Young Boys vs. Juventus (8pm, live on BT Sport ESPN)
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 3, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - presidential pitching, wavering convictions, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten Hag
Talking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
By The Week UK Published
-
Who are the markets backing in the US election?
Talking Point Speculators are piling in on the Trump trade. A Harris victory would come as a surprise
By The Week UK Published
-
The 'Swiss model' shaking up the Champions League
In The Spotlight Uefa says the new format offers 'greater excitement' but critics say boredom is guaranteed
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The European Super League: a 90th-minute reprieve?
Why everyone's talking about A European court ruling has potentially breathed new life into the breakaway football league
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
‘Genuine visionary’: is Pep Guardiola the greatest of all time?
feature Spaniard has now won two trebles following Man City’s Champions League triumph
By The Week Staff Published
-
Champions League final: Man City vs. Inter predictions and preview
feature Can Guardiola’s team finally win the Champions League and complete a historic treble?
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published
-
Uefa Champions League 2022-2023 guide: group stage draw and key dates
feature Liverpool face Rangers while Man City’s Erling Haaland has a reunion with Dortmund
By Mike Starling Published
-
Uefa Champions League final: blame game begins for chaos in Paris
feature Liverpool call for an investigation as Uefa are accused of a ‘narrative of lies’
By Mike Starling Published
-
2022 Uefa Champions League final: Liverpool vs. Real Madrid preview, predictions and TV
feature Everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s showpiece in Paris
By Mike Starling Last updated