Barcelona have made the perfect start to their La Liga campaign, and that too without their mega summer signing Luis Suarez, and the Spanish giants will be equally keen to get their Champions League season off to a winning start when they host APOEL FC at the Camp Nou.
Where to Watch Live
The Champions League Group B match is scheduled for an 7.45 pm BST (12.15 am IST, 2.45 pm ET) start with live coverage on Ten HD in India.
The match can be watched via live streaming online in India HERE. Viewers in the UK can live stream all the action HERE. US viewers can watch the game live online HERE, while Germany viewers can live stream the match HERE, with audience in Canada able to live stream the action HERE. Catch the game in the Middle East and North Africa HERE, while South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa viewers can go HERE.
Doubts have been raised about this Barcelona side's capabilities, after their lukewarm performances in the last two seasons of the Champions League and last season's La Liga.'
The only way you can prove the doubters wrong is with results, and Barcelona will know the importance of laying down a marker with a big victory over APOEL.
"In general we are in good form for the start of the Champions League," said new Barcelona manager Luis Enrique, who is looking to garner Barcelona titles after their disappointing campaign last season.
"My job as a coach is to tell the players there are no easy matches. We have analysed every aspect of APOEL. They like to dominate games, they are tactically strong and they have lots of Brazilian and Portuguese players, so we will give them the attention they deserve."
Lionel Messi, of course, will be the key for Barcelona, after the Argentine starred in the 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao, setting up both the goals for Brazilian Neymar. If the superstar duo can strike up a potent partnership up front for Barcelona, then the La Liga side will be a formidable unit, especially once Suarez also joins the ranks late next month.
APOEL are the team expected to finish bottom of the group, with Paris Saint-Germain and Ajax expected to fight for the knockout spots along with Barcelona. And, the fact that nothing much is expected from them, might just work in the Cypriot side's favour.
"We are in a very tough group and we are starting the competition against one of the toughest sides in the world," APOEL manager Giorgos Donis said, stating the obvious. "We have a tough task ahead of us but we will do our best.
"This is a special experience for the team but I want it to be more than just an experience. They have respect for the best players in the world, but they must not think any less of themselves. We are delighted to be in the group stage. We made a huge effort to win the league and get here, so now we have to enjoy it. There will be another huge effort."
Team news: Barcelona: Suarez is still a long way away from a return as he serves his suspension for that infamous bit on Giorgio Chiellini. Another summer signing Thomas Vermaelen is a doubt with a thigh injury, while Dani Alves could also miss out with a knee problem.
APOEL: The experienced former Liverpool and Fulham defender John Arne Riise is a doubtful starter, along with Tasos Papazoglou, who has a thigh problem.
