Barcelona find themselves in a position where they have to do the impossible once again. Last month, it was a 4-0 deficit that they had to overcome against Paris Saint-Germain, this time it's a 3-0 deficit against Juventus.
Just like no team had ever turned around a 4-0 deficit in the knock-out stage, no team has ever turned around a 3-0 first leg defeat in the previous eight attempt. Barcelona are chasing history once again, and they are the only ones who can do it.
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This turnaround is going to be way more challenging than the one they had against the French side. However, it is not an impossible task.
Here's what the Catalan side will have to do to beat Juventus:
#5 - Pick Arda Turan in the starting XI
Why Arda Turan? Because he can allow Messi to play in a free role behind the front three. It's going to be a challenge for the Juventus defence if the Argentine plays in that free role.
Turan can be the surprise element Barcelona throw at Juventus tonight and also eventually end up being the decisive factor in the result of the game. His presence will confuse the Juve defenders as it would get them out of position as they will be busy marking Messi, Neymar and Suarez.
Paco Alcacer can be the other shout, but the Spaniard is too young and has not often played this season. Else, he would have been the ideal one to start in front of Messi with Suarez and Neymar playing on his sides.
#4 - Early goal
Just like they did against Paris Saint-Germain, they will have to score an early goal. One of MSN has to step up and put pressure on Buffon from the word go.
If not in the first five minutes, a goal before the 15th minute is crucial. If the La Liga giants don't get a goal before that, Juventus will have the upper hand and also become more and more confident.
In the three home matches during the group stage, Messi has scored in the 3rd, 16th and the 17th minute. Luis Suarez scored in the 3rd minute against Paris Saint-Germain. Something similar today, and it will pave the way for the Catalan club's move into the semi-final.
#3 - Keep Dybala away from the ball
Paulo Dybala showed the world what he can do with the ball at his feet. When the Argentine got the slightest of space, he curled in a beauty to hand Juventus the lead.
That is something they need to avoid today. Mascherano and Umtiti are set to battle it out for who gets to start alongside Pique tonight, but the most important thing is, it is Busquets who has to play like Dybala's shadow.
They need to take a look at what Ander Herrera did to keep Eden Hazard out of the Manchester United-Chelsea game and replicate the same tonight. With Dybala out of the match, it would become tough for Higuain to score on his own.
#2 - Neymar needs to be at his best once again
Barcelona's man of the match for the epic comeback against Paris Saint-Germain was Neymar. He single handily won them that game. Sergio Roberto might have scored the winner, but it was all because of the Brazilian.
However, it's going to be very very difficult for him today as he is up against someone who knows his very well - Dani Alves. The right-back has played with him for several years at Barcelona and also for the Brazilian national team.
The defender knows his compatriot thoroughly and will be on his toes all the time. It would be interesting to see what skills Neymar has to get past Alves today.
Should Neymar succeed in getting past the Juventus right back at the start of the match, things will become one-way traffic from then on.
#1 - Play with four at the back, not three.
Luis Enrique has experimented with a lot of formations this season. One thing he has to understand is that today it has to be four at the back and not three.
If they play with a back three of Pique, Mascherano and Umtiti with Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto as wing backs, it's going to be tough for them. The best thing to do would be to start with Alba, Pique, Umtiti and Roberto at the back.
Along with this, if Enrique goes with a 4-1-2-3 formation, Barcelona will run out winners quickly. Busquets in the pivot with Iniesta and Messi playing as attacking midfielders would bring out the Juventus defenders and give more space to Neymar and Suarez to run.
Messi playing in a free role being the striker itself is going to be enough to do that, but if Iniesta also joins him, then there will be no stopping them.ac
