Barcelona vs Inter Milan Preview: 4 Things to watch out for

Tonight, Barcelona take on Inter Milan in Matchday 3 to decide who will go top of Group B in this year's UEFA Champions League group stages. Both sides go into then fixture on a high from their victories on the weekend - Barcelona beat Sevilla 4-2, while Inter left it late before beating arch-rivals AC Milan in stoppage-time on Sunday.

Despite this, both suffered injuries to key players. Barcelona will be without their captain and talisman Lionel Messi (arm) while Radja Nainggolan (ankle) sustained an injury after half-an-hour at the San Siro.

With that in mind, here are four things to watch out for when the two giants meet at the Nou Camp:

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#1 Life without Messi for Barca

Barca will be hoping that Coutinho and Dembele prove their worth on this occasion

With Messi injured and sidelined for at least three weeks, it's the perfect opportunity for Barcelona to test their squad's resolve. It will provide the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembélé the opportunity to prove why they are the world's second and third most expensive signings.

Despite his world-class ability, Luis Suárez has struggled for regular goals this season and they'll hope the Uruguayan can step up to the plate once more. This will be a testing week ahead for the Blaugrana, who have their eternal rivals Real Madrid waiting for them this weekend.

With one eye on El Clasico, it will be interesting to see whether Ernesto Valverde decides to rest some key players for this match - testing out a different formation or opting to give players like Arturo Vidal and Malcom a chance centre-stage here.

#2 Icardi's Camp Nou audition

Icardi will have an opportunity to showcase his goalscoring abilities once more in-front of a wider audience

Mauro Icardi's name regularly popped up as one of the club's possible long-term replacements for Luis Suárez. While the 25-year-old has consistently scored in Italy's top-flight over the past few seasons, the Inter captain has not yet proven his ability as regularly in the Champions League.

After his goals against both Tottenham and PSV already in this group, it'll be interesting to see if he can replicate his goalscoring heroics at the Camp Nou to justify the weight of expectation on his shoulders in attack. If he does play well, it will only see his market value continue to increase.

#3 Barcelona's defensive frailties

Barcelona will be counting on Pique's experience and ability to help them at the back here

With both Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen sidelined through respective injuries, Barca are struggling for cover within their backline. They have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six matches and conceded ten goals during that time.

If not for Marc-Andre ter Stegen's impressive goalkeeping displays, that number would be even higher.

Gerard Pique is not in the best form of his career but Barcelona will be hoping the Spaniard can utilise his big-game experience to good effect, keeping Mauro Icardi at bay. He will be joined in central defence by Clement Lenglet, with the Frenchman eager to prove his worth after arriving from Sevilla this past summer.

#4 Previous meeting between the two sides

Inter Milan beat Barca on their way to lifting the Champions League title in 2010

Last time these two clubs met was during the Champions League semi-finals back in 2010. The Jose Mourinho-led Inter famously toppled Pep Guardiola's side 3-1, before holding on to win on aggregate after a slender 1-0 away defeat.

Inter are no longer the superpower they once were and Barca have gone on to lift the Champions League on two more occasions since that fixture eight years ago.

Even still, tonight's hosts will be nonetheless cautious. The last time they met an Italian side was in last year's quarter-finals - against surprise package AS Roma. The Giallorossi stunned the La Liga champions with a remarkable comeback to progress into the semi-finals.

Although this is not the knockout stages, the winner of this match will top the group and subsequently get an easier road into the knockout stages.