Champions League 2018/19: 3 clashes to look out for in Barcelona vs Liverpool

#1 Sergio Busquets vs Fabinho/Naby Keita

Sergio sets Barca's wheels in motion.

Notwithstanding the quantum of attacking players at disposal, the midfield dynamo sets the margins of winning or losing.

Sergio Busquets is the focal point of Barca's attacking transition, receiving the ball from the defense and spraying the passes forward. Messi's excellence often transcends the vital contributions of the Catalan midfielder. He is an intelligent reader of the game and contributes defensively too, making crucial interceptions and tackles to disrupt the opposition's move.

The success of Liverpool in this tie hinges on their extent of nullifying Busquets' incision by closing down his passing lanes.

Jurgen Klopp looks set to utilise Fabinho in the midfield as a number six. The Brazilian stabilises the Liverpool team defensively due to his physical presence.

The former Monaco midfielder endured a slow start to his Liverpool career, taking time integrating into Klopp's system. His recent thrust in the middle has solidified the team and provided an equilibrium between attacking and defensive phases.

Naby Keita could be Fab's partner in a three-man midfield, playing as a left-sided number eight due to his lively style of play. The Guinean's nagging pressure and the Brazilian's robustness are the essentials in disrupting Sergio's fluency.

It will be interesting to see the tactically equipped midfield line Liverpool manager starts to curb Busquets' influence from the center of the park.