Uefa Champions League 2018-19, Barcelona vs Inter Milan: Three players Barcelona should be worried about

#2 Samir Handanovic

Samir Handanovic

It is rare that a football team's hopes would be said to rest on the performances of their goalkeeper, as the number 1's are widely regarded to be the least appreciated position in football, but this is exactly the situation Inter Milan finds themselves in.

They come up against one of the best attacks in the world (albeit without Messi), and their rearguard would have to be on their utmost concentration to keep their visitors at bay.

Inter would be relying on the excellent shot-stopping abilities of Handanovic to keep Suarez and co quiet if they are to get anything out of their clash with the Spanish giants.

Batman, as he is fondly called (due to his excellent reflexes), is widely regarded as the best goalkeeper in Serie A, and back in 2011 while at Udinese saved six penalties in a single season to equal a record set way back in 1949.

He is renowned for his being a penalty specialist, and in 2013/2014 ridiculously saved six consecutive penalties he faced for Inter Milan.

The 34-year-old is one of only three non-Italians to have been named Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year (a feat he has achieved on two occasions) and played an integral role in helping Inter qualify for the Champions League last season after a seven-year absence.

Handanovic is extremely adept at organizing his defence, and with Messi not available, the Barcelona attack would have to find a way to get past the Slovenian international.