Ajax vs. Barcelona: Key Issues and Decisions That Will Shape UCL Game

Barcelona head to the Amsterdam Arena to take on Ajax in the fourth of six Champions League group games.

Luis Enrique will be hoping to go one better at this venue than his predecessor Tata Martino who lost his first game in Amsterdam last season.

A win for the Catalans and one for group rivals Paris Saint-Germain would see both through to the next stage with two games to play, so let's take a look at how Barca will approach this one...

Strong Line-Up

Associated Press

Expect Barcelona to field a full-strength line-up.

This is a game in which Barcelona need a result.

A win virtually secures their passage into the next round and would allow Luis Enrique the opportunity to blood more youngsters in the final two group games, while resting some star players.

Almeria are Barca's next opponents in La Liga, a team that the Catalans have beaten on 10 occasions and drawn twice in their last 12 meetings per Fussball Wettpoint.

With that match providing the perfect opportunity for further rest, Lucho needs to go all out for a professional performance and a win.

Double Pivot?

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

Should Barcelona consider the double pivot for this game?

With Andres Iniesta injured and the home side sure to come on strong as they did in the corresponding game last season, an opportunity for playing the double pivot has arisen.

Although a pairing of Sergio Busquets and Javier Mascherano sat just in front of the defence might be seen as a negative tactic, strangling the life out of the midfield battle needs to be utilised on occasion, especially when a result is needed as now.

Even if it's at the expense of Barca's usual expansive attacking game.

The Catalans will still have an attacking front four that will trouble the Dutch side throughout, and if the correct result is achieved, then there's unlikely to be too many complaints from supporters.

Ajax's Formidable Home Form

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Can Barca inflict Ajax's first home defeat since July?

Ajax have enjoyed a remarkable run of form, particularly at home.

The defeat to Barca in the last game was their only defeat in their last 11 games in all competitions per WhoScored.com.

The Amsterdam Arena, however, has become something of a fortress. The last time the hosts tasted defeat there was back in July.

Barca might remain slight favourites, but they will have to be at the races to ensure a better result than their last visit here.

Redemption for Ter Stegen?

Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press

Marc-Andre ter Stegen needs a decent 90 minutes under his belt.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been unfairly judged on the opening to his Barcelona career.

With hardly anything to do in the match against APOEL Nicosia, he saved the points with a stunning full-length save in injury time.

That seems to have been conveniently overlooked after a couple of mistakes against Paris Saint-Germain gave the French side the incentive in the match-up between the two sides.

An expected start in Amsterdam could well give the young German the platform to prove a few of the doubters wrong.

A Penalty Will Guarantee a Goal

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Jasper Cillessen has an unenviable record.

Poor old Jasper Cillessen has one of the most unenviable records in world football.

As Financial Times columnist Simon Kuper noted via Twitter, he is still to save a penalty in his entire career, stretching back to 2010.

There are few guarantees in football, but Barcelona scoring from a penalty is this match is surely one of them.