Apoel Nicosia vs. Barcelona: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview
Though Barcelona are already confirmed as qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League, they need a victory away to Apoel Nicosia on Tuesday to increase their chances of claiming the key top group spot.
Currently, the La Liga giants are second in Group F, one point behind Paris St-Germain, who they face at the beginning of December.
Anything other than a victory against the Cypriot side could see the Blaugrana condemned to a likely second place in the group which would mean a much tougher draw for the first knockout round.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
Read on for a full preview of Barca's encounter with Apoel at the GSP Stadium as well as all the live streaming, television and scheduling information.
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 25
Time: 7:45 p.m. GMT, 2:45 p.m. ET
TV Info: Sky Sports 1 (UK), Fox Sports (U.S.)
Live Stream: Sky Go, Fox Soccer 2Go
Preview
Lionel Messi comes into Tuesday's game on the back of breaking yet another record as he became La Liga's all-time highest goalscorer with his hat-trick against Sevilla on Saturday, per AS:
An in-form Messi usually means an in-form Barca and Luis Enrique's side will be confident of picking up three points against minnows Apoel.
However, when the two sides met at the Camp Nou back in September, it was not the drubbing many expected, with Gerard Pique grabbing the only goal in a 1-0 win.
Apoel are capable of producing a stout defensive performance and will likely seek to frustrate Barca as much as possible on Tuesday.
Though the Cypriot champions are bottom of the group and out of the running for last-16 qualification, they are only one point behind Ajax in third and are thus in with a chance of qualifying for the Europa League.
This should serve as a galvanising factor with Ajax to come in their final group game and manager Giorgos Donis will likely set his side up with the intention of not losing on Tuesday and pack the midfield to try to stifle their auspicious visitors.
While Apoel have scored just once and picked up only a single point in the Champions League so far, they currently top the Cyprus league and have had four consecutive clean sheets in their recent domestic fixtures.
However, they will have to put in quite a display to keep out Barca and their swathes of attacking talent.
Though Andres Iniesta is unavailable, per beIN Sports, the likes of Messi, Neymar, Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic and Xavi could all play, a unit fit to unlock even the very meanest of defences:
Brazilian Neymar is having an excellent season—he has scored 11 goals in as many games in La Liga per WhoScored.com—and he could be the key to unlocking the Apoel back line.
His movement and link-up play with Messi will be essential in drawing defenders and wreaking havoc in the opposition penalty box.
Patience is likely to be the name of the game for Barca in Cyprus if they do not get on the scoresheet early on.
Their quality is so superior that a goal will come and, if and when that happens, Apoel will be forced to open up and Barca can then create more chances.
Enrique's side need to keep pace with PSG if they are to top the group but a victory on Tuesday should be a formality even though Apoel will put a lot of men behind the ball.
Messi could well extend another of his records—the Champions League's all-time goalscorer which he currently shares with Raul—and he will likely be part of yet another winning team on Tuesday.
