Bate vs. Barcelona: Barca Is Primed for Massive Victory

Barcelona is looking for their first Champions League victory of the year. They fought to a 2-2 draw with AC Milan in their first, and only, Champions League match on September 13th. 

That draw came in the middle of a stretch of lackluster play for Barcelona, and they will no doubt look to get things going on the right foot in this clash with Bate—chances are that the right foot will be the foot of Lionel Messi.

Messi is on a tear right now.

He has two hat tricks in his last three games. Even the most talented team of defenders can be rendered helpless against Messi.

Bate is not the most talented team of defenders.

Messi is going to be out for blood too. He will be supremely motivated by two factors. The first, and most important, is that this mighty Barcelona squad has been stubbing their toe a bit as of late with uneven performances.

And in that stretch of toe-stubbers was a missed chance at Champions League points in their draw with Milan. They simply can't afford to do the same here. They need the full three points and they will make Bate keenly aware of that fact.

The second factor is that Messi is on the verge of history. With another hat trick, he will jump into second place on the club's all-time scoring list.

Messi is just two goals behind Ladislau Kubala's total of 194 Barca scores.

All of this adds up to a big win for Barca.