Everything on... Barcelona

Back-to-back home wins have left our Champions League future in our own hands but we face our toughest ask yet if we are to make it through to the last 16.

We head to the Nou Camp to face group winners Barcelona tonight (8pm UK) knowing we must match Inter’s result against PSV to qualify for the knockout stages.

Despite Harry Kane and Erik Lamela pulling us back into contention twice in the second half, we were beaten 4-2 in the reverse fixture – a result that underlines the magnitude of our task in Spain.

Here’s everything you need to know about our opponents this evening...

Team news

Barcelona will be without Samuel Umtiti and Rafinha (both knee), Malcom (ankle) and Luis Suarez on Tuesday evening.

Umtiti was out for two months with a knee injury before returning in November’s game at Atlético Madrid. However, the problem resurfaced following that match and he has been back on the sidelines ever since.

Rafinha has also not featured since that trip to Atlético while Malcom sprained his ankle in Barça’s 4-1 Copa del Rey win against Cultural Leonesa last Wednesday.

Meanwhile, it was confirmed at the pre-match press conference on Monday that ex-Liverpool star Suarez will not feature for the hosts.

One to watch

Facing Lionel Messi was a new experience for most of our players in the first meeting with Barcelona but Philippe Coutinho offers a more familiar threat.

The Brazilian made 47 appearances in three years at Inter – one of his best during the 4-3 win against us in the 2010/11 group stage – before switching to Liverpool in January, 2013. He quickly became a firm favourite at Anfield, providing creativity and a goal threat from an advanced midfield position.

His goal tally increased in every one of his four full seasons at Anfield and he had scored a remarkable 12 in 20 games at the start of the 2017/18 campaign before Barcelona splashed out more than £105m to bring him to Spain in January, 2018.

Within a few months, he was celebrating a domestic double with his new club and his return already stands at 15 goals in 41 games. He has translated that form into the international arena too, striking 12 times in his last 33 appearances for Brazil.

Last five meetings

3 October, 2018 – Spurs 2-4 Barcelona – Champions League group stage
28 July, 2018 – Barcelona 2-2 Spurs (5-3 on pens) – International Champions Cup
24 July, 2009 – Spurs 1-1 Barcelona – Wembley Cup
21 April, 1982 – Barcelona 1-0 Spurs – European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final second leg
7 April, 1982 – Spurs 1-1 Barcelona – European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final first leg

Previous clash

We could not recover from a slow start at Wembley as we eventually fell 4-2 to the Spanish champions in the reverse fixture on 3 October.

Coutinho and Ivan Rakitic struck inside 28 minutes to put the visitors in control but we rallied in the second half. Kane produced a typically composed finish in the 52nd minute, only for Messi to quickly restore Barcelona’s two-goal lead.

We refused to go down meekly, though, and Lamela’s deflected effort set up an absorbing final 24 minutes. We pushed until the finish and defeat was only confirmed in the dying moments when the outstanding Messi grabbed his second of the night.

Barcelona’s form

Ernesto Valverde’s side opened up a three-point lead at La Liga summit with a resounding 4-0 away win at city rivals Espanyol on Saturday.

That result, coupled with the 2-0 victory at home to Villarreal the previous weekend, had helped get them back on track after a shock 4-3 home defeat by Real Betis and 1-1 draw at Atlético. Their home form in the league has not been as impressive as in recent seasons with three wins, two draws and that Betis defeat in the last six games.

The Champions League group stage has been more straightforward with four wins and a draw from their five matches ensuring they have already sewn up top spot heading into tonight’s game.

Played for both

Giovani dos Santos joined Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy at the age of 11 and made his way through the ranks before breaking into the first team in the 2007/08 season. He played 28 La Liga games in that campaign and scored all three of his goals in what turned out to be his final game for the club, a 5-3 win against Real Murcia.

The diminutive, quick and skilful forward joined us in summer 2008 but struggled to make an impact at White Hart Lane, scoring once in 12 games in his first season and making 33 appearances overall. He had loan spells at Ipswich Town, Galatasaray and Racing Santander before leaving us in 2012.

Gio then spent time with Mallorca and Villarreal before heading stateside with LA Galaxy. He has also scored 19 goals in 107 international appearances for Mexico, last appearing for his country against South Korea in this summer’s World Cup.

What they’re saying

Barcelona coach Valverde confirmed that Luis Suarez will not feature against us but refuted claims that his side will lack their usual intensity as they have already qualified.

“We're expecting a tough game against Tottenham because they're very strong physically and tactically and they're playing for the chance to qualify,” he said.

“We'll go out to win as we do every game. We've qualified on our own merit and it's no different to last season. Sporting were playing for the chance to qualify and we won. We'll try to win, recognising the strength of the opposition, but we respect the competition and the teams involved.”