Juventus pull a few surprises against Leo Messi’s Barcelona, starting Rodrigo Bentancur, Blaise Matuidi and Douglas Costa, but all eyes are on Paulo Dybala.
It kicks off at Camp Nou at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), follow the build-up and action from this game and Roma-Atletico Madrid on the LIVEBLOG.
Juventus pull a few surprises against Leo Messi’s Barcelona, starting Rodrigo Bentancur, Blaise Matuidi and Douglas Costa, but all eyes are on Paulo Dybala.
It kicks off at Camp Nou at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), follow the build-up and action from this game and Roma-Atletico Madrid on the LIVEBLOG.
The Bianconeri knocked Barça out of the Champions League last season, winning 3-0 in Turin and holding out for a goalless draw in the quarter-finals.
Dybala was the star of the show, bagging a brace in the first leg, and he has been the form man so far this term as well, scoring seven in four matches between Serie A and the Italian Super Cup.
He is partnered by Gonzalo Higuain, who has a point to prove after being considered a big-game choker and dropped by Argentina.
Summer signing Douglas Costa completes the trident attack in a 4-3-3 formation, with Matuidi, Miralem Pjanic and surprise pick Bentancur in midfield.
It’s the first competitive start for Bentancur, the young Uruguayan who just turned 20 in July and arrived from Boca Juniors, as he has so far played only 19 minutes for Juve.
Max Allegri had to revamp, as he is without Mario Mandzukic, Giorgio Chiellini, Sami Khedira, Claudio Marchisio, Benedikt Howedes or suspended Juan Cuadrado, which means shelving the 4-2-3-1 system in favour of this novelty.
Mattia De Sciglio gets the nod at right-back, moving Andrea Barzagli to the centre.
Barcelona are without Arda Turan, Paco Alcacer, Rafinha, Lucas Digne, Thomas Vermaelen and Aleix Vidal, but Sergi Roberto has recovered.
New Coach Ernesto Valverde starts massive signing Ousmane Dembele, who eventually made the €105m transfer from Borussia Dortmund after weeks of tension.
The 20-year-old completes the trident attack with Luis Suarez and Messi, his first start after a 22-minute substitute appearance (and assist) in the derby with Espanyol on Saturday.
Nelson Semedo gets the nod in defence, but ultimately they failed to find a suitable replacement for Neymar after his €220m move to PSG.
Lionel Messi has never scored past Gianluigi Buffon and it’s a record the 39-year-old goalkeeper is eager to maintain.
‘The Flea’ has netted five goals in his last two games, including his 38th club hat-trick at the weekend in a 5-0 victory over Espanyol.
The head-to-head record between these sides could not be more finely poised, with three wins each, three draws and 10 goals.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Dembele, Suarez, Messi
Barcelona bench: Cillessen, Suarez, Mascherano, Paulinho, Deulofeu, Sergi Roberto, Andre Gomes
Juventus: Buffon; De Sciglio, Barzagli, Benatia, Alex Sandro; Bentancur, Pjanic, Matuidi; Douglas Costa, Higuain, Dybala
Juventus bench: Szczesny, Asamoah, Rugani, Sturaro, Bernardeschi, Merio, Caligara