Lionel Messi v Vincent Kompany
This particular head-to-head battle promises to be absolutely fascinating, with the home side’s brilliant four-time Fifa World Player of the Year coming up against the visitors’ ice-cool skipper.
In the first leg in the north west in February, the little Argentinian needed just one small opening just past half-time with which to hurt Manuel Pellegrini’s side, although on that particular occasion it was actually Kompany’s central-defensive partner Martin Demichelis who was at fault for bringing down Messi for the La Liga champions’ vital opener via the penalty spot.
However, other than that particular moment of madness from the experienced Argentina international, the Belgium was largely able to keep Messi quiet, with the twinkle-toed forward not really influencing the game too much.
But Kompany and Co know that their task will be even harder away from home, and with the visitors needing to also chase the game at Camp Nou, which will inevitably leave plenty of gaps for Messi to exploit at the back.