Barça hopes to make a huge stride toward a position in the European knockout rounds in the days leading up to the Greatest Game in the Game.

Competition/Round: 2023-24 Champions League, Group H, Matchday 3

Barcelona Outs & Doubts: Gavi, Robert Lewandowski, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Raphinha, Jules Kounde, Sergi Roberto (out)

Shakhtar Outs & Doubts: Mykola Matviyenko (doubt)

Date/Time: Wednesday, October 25, 2023, 6.45pm CET (Barcelona), 5.45pm BST/WAT (UK & Nigeria), 12.45pm ET, 9.45am PT (USA), 10.15pm IST (India)

Venue: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Montjuïc, Barcelona, Catalona, Spain

Referee: Ivan Kružliak (SVK)

VAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski (POL)

Barcelona, fresh off a dramatic, late victory against Athletic Bilbao that moved them closer to the top of the La Liga table, will host Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk at the Montjuc Olympic Stadium on Wednesday evening for the early kickoff of their third Champions League group stage game.

At the midway point of the season, Xavi Hernández and his squad deserve credit for keeping Barça unbeaten across all competitions despite a demanding schedule and an almost unbelievable injury crisis that has plagued them from the very start of the season.

The level of play displayed in spite of adversity has been even more stunning than the results, which bodes well for Barça’s chances of contending in all competitions this season. A deep European run in 2023-24 remains the club’s top aim, but Saturday’s El Clásico will be the largest test of the season so far and will give us a decent sense about the team’s chances of winning the league.

Three points against Shakhtar would leave Barça just one point away from mathematical qualification with three games still available, and that would be a huge boost in their pursuit of a successful Champions League campaign.

In his pregame press conference, Xavi made it clear that he is treating this game with the utmost importance and that he will not hesitate to start his top players. Of course, he’ll be strategic about resting key players in preparation for El Clásico, but anyone anticipating a young squad will be astonished by the names that fill the starting lineup.

Even though Shakhtar has lost a lot of talent owing to the external circumstances in Ukraine, the players that have stayed are still part of a gritty, well-organized club that can play if given the chance.

No doubt Shakhtar will be content with a draw and won’t take undue risks like Royal Antwerp did when they lost 5-0 to Barça at Montjuc with a surprise daring attitude. They will play physical and defensive and hope for chances on the counter and set pieces.

Barça will need to be patient and creative in order to find good opportunities, and they’ll need to be clinical in order to convert those chances and earn the win if they’re going to attack a low block. The Blaugrana need not be thinking about Saturday if they want to win today, despite being heavy favorites.