Barcelona vs Arsenal - Head to Heads
As football spectacles come, they don't get much bigger than Arsenal playing Barcelona at the Camp Nou. Football lovers around the globe are wetting their lips, going into the second leg with a 2-1 deficit means Barca will attack from the off, whilst we all know there's no way Arsenal will sit back and defend.
As two footballing sides go toe-to-toe in a battle of ultimate football, which players do you think will reign supreme at the Camp Nou? The battle between Fabregas, who is expected to return from a hamstring injury, and Xavi was one of the highlights of the first leg, as the Catalans squared off in the thick of the action to inspire their team. Sergio Busquets is set to drop back into defence, and could face Van Persie who's made a miracle recovery from injury, whilst Messi and Nasri will be the dangerous players with the ball at their feet...
The master versus the apprentice! For over a decade Wenger has promoted his brand of football. Putting faith in young players who he believes can handle the pressure of the big occasions, and at all times looking to play the game with style and a footballing ethos.
Guardiola also pushes the same football principles as Wenger, and has enjoyed a lot of success in his relatively young coaching career. However, there's been recent speculation that his assistant, Tito Vilanova, is the brain's behind the operation, so it will be interesting to see how either manager reacts if the games starts to go against his team.
Despite his Carling Cup blunder, French centre-half Koscielny has produced a number of solid displays recently, with arguably his best coming against the Barcelona frontline at the Emirates Stadium. However, just how the 25-year-old will handle the white-hot atmosphere at the Nou Camp remains to be seen.
Messi - who netted all four goals in last season's quarter-final romp - remains Barcelona's most potent attacking threat and on another night the brilliant Argentinian could have helped himself to a hat-trick in the first leg. Watch out for the boots also, it's a 'no messing' adidas Predator coming up against the delicate and graceful adizero football boots, who's going to come out on top in this one?
Xavi will be the main link man to Barcelona's formidable front three of Messi, Pedro and Villa, just as Fabregas will be for the Gunners, aiming to bring Samir Nasri's creativity into play as often as possible. Destiny seems to have placed Fabregas in this position, the Camp Nou is arguably a stadium he was born to influence but can Cesc succeed with his Arsenal team. Whilst opposite number Xavi is already the master of many vanquished opponents.
Both midfielders opt for a control boot wearing adidas Predator X football boots and Nike CTR360 Maestri II football boots, respectively, but which player will have control of the pitch in tonight's game?
If Fabregas is to overcome the Barcelona midfield, he will need the help of Samir Nasri as a constant outlet. Nasri, playing in adidas adizero football boots, has been Arsenal's player of the season. Deadly with the ball at his feet weaving mazy runs, Nasri will be looking to take advantage of a makeshift Barcelona defence.
If Nasri is important to Fabregas, then there's no doubting that Iniesta is key to Xavi, the two form one of the most deadly partnerships in world football. Iniesta wears the Nike CTR360 Maestri II football boots and plays a more advanced role to Xavi, prepared to attack the defence making runs from deep or with the ball at his feet.
If Busquets drops back into defence it will be unfamiliar territory, and he will need to be strong on his feet and not go to ground easily. He won't have welcomed the news Van Persie might play, but there's a reason the gifted defensive player broke into the first XI from a young age.
You feel even a 70% fit Van Persie will make the starting line-up, he showed at the Emirates how he can change the game in an instant. Wearing adidas Predator X football boots, Van Persie will be looking to hit the back of the net from any range.
Two footballing sides going toe-to-toe at the Nou Camp, a battle of ultimate football but which players will reign victorious. We've highlighted the key battles, now we're eager to hear how you think the players will perform and who you think will win...
