No case for defence

A below bar Barcelona head to North London to take on Tottenham in the standout fixture of match day two, looking to avoid becoming the next big scalp on Spurs' hitlist.

Tottenham

Mauricio Pochettino will be satisfied with his side’s start to the season domestically, 5 wins out of 7 sees them sit joint 4th, while a penalty shootout win over Watford in the League cup leaves the possibility of winning that competition still open.

He would have been irked at his side’s inability to see things through against Inter Milan though, Spurs looked to be on course for an impressive opening win until, out of nowhere, the Italians turned the game on its head to snatch the three points.

What better game to bounce back in though than Barcelona at home. It’s another huge occasion for Spurs to test themselves against a European giant and show they’re deserving of their place among the elite.

A match for anybody on a big Champions League night at Wembley

They without question proved this last season. Commanding victories against Dortmund and eventual winners Real Madrid was hard proof of their ability to be a match for anybody on a big Champions League night at Wembley – they’ll be hellbent on adding the name of Barcelona to their list of notable scalps.

It appears a good time to play them as well. The Spanish Champions look unsure of themselves and especially vulnerable at the back as their last few La Liga games have proved. Messrs Kane, Moura and Eriksen will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing this backline at present that’s for sure, while the hosts as a team are in the groove in front of goal having scored in every game they’ve played so far this term.

Recent form:

PL – Watford (a) L 2-1

PL – Liverpool (h) L 1-2

CL – Inter Milan (a) L 2-1

PL – Brighton (a) W 1-2

LC – Watford (h) D 2-2 *won on pens

PL – Huddersfield (a) W 0-2

Barcelona

Barca recorded an emphatic win in their Group B opener versus PSV but have since gone off the boil domestically. Two draws at home to Girona and Athletic Bilbao and an away defeat at Leganes isn’t what you’d expect of a side used to churning out win after win and isn’t the kind of form you’d want going into a match such as this one.

There cause isn’t helped with the fact they’ll out be without half of their first-choice backline - Samuel Umtiti is suspended and Sergi Roberto sidelined with injury to leave coach Valverde having to alter his everchanging defence yet again.

Too easy to breach

It’s just as well the visitors have a magician to conjure up something of note at the other end, though after coming off the bench to play a hand in the late equalizer against Bilbao at the weekend, Lionel Messi hasn’t held back on the state of his team’s defence and has blasted Pique and co for being too easy to breach. He has demanded a drastic improvement, starting against Spurs at Wembley.

This’ll be no easy task though and it’s more likely Messi, in tandem with Suarez and the improving Dembele, will be required to pull Barca from another hole - one clean sheet in their last six points to an obvious weakness in the ranks.

Recent form:

LL – Huesca (h) W 8-2

LL – Real Sociedad (a) W 1-2

CL – PSV (h) W 4-0

LL – Girona (h) D 2-2

LL – Leganes (a) L 2-1

LL – Athletic Bilabo (h) D 1-1

Match Tip

Considering recent form, both teams to get themselves on the scoresheet looks fairly nailed on in my view so I’ve headed over to Coral who are offering 1/2 (1.50) on the two defences leaking yet more goals.

Bet BTTS on Coral