Barcelona head into their trip to London knowing that this Champions League fixture will reveal far more than just their current form.
After a disappointing defeat to Paris Saint-Germain and a frustrating draw against Club Brugge, the team has finally shown signs of recovery in recent matches.
Now, Hansi Flick wants to see whether those improvements can hold up under the pressure of a crucial European night away from home.
The manager is still weighing a few decisions regarding the starting line-up, partly because several squad members are walking a dangerous disciplinary tightrope.
Players at risk
As such, four players, namely, Lamine Yamal, Frenkie de Jong, Fermin Lopez and Marc Casado, will enter the match one yellow card away from suspension.
Should any of them be booked again, they will automatically miss Barcelona’s next Champions League outing, which is against Eintracht Frankfurt at the Camp Nou.
Fermin Lopez, Barcelona player
Four Barcelona players are at risk of suspension. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
That fixture carries special significance, as it marks the long-awaited return of the stadium to European competition following its redevelopment.
Barcelona also have additional players who received a booking earlier in the tournament, though they are not yet at risk of suspension.
In that regard, the likes of Jules Kounde, Alejandro Balde, Gerard Martin and Dani Olmo have each collected a single yellow card so far, and Flick will be mindful of the need to manage their minutes carefully.
Tomorrow’s match against Chelsea represents the halfway point of the group stage, and Barcelona are aware that dropped points at this stage could complicate their route to qualification.
Once they return from England, their attention will quickly shift to Eintracht Frankfurt, a match scheduled in two weeks’ time.