Pre Match
September 18, 2013 7:45 PM BST
Camp Nou — Barcelona
Referee: S. Moen
On Wednesday, the manager will be in charge of his first ever Champions League match, and has high hopes for what Barça can achieve
“It’s a difficult group, but we knew that would be the case. It’s very difficult to win the Champions League – it’s already hard from the start,” he told Uefa.com.
“I think the groups are very even, very balanced, so there will be some great games. We hope to play at our best level to be able to qualify.
“There are top-class, historic teams in our group – big names. Teams that we’ve faced before, so we know them a bit. Maybe not so with Ajax, but we’ve watched them. It’s an exciting group.”
The centre back, Pique commented that “the team is looking foward to starting this competition because it’s the most prestigious”
Expected lineups: Barcelona: Valdes; Adriano, Mascherano, Pique, Alves; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta; Fabregas, Messi, Neymar.
Expected lineups: Ajax: Vermeer; Van Rhijn, Moisander, Denswil, Boilesen; Schone, Duarte, Serero; Sana, Hoesen, Fischer.