Preview: Barcelona vs. APOEL

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique takes charge of a Champions League match for the first time on Wednesday as the Spanish side welcome Cypriot outfit APOEL to the Camp Nou.

Under Gerardo Martino last season, Barca were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Atletico Madrid. However, that was the first time that they had failed to reach at least the semi-finals of the competition since the 2006-07 season.

The four-time winners last picked up the trophy in 2011, but their vast summer spending was with the aim of returning to the top of European football once more.

The Catalan outfit have started this season with three wins in La Liga, while they have lost just one of their last 27 home matches in the Champions League.

APOEL, meanwhile, are competing in the group stages of the competition for the third time. They incredibly reached the quarter-finals on their last appearance in the 2011-12 season, before being eliminated by Real Madrid.

APOEL's record in Spain is disappointing, however, with the Cypriot outfit losing five of their six matches and failing to record a win in the process.

The visitors have played just two matches in their new domestic season, winning them both to sit second in the table, and they will therefore enter this fixture full of confidence.

Barcelona could be without the services of Jeremy Mathieu, who has a slight ankle problem. However, Javier Mascherano is expected to be fit to partner Gerard Pique at centre-back. Brazilian right-back Dani Alves is also a doubt for the home team.

Neymar is also expected to be handed his first competitive start of the season after netting a brace in Saturday's 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao. As a result, 19-year-old Spain international Munir El Haddadi could drop to the bench, with Lionel Messi and Pedro making up the three-pronged attack.

Ivan Rakitic, meanwhile, will continue to keep Xavi out of the starting XI.

APOELnhave no fresh injury concerns or suspensions entering the match. Former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise should start, while as many as three Brazilians could be included with Carlao, Vinicius and Gustavo Manduca all expected to feature.

Recent form

Barcelona: WWWWW

APOEL: LDWWW

Possible starting lineups

Barcelona: Bravo; Montoya, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Neymar, Messi, Pedro

APOEL: Pardo; Carlao, Sergio, Antoniades, Riise; Morais, Efrem, Vinicius, De Vicenti; Djebbour, Manduca

Sports Mole says: 3-0