Tottenham Hotspur represent FC Barcelona's toughest test in the Champions League group stages. The English side finished third in last season's Premier League and were knocked out at the Round of 16 by Juventus.
Spurs have become a real force since Mauricio Pochettino stepped into the dugout back in 2014/15. After previous successful spells at Southampton and Espanyol, he's taken Tottenham to another level. His goalkeeping coach Toni Jimenez, just like Pochettino, has history in Catalunya. While Poch played and coached Espanyol, Jimenez played for Espanyol, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid amongst other Spanish clubs.
Tottenham, who haven't won a league title side the 1960/61 season, didn't make a single signing in the summer transfer window. Crucially, however, they haven't lost any of their star man either.
ESTABLISHED NAMES
The main players at Tottenham are Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen. Kane scored 41 goals in 48 matches last season and Eriksen has been on the radar of both Barcelona and Real Madrid this summer.
And across the pitch Spurs have a lot of very good options. Their goalkeeper and captain, Hugo Lloris, helped France win the World Cup in Russia. The experienced duo of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen alongside Colombian youngster Davinson Sanchez mean they're solid in defence too.
They have an English core which includes Kieran Trippier, Danny Rose, Eric Dier and Dele Alli,. There's Erik Lamela, the Belgian midfielder Mousa Dembele, the Brazilian Lucas Moura and South Korean international Son Heung-Min who add even greater depth to the squad.
Tottenham, who are playing at Wembley stadium until their new grround is ready and usually deploy a 4-3-3 formation. Their most common starting line up is: Lloris; Trippier, Sánchez, Vertonghen, Davies; Dembélé, Dier, Dele Alli; Eriksen, Kane and Son.
HISTORY
FC Barcelona and Tottenham haven't crossed paths in a European tie since the semi-finals of the Cup Winners Cup in 1981/82. On that ocassion Barça advanced to the final after drawing 1-1 in London (Antonio Olmo scoring after Ray Clemence made an error) and then beating Spurs 1-0 at the Camp Nou.
Spurs were curiously Barça's first opponents on their US Tour this summer. The two sides clashed in the preseason tournament at the Rose Bowl and the match finished 2-2. Son and N'Koudou scored a quickfire double to draw the teams level but Barça won 5-3 on penalties.
Source: Sport