European giants Juventus and Barcelona go head-to-head in the group stages of the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

The meeting in Turin comes just over two months after the Spanish club comfortably beat the Italians 3-0 in the corresponding fixture at the Nou Camp.

Here, Press Association Sport's Ed Elliot looks at some of the tie's main talking points.

Both on brink of qualification

Wednesday night's contest presents each side with the opportunity to book their place in the knockout stages of the competition and ensure a stress-free final group fixture. Group D leaders Barca need just a point to do so, while a draw would also be good enough for second-placed Juve to join their opponents in the last 16, should Sporting Lisbon fail to win at home to Greek side Olympiakos. Victories for Sporting and Juve would leave Barca needing to avoid defeat at home to the Portuguese club on December 5.

Barca have never won in Juve's backyard

Despite defeating their Italian opponents convincingly in September and also recording a 3-1 success in the 2015 final, Barca have yet to taste victory against them in Turin. Juve have won three and drawn two of the five meetings on Italian soil, including a memorable 3-0 quarter-final success en route to last season's final. Juventus' Champions League home record since moving to the Allianz Stadium in 2011 will also strike fear into their visitors. They have won 17 of 26 matches, losing just once; 2-0 to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in 2013.

Messi closing in on European century

Cristiano Ronaldo is currently the only player to have scored 100 goals in the Champions League, but his great rival Lionel Messi could soon join him. Barcelona's star man is a hat-trick away from the landmark after his strike in the 3-1 victory over Olympiakos earlier in the group stage left him on 97. The Argentinian does not have the finest goalscoring record against Juve, however, with his brace in September the only time he has found the net in four meetings.

Juve having domestic problems, Barca in formidable form

The Italian side set such high standards in Serie A that questions are asked when they have a minor wobble. Despite dominating domestically over recent years, winning six successive Scudettos, they are currently slightly off the pace and find them themselves in third place, four points behind leaders Napoli following Sunday's surprise loss to Sampdoria. Defeat at Stadio Luigi Ferraris came after they scraped past pointless minnows Benevento having already drawn at Atalanta and lost at home to Lazio. LaLiga leaders Barcelona, on the other hand, are flying under new coach Ernesto Valverde, notching 11 wins and a draw from 12 league fixtures.

Buffon and Barzagli to return?

A major talking point after the Bianconeri's weekend loss was manager Massimiliano Allegri's decision to leave out key men Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Barzagli. The experienced Italy internationals, who had just suffered World Cup heartache by failing to qualify for Russia 2018, watched on helplessly as unused substitutes in Genoa. Given Juve's second-half defensive horror show in that game and the exceptional quality of their midweek opponents, both goalkeeper Buffon and central defender Barzagli will surely be restored to the starting XI to strengthen the backline.

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