Barcelona plays Ajax Amsterdam on Wednesday in the 2013 UEFA Champions League group stage. The match starts at 2:45 p.m. ET (12:15 a.m. IST, 19:45 BST). Watch the free live stream HERE.
Group G, which also includes AC Milan and Celtic, begins the group stage on Wednesday. Arsenal manager Gerardo Martino, in his first year with the club, knows his success will be measured by titles.
"I am very excited about the chance to coach in the Champions League," Martino said, via IB Times. "I am also a little nervous to be involved in such a prestigious competition.
"When I took the job, I knew that if we didn't win a title this season it would be a failure. I believe we can repeat the glorious moments of recent seasons but matching the standards we have set will be tough."
Barcelona is the favorite to win on Wednesday. For Ajax, the strategy is shutting down Neymar and Lionel Messi.
"We will try to stop Neymar and Messi from feeling comfortable," Ajax boss Frank De Boer said, via IB Times. "We need our players to be at their best. Neymar has to adapt to the team and the team to him, but Neymar and Messi always create dangerous situations."
De Boer added: "It's not nice if everyone thinks Barcelona will win, but I'm sure we can cause problems for them."
Barcelona is without Carles Puyol (knee), Ibrahim Afellay (thigh) and Jordi Alba (right leg), according to SB Nation. Ajax is missing Joel Veltman (knee).
Projected Lineups (via SB Nation):
Barcelona: Victor Valdes; Dani Alves, Javier Mascherano, Gerard Pique, Adriano Correia; Sergio Busquets, Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta; Alexis Sanchez, Lionel Messi, Neymar.
Ajax: Kenneth Vermeer; Ricardo van Rhijn, Niklas Moisander, Stefano Denswil, Nicolai Boilesen; Christian Poulsen, Lasse Schone, Thulani Serero; Bojan Krkic, Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, Viktor Fischer.
Tune to Fox Sports 1 to watch in the U.S., and Sportsnet One to watch in Canada.
