The European champions are looking to cement their position in Group E on Wednesday night as they prepare to welcome BATE, who will have little to hope for against the in-form Catalans.
Barcelona are looking for a double against BATE Borisov in a game which will see Luis Enrique’s men make another huge step towards the round of 16.
The defending European champions have lost only once in their last 34 home matches in the Champions League, winning their last seven.
The Catalan giants bounced back to win 2-0 against Getafe at the weekend after a disappointing goalless draw at third-tier outfit Villanovense in midweek.
Barcelona have won against BATE 2-0 away thanks to a double from Ivan Rakitic and went on to record back-to-back league wins over Eibar (2-1) and Gefate (2-0) last time out, so they are welcoming the Belarus side in high spirits.
The team also played their Copa del Rey match against the minnows Villanovense who managed to scrape a huge goalless draw against the Spanish champions
BATE Borisov are travelling to Camp Nou at the back of their 1-0 triumph over Dinamo Brest which gave Aleksandr Yermakovich’s team a 12-point cushion at the top of the Belarusian league.
BATE have struggled with efficiency lately and the trip to Barcelona will not exactly be a chance to improve the scoring exploits.
Yermakovich’s side were beaten at home ground by Barcelona in the last round and they face a stern test in their attempts to keep their hopes for the European spring alive.
BATE are currently occupying the third spot on Group E with a point more than the last-placed AS Roma who are welcoming Bayer Leverkusen in the second encounter of the group.
Filip Mladenovic has been particularly impressing so far for the Belarus side and BATE manager will hope that the Serbian midfielder cam make something out of the trip to Barcelona and help his team record a positive result against the European champions.
Match facts
- This will be the fourth meeting between these sides in the Champions League with Barcelona winning all three games between the sides.
- BATE Borisov are yet to score a goal against the Catalan side in their three meetings while Barcelona have netted 11 times.
- Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 12 games at home in the Champions League, winning 11 and drawing one in that run.
- BATE Borisov have lost eight of their nine Champions League games against Spanish opposition.
- Including qualifying, BATE have not won away from home in any of their last 13 Champions League games (D4 L9), failing to score in six of those matches.
- Each of the three clashes between these sides has seen a brace scored by a Barcelona player (Rakitic, Pedro & Messi).
- BATE have the highest shot conversion rate of any side so far (30.77%).
- BATE have scored three goals inside the opening 15 minutes; a competition high.
Head to head
This will be the fourth meeting between these sides in the Champions League with Barcelona winning all three games between the sides.
First  meeting between the sides was in the 2011/12 Champions League. Barcelona won 5-0 in Minsk with goals from Valadzko (og), Pedro, Messi (2) and David Villa.
Last time they played on 21st October 2015 when Barcelona won 2-0 away.
Team news
Defender Douglas will not be involved against BATE after he injured his foot in the Villanovense match. Lionel Messi and Rafinha (both knee) remain long-term absentees.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen has lost his place in the team for league competition but is likely to remain in goal in the Champions League.
The visitors will be without Aleksandr Hleb(hip), Vitali Rodinov(knee) and Maksim Zhavnerchik(ankle) due to their respective injuries.
Probable Line-ups
Barcelona : Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Munir, Suarez, Neymar
BATE Borisov : Chernik; Polyakov, Gayduchik, Milunovic, Mladenovic; A Volodko, Nikolic; Stasevich, Gordeychuk, Aleksievich; Mozolevski
