Van Bommel aims to send shockwaves

History weighs heavily against PSV when they attempt to upset the odds in the Nou Camp tonight.

Barcelona won all five of their home matches in the Champions League last season and are unbeaten there for five years in the competition, while the Dutch side have never won in Spain in 14 attempts.

PSV coach Mark Van Bommel acknowledges the scale of the challenge but is hopeful of causing a shock.

“It’s tough to get a good result here,” said the exbarca midfielder. “Perhaps they’re not in their best form, but they don’t need to be at their best to win.

“But, once or twice a season, there’s a surprise. If we don’t go out with a positive mindset, we might as well have stayed in Eindhoven.”

Meanwhile, Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho is anxious to make up for lost time, having been cup-tied in the Champions League after his €142 million move from Liverpool in January’s transfer window.

“It’ll be a special night,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it because I couldn’t play in the Champions League here last season. We have a really tough group. It’ll be decided by small details and we have to be at 100 per cent in every match.”

Barca coach Ernesto Valverde added: “PSV are a young side with plenty of reasons to believe they can go toe to toe with us and the other sides in the group. (But) we’d like to win the Champions League. We’re full of dreams about winning it.”