APOEL v FC Barcelona: Did you know...

FC Barcelona are going to Cyprus for the first time in 17 years. The last time they were there, Bobby Robson was managing and Luis Enrique was in the team. Here’s a look at some key facts you should know before APOEL entertain the Catalans later today.

• This is FC Barcelona’s third trip to Cyprus. In the 1982/83 Cup Winners Cup they drew 1-1 with Apollon Limassol and in the same competition in 1996/97 the game with AEK Larnaca ended 0- 0.

• Barça’s current boss, Luis Enrique, was in that game against AEK Larnaca. Barça qualified after already having won the first leg 2-0 at the Camp Nou.

• Ivan Rakitic, who scored at the weekend for Barça against Sevilla, has scored against APOEL before. He did so playing for Schalke 04 in a 4-1 win in the first round of the UEFA Cup in 2008/09.

• APOEL lost 1-0 when the two sides met earlier this season at the Camp Nou. The team has never beaten a side from la Liga following four draws and two defeats.

• Barça are already through to the last sixteen of the Champions League after winning 2-0 at Ajax in the last game. But PSG currently have one more point than Barça, and these two teams will contest top spot in the group in the last two matches.

• APOEL have yet to win in Group F and are propping up the table with just one point.

• Messi scored a hat-trick against Sevilla at the weekend to beat Zarra’s all-.time Liga goalscoring record (253). Against APOEL he could become the highest goalscorer in Champions League history. He is currently tied with Raúl González on 71.