Image source, Getty Images

Now it might be time to showboat! And who else to bag Barcelona's second but Lionel Messi.

But Ajax are the architects of their own downfall as a poor clearance goes straight to the feet of Javier Mascherano. He feeds Andres Iniesta who sticks the ball through the Ajax defence like a piece of cotton through a needle. And there's Messi to accurately thread into the corner of the away net. Easy.

Pedro, the man likely to be most under threat by Luis Suarez's imminent return, tries a bit of showboating as he attempts to rescue another Barca attack. Not time for that yet lad...

That's if he manages to see out this match unscathed, Andrew. The spiky-haired Brazilian is hacked down by an Ajax defender close to the halfway line to the groans of the Catalan crowd. Thankfully he's back to his feet and good to go...

Andrew Priestley:, external Neymar is in some real form of late, just in time for Saturday's El Clasico!

Chances of an Ajax fightback? Slim at the moment. Very slim. The Dutch champions have barely set foot in Barcelona territory as Andres Iniesta - the Pied Piper of Spanish football - dictates the tune of the game.

Barcelona and Ajax aren't the only two sides hopeful of escaping Group F. Paris St-Germain, who beat Barcelona last time out, are the group leaders and travel across the Med to face Cypriot champions Apoel. It's no holiday though - PSG are toiling in the opening 15 minutes. Still goalless.

Neymar isn't worth his huge transfer fee, they cried. Messi isn't as effective alongside Neymar, they moaned. Those dissenters have scurried into the darkest corners of Barcelona now.

The pair are now looking like the most dangerous tag team since The Legion of Doom. Linking up to leave defenders dazed, pouncing for the killer move.

Image source, AFP

Not if Lionel Messi buried this chance. The Argentine, who needs just three goals to eclipse Raul as the Champions League's all-time leading goalscorer, fires over the Ajax bar when well placed.

Any way back for Ajax?

And they are well on their way to avoiding another defeat. More Lionel Messi magic starts the move, playing a neat one-two with Pedro, before picking out his partner in crime Neymar. The Brazilian does not break stride before curling expertly into the far corner.

Barcelona have lost just one of their last 28 home Uefa Champions League matches.

Still Barcelona cling on to the ball like an upset baby holds on to their comfort blanket. But it is all comfortable for Ajax, Barca knocking the ball around from side to side but failing to plunge any incisive balls forward.

Image source, AFP

Predictably Barca find their stride quickly. A young Ajax side are barely allowed a kick as the Spanish leaders keep possession before warming the gloves of Ajax keeper Jasper Cillessen for the first time.

Few Scottish accents get near the Champions League group stages these days, but tonight we have one in the Nou Camp. That comes from the vocal chords of referee William Collum. He pips his whistle for the first time and that means it is game on.

That familiar Champions League music blasts out of the Nou Camp PA system for the umpteenth time as the players line up ahead of their handshakes. A huge roar greets the final bar, with plenty of Dutch voices making a din in the cavernous Nou Camp. Almost show time...

Time for some audience participation. Is tonight going to be a cakewalk for Barca? Luis Enrique's men are the early pacesetters in Spain, having won all but one of their eight La Liga matches. Scored? 22. Conceded? None.

Or will they have one eye on Saturday's El Clasico against Real Madrid, allowing Dutch champions Ajax to steal in and nick the points? Let us know using #bbceurofooty or text 81111.

Image source, Reuters

How many names do you recognise in that Ajax starting XI? One? Two? Three, if you're a football hipster, perhaps?

However little your knowledge of the Dutch champions is, you still probably know as much as Barcelona striker Neymar. The Brazilian raised a few laughs in a pre-match news conference when he struggled to identify any Ajax players who might cause Barca problems.

Neymar managed a sheepish giggle at himself - but he won't be laughing if Ajax cause an upset tonight...

Sergio Busquets misses out for Barcelona with a hip injury, although boss Luis Enrique hinted in his news conference yesterday that it was likely to be an absence through caution rather than necessity. The reason? Barca have the small matter of the first El Clasico of the season against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Saturday. Wise thinking.

Enrique makes four changes from Saturday's 3-0 home win against minnows Eibar, with Andres Iniesta among the new faces. Experienced midfielder Xavi drops to the bench.

Barcelona starting XI: Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Bartra, Alba; Rakitic, Mascherano, Iniesta; Pedro, Messi, Neymar.

Ajax starting XI: Cillessen; Van Rhijn, Veltman, Moisander, Viergever; Klaassen, Zimling, Andersen; Schöne, Sigthorsson, Kishna.

Friends who haven't seen each other for a few years would usually meet up over a pint and a packet of salted peanuts or, if you're a bit more cultured, an expresso coffee and piece of walnut layer cake.

But tonight Ajax boss Frank De Boer and Barcelona counterpart Luis Enrique - those two handsome chaps on the team photo below - reconvene in far less relaxed circumstances. In a must-win Champions League tie.

So the pair, who played together for Barca between 1999 and 2003, may not be quibbling over the pub/cafe bill, but any contentious refereeing decisions tonight may see the conversation turn awkward...