Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez lamented that his team face a mustwin Champions League clash against Inter Milan so early in the season after two consecutive losses in the competition.

Following their defeat in Italy last week, a third loss in four games would leave Barca in danger of being knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage for the second consecutive season.

“It is a shame that we are in such an awkward situation. We have no choice but to win,” Xavi told a news conference ahead of Wednesday’s showdown with Inter.

“It is a final and we will face it like this. We will give it all. We need our fans to show up at Camp Nou and we hope to win.”

“(Being knocked out) would be a great disappointment but we are going to stay positive. We want to stay alive. It is an uncomfortable situation, we are in dire straits, but on Wednesday, we have a final to try to fix it.”

Barcelona found themselves in the ‘Group of Death’ with Inter and Bayern Munich, having to face a re-run of their nightmare 2-8 loss to the Germans in the 2020 quarter-finals.

They started with a 5-1 home win against Viktoria Plzen but lost 0-2 in Munich despite dominating possession.

Last week in Milan, Barca were again the dominant side but succumbed to 0-1 defeat following a Hakan Calhanoglu goal. “We missed too many chances (in our previous two games), yet we still have a chance to show that we are alive,” Xavi said.

“We must not lower our guard. There is talent here and there is a desire for revenge, so we have to give everything so we go out triumphant.”

For victory, Barca will undoubtedly look to Robert Lewandowski for inspiration. The former Bayern Munich forward netted a hat-trick against Plzen but was kept quiet against his old team and was largely anonymous in the match against Inter.

Xavi will hope that his midfield will provide Lewandowski with the right assists. Pedri, the key in the centre of the field for the team, has faith in the Polish striker’s abilities.

“He’s a ‘crack’,” Pedri said of Lewandowski on Tuesday. “He has experience in this type of game, his quality to score is crazy and he helps the youngsters a lot.”

Boost for Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dejan Kulusevski is back in training and close to full fitness while Lucas Moura is set to return against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday, manager Antonio Conte said.

Kulusevski has not featured for Spurs since picking up a hamstring injury on international duty with Sweden last month, with Moura also a long-term absentee due to a calf problem.

A win against Eintrachtat home will move Conte’sside, who have four points from three games, a step closer to qualification for the last16. The Germans are level on points but behind on goal difference.

Celtic fined

Celtic have been fined 15,000euros ($14,595) by Uefa for displaying a provocative banner following Queen Elizabeth’sdeath during their Champions League draw against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Written with inputs from Reuters