Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is busy preparing his side for the challenges ahead, with one particular game standing out above all others. The Champions League last 16 clash against Barcelona draws closer by the day and the Italian is desperately searching for a way to stop Lionel Messi.
Since the draw was made, Conte has been busy trying to formulate a tactical plan to stop Messi and give the 'Blues' a chance to progress on their return to Europe's premier club competition.
Messi has yet to score in eight career games against Chelsea, but as La Liga's top scorer so far this season there is still plenty for rivals to fear.
The former Juventus and Italy's boss' preferred plan of attack is to turn the midfield into a 'minefield' by packing the middle of the park and thus giving Messi less chance to get on the ball in deeper positions and use his range of passing and vision or use his incredible dribbling skills.
In the recent game against Liverpool, Conte deployed a similar tactic, using N'Golo Kante, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Danny Drinkwater in the engine room to crowd out Philippe Coutinho, though Chelsea were made to do with a point on that occasion.
The 'triple pivot' was nevertheless impressive and helped to further strengthen the already solid base formed by Chelsea's five-man defence.
Although this tactic would mean that Cesc Fabregas would be unlikely to start against his former side, it would allow N'Golo Kante to man-mark Messi, without having to worry about dereliction of his usual duties in front of the back four.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch, Chelsea would rely on Alvaro Morata's aerial ability and Eden Hazard's pace on the counter in order to fashion chances of their own.
Could the 'Blues' cause an upset? Or will Messi finally end his duck against Chelsea?