Barcelona 3 - 1 Sporting Lisbon

Barcelona v Sporting Lisbon: Preview

Updated: September 15, 2008, 8:04 AM ET

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta is hoping his side can use the Champions League game with Sporting Lisbon to kick-start their Primera Liga campaign.

Barca head into the clash with the Portuguese giants on the back of their worst start to La Liga in 35 years, with only one point and one goal from their first two games.

The poor start to new coach Pep Guardiola's reign comes after an impressive series of high-scoring wins in pre-season and a summer of rebuilding work which saw the Catalan club shell out around 90million euros for the likes of Dani Alves, Seydou Keita, Gerard Pique, Martin Caceres and Alexander Hleb.

The Blaugranes are desperate to perform this year after going two seasons without a trophy, and Iniesta hopes a change of competition will be the impetus his side needs.

"The game against Sporting Lisbon is an important one because victories give you a lot of strength,'' he said.

"It's another competition, a very difficult one, and we cannot slip up, especially at home.

"We have to win, no ifs or buts. Our moral and our desire need to be at their maximum.''

Barca were derided for their performance in the 1-0 defeat to newly-promoted Numancia on the opening day of the season, but performed much better in the second game against Racing Santander on Saturday, despite only being able to come away with a 1-1 draw.

Guardiola's side dominated possession throughout but found no way through a resolute Racing defence until Lionel Messi scored from the penalty spot late-on in the game.

And in spite of the result the rookie coach insists he will not change his approach for the visit of Sporting.

"On Tuesday, we will be trying to do the same things against Sporting that we did (against Racing Santander),'' said Guardiola.

"We created a lot of chances, but we couldn`t finish them off.''

While the approach is set to remain the same, the starting XI should differ after Guardiola left a host of senior players out of the side on Saturday.

Messi is set to start up front in an attacking trio also consisting of Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o.

New signing Alexander Hleb will miss out after being sidelined for three to four weeks with a sprained ankle he picked up in Saturday's league match.

Sporting travel to Barcelona without Brazilian striker Liedson, who continues his recovery from knee surgery, as well as Serbian midfielder Simon Vukcevic who was not included among the group to compete in the Champions League.

Despite the absentees, coach Paulo Bento insists his side will travel to the Catalan capital keen to cause an upset.

"Of course we'll have respect for Barcelona, for the quality of their team and their players,'' he said.

"We know they're the favourites for this game. Their favourites for this game and for the entire group. But Sporting will go out to win in Barcelona.

"You could say that not losing would be a good result, but Sporting never play to simply avoid defeat, regardless of what stadium we're playing in.''