The Catalans have yet to taste defeat in La Liga this season but they were beaten at the Parc des Princes last time out in Group F, so need three points at Camp Nou
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The Catalan giants can ill-afford another slip-up in Group F after a 3-2 loss at Paris Saint-Germain last time out.
With the season's first Clasico coming just four days after the visit of the Eredivisie champions, coach Luis Enrique has already warned his players against taking their eye off the ball in midweek.
Those sentiments were echoed by Mascherano as the versatile Argentina international set his sights on success in Europe, with domestic ambitions on the back burner for now.
"The most important game is always the next one," he told the club's official website.
"If you win [the next game], that changes the following one.
"We need to win against Ajax and go into the Clasico with confidence."
The Argentine's team-mate Xavi stressed the importance of compensating for their previous defeat to PSG.
"After the slip-up in Paris, we have to take three points," he said.
Barca, who will be without defender Thomas Vermaelen (hamstring), beat APOEL 1-0 on match day one, but their loss in the French capital sees them second in the group - one point behind PSG.
Luis Enrique's men head into the game sitting top of the Spanish top flight and fresh from a 3-0 win over Eibar, in which striker Lionel Messi scored once to move to within two strikes of becoming La Liga's record goalscorer.
Draws against PSG and APOEL have Ajax reasonably placed after two matches and stalemates have been a common theme for Frank de Boer's side in recent times.
Ajax have had to share the spoils in their last three clashes - most recently a 1-1 draw against Twente on Saturday.
Kolbeinn Sigthorsson netted a 71st-minute equaliser as the four-time defending Eredivisie champions fell four points behind leaders PSV.
Davy Klaassen is in form, Lasse Schone is scoring freely; maybe, just maybe Ajax can compound the Blaugrana’s misery?
FORM GUIDE
Barcelona: LWWWLL
Ajax: DDLWWW
LAST MEETING
FC Barcelona 3-1 AFC Ajax – 21st October 2014 – UEFA Champions League
It seems like an eternity ago since we last won a football match, but it was only two weeks ago and it was arguably our best performance of Luis Enrique’s reign. More of the first-half here, less of the second-half we saw against Celta please Lucho.
LIKELY LINE-UPS
Barcelona (4-3-3): ter Stegen; Alves, Piqué, Bartra, Alba; Mascherano, Xavi, Rakitić; Suarez, Messi, Neymar
Ajax (4-3-3): Cillessen; van Rhijn, Moisander, Veltman, Boilesen; Zimling, Klaassen, Serero; Schone, Milik, El Ghazi
MATCH PREDICTION
Tough to call – Ajax is a tough place to visit, and they will make life extremely difficult for us, especially given our recent form. But, I expect quality will shine through in a hard-fought 2-1 Barça win.
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