UEFA Champions League Preview: Rubin Kazan host Barcelona
Spanish giants Barcelona will travel to Russia on Wednesday to take on Rubin Kazan on match day two of the UEFA Champions League where they will try to avenge the 2-1 defeat they suffered at the same venue
last season.
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Barcelona are off to a good start in the Spanish Primera and currently sit a single point behind the leaders Valencia in the table. Since the start of the campaign the Catalans have been met with a single
road block in the form of Nelson Valdes who scored a pair for newly promoted Hercules in their shocking 2-0 defeat of Barcelona in the second week of the season. It took little time for Barcelona to bounce back from that defeat and get the ball rolling when
they crushed Greek side Panathinaikos 5-1 in the Champions League a mere three days later.
Rubin Kazan have won the past two Russian Premier league titles but currently trail 2007 champions Zenit St. Petersburg. They were victorious over the weekend with a 1-0 victory over lowly Alania Vladikavkaz.
On match day one of the Champions League Kazan traveled up to the Danish capital and suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of FC Kobenhavn.
Players to watch
Barcelona have a star studded lineup replete with international superstars. One of those superstars is Argentinian super striker Lionel Messi could indeed make a comeback to the squad for their match against
Kazan. Messi suffered an injury back on 19 September in Barcelona's 2-1 defeat of Atletico Madrid. Messi was stretchered off after a horrendous tackle by Madrid defender Tomas Ujfalusi, and it was initially feared that Messi would be out for a lengthy period
of time. If Messi is indeed in the lineup, it could prove to be an inspirational return. Everybody for Barcelona just seems three inches taller when Messi is on the pitch.
Rubin Kazan's lineup doesn't sparkle the eye in the same way that Barcelona's does, but they do boast the talents of Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins. The one area where Kazan have struggled so far this
season is in front of goal and they will be looking to the speedy Nigerian to help them steal glory the way they did last season. Last year it was Turkish midfielder Gokdeniz Karadeniz who was the thorn in Barcelona's side, and he should be in the lineup again
on Wednesday night.
What to expect
Last season Kazan were the only team to steal a win in the group stage against Barcelona, defeating them in the very same stadium they will compete in on match day two. Barcelona will come out with all
guns blazing to not let history repeat itself, even if they still will be missing Lionel Messi. The only chance Kazan have will be if they can keep the Barcelona strikers frustrated in front of goal and then hope to catch a lucky break. If Martins can find
a goal out of nothing it could break Barcelona spirits, but it won't happen. Barca will win comfortably 2-0.
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