UEFA Champions League 2010-11 Match Day 2: Group D - Preview
When the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League draws were made in September, Barcelona were perhaps the team that got the easiest of draws with Panathanikos, Copenhagen and Rubin Kazan. While no disrespect to their opponents but the 2008 champions should not have
any difficulty in getting out of that group unscathed.
Their opponents tonight are a tricky side from Russia who proved to be their nemesis at the Camp Nou last year and drew at home, meaning that Barcelona could only get one point against Rubin Kazan last year and tonight they travel to Russia again.
Rubin Kazan vs. Barcelona
Although, Rubin are the Russian champions but their record in the Champions league is nothing to boast about as they have never won a leg at home. The last year’s win at Camp Nou was their biggest achievement yet in the competition.
To compound the matters further, they haven’t found the back of the net in their previous 3 outings while tonight they face one of the fiercest attacking lineups in the world. Barcelona have a good record against Russian sides and apart from a blip last
season against the same opposition, they have never lost a tie against any Russian side.
But in recent times, Barcelona haven’t been that ruthless away from home and have won only one of their last 9 away fixtures. On paper, tonight’s contest is a mismatch of highest order and Barcelona should steamroll their opposition but similar was the story
at Camp Nou last year. The world doesn’t need a reminder as to what happened that night.
Barcelona opened their account in the Champions League with an overpowering win over Greek side Panathanikos, thrashing them 5-1 on the opening night. In the match, the Blaugaranas completed a whopping 792 passes at a success rate of 92%, a record in the
competition this year thus far and if Barcelona give a repeat performance then their Russians opponents tonight will be lucky even if they get a touch of the ball.
Barcelona have a fully fit squad and even Messi, who was out injured, is likely to return to action while Villa, Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro and Bojan are all likely to play tonight in an all attack Blaugarana lineup.
Panathinaikos vs. Copenhagen
Pana need just one more goal to notch up 300 goals in Europe. Reaching this milestone will surely be a thing to be proud of especially if they can celebrate the milestone with a victory tonight at the Athens Olympic Stadium.
Pana are not strangers to their opponents tonight as they have beaten Copenhagen before in Europe at the 2007 UEFA Cup. But the hosts are going into tonight’s match on the back of a patchy home form in Champions League as they have won only one of their
last six home games and will be desperate to better that record and not fall prey to home hoodoo.
Pana lost their opening fixture to Barcelona 5-1 and will be looking to notch up their first win of the campaign. Copenhagen, on the other hand, will also have a mission at hand as they failed to win a single away fixture last time they were in Europe. Tonight
will perhaps be their best opportunity to get the better of that record.
Group D:
Clubs
Pld
W
D
L
F
A
+/-
Pts
1
FC Barcelona
1
1
0
0
5
1
4
3
2
FC København
1
1
0
0
1
0
1
3
3
FC Rubin Kazan
1
0
0
1
0
1
-1
0
4
Panathinaikos FC
1
0
0
1
1
5
-4
0
Tags: