UEFA Champions League preview: FC Barcelona – Rubin Kazan
Catalans take a breather
Blaugrana were in for a rough time as the month of November started. The Catalans had to face the likes of Villarreal, Getafe and the biggest game on the planet, the El Clasico. It was fame and glory that the Lionel Messi and Co. came out with from the match,
unscathed with their heads held high.
Eight games in the space of 35 days will drain even the toughest of Athletes and Blaugrana magicians are not known for their fitness anyways. The game against Rubin is a dead rubber as far as Pep Guardiola is concerned for his troops are already assured
of the top spot in the group. As things stand, Los Cules sit atop Group D with 11 points from opening five games; four points clear of second placed FC Kobenhavn.
This game will provide Catalan young guns to impress the management and coach. Coach Guardiola will need to be careful against complacency as a surprise defeat, as happened last year; will jeopardise the Blaugrana momentum.
Russians looking for an upset
On October 20th, 2009, Rubin Kazan achieved the biggest result in their history when FC Barcelona were brought tumbling down by Ruby at legendary Camp Nou stadium. The two teams will play a rematch tonight as the two side go head-to head yet again
for the fourth time in two years. Much to their credit, Volzháne have gone undefeated in all three games with a single victory and two draws.
Rubin are an extremely defensive side that are hard to watch but they will have to come out of their shells and attack Barcelona if Coach Kurban Berdyev wants his troops to progress. The Russians are third in the group with six points from first five games
making them just one point behind FC Kobenhavn who take on Panathinaikos. Rubin must register a victory and pray for Kobenhavn to falter in their game to harbour any chances of progression.
With Panathinaikos left with nothing to play for and Barcelona looking unbeatable at present, Rubin are as good as out of the tournament in build-up to this game.
Team News
FC Barcelona
Guardiola will have the luxury of resting key players in the likes of Dani Alves, David Villa, Pedro, Seydou Keita and Xavi for this game while Gabriel Milito is sidelined with an injury. The Blaugrana tactician has called up youngsters for this game like
Andreu Fontas, Thiago Alcantra, Marc Bartra, Victor Vazquez and Jonathan dos Santos therefore these call ups will make the numbers.
Rubin Kazan
Rubin have travelled to Barcelona without Carlos Eduardo and Aleksandr Orekhov as both the players are nursing their respective knee injuries back in Russia.
Key Players
Thiago Alcantra
Lionel Messi is likely to make the bench for this game and that means young sensation Thiago Alcantra will be given a free reign on the pitch. The youngster has been tipped for stardom at a tender age as Alcantra will look to impress his manager and the
Camp Nou faithful.
Sergey Kornilenko
Rubin’s successful outings against Barcelona were because of ultra defensive tactics applied by Ruby manager. In such tactical battles, the defensive midfielder plays a telling role. Kornilenko will play that role tonight as he will have to hold off pressure
from the likes of Iniesta and Alcantra all night.
Prediction
This game is going to be one-way-traffic with Blaugrana maintaining lion’s share of possession. Los Cules’ persistence will get them the rewards as the reigning La Liga champions will win by a 2 – 0 score line.
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