Barcelona are safe; Last 16 Champions League football awaits them. The 2009 European kings and 2010 semi-finalists did enough on match-day 5 to secure the top spot. Barca hold a 4-point advantage over Group E’s second-placed team København – meaning that, mathematically, they have no concerns going into the final group stage game of the Champions League.
Just as the very top of Group E has been decided, the very bottom of that section has been decided too; Panathinaikos, with 2 points from 5 matches, have lost all hopes of pursuing their European adventure this season. The big battle in that table is between København and Rubin Kazan. Which team will have the honor of reaching the Champions League’s Last 16? Which team will have to settle for Europa League football?
Statistically, København have a better opportunity of joining Barcelona into the next round of the competition as a win against Panathinaikos would confirm qualification. However, Rubin Kazan can still hope for an upset to occur against the Danes as they also plot to defeat Barca at the Camp Nou.
Based on the Catalans’ excellent home form in all competitions (marked by their 5-0 demolition of Real Madrid), would it be too much dreaming for Rubin Kazan to think of triumphing at the Camp Nou on match-day 6 of the Champions League?
Well, amazingly, the Russians are yet to taste defeat against Barcelona and their historic 2-1 win in Catalonia last season should give them a boost of confidence ahead of this week’s vital fixture. However, this isn’t all. Rubin Kazan could also make the most of Pep Guardiola’s changes to the Barca squad.
Although Pique, Iniesta and Lionel Messi “the terrifying” are all expected to play, the inclusion of many young lads could ease the Russians’ task at the Camp Nou. Here is Barcelona’s team to face Rubin Kazan:
Goalkeepers: Pinto, Valdes
Defenders: Abidal, Pique, Fontas, Bartra, Puyol
Midfielders: Busquets, Iniesta, Maxwell, Mascherano, Thiago, Jonathan dos Santos, Adriano, Victor Vazquez
Forwards: Jeffren, Messi, Bojan
