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Fatigue, exhaustion, injury. As Barcelona’s soon to be overloading schedule instigates itself many of these factors are coming into play. However, when competing for what is regarded as the top club competition on the planet, everything is cast aside.

The UEFA Champions league is back with match day 3 in which the Camp Nou is once again preparing itself in the wake of a match being taken as a formality, a David vs Goliath affair in which current Champions League holders Barcelona will take on last seasons champions of Russia, Rubin Kazan.

However the Russian style of football is not to be criticized, and more so should the style and gameplay of Rubin.

Rubin Kazan play an organized brand of football in which structure is the key as well as the ethic to put pressure and fight for the ball. Rubin also have a spectacular record away from home having only come off second best once last season in the final fixture against Lokomotiv Moscow.

However praising Kazan will take nothing away from the shear brilliance that is Football Club Barcelona. Despite having their winning streak brought to a halt by Valencia on the weekend the form of the Blaugrana is impeccable of late. Although with fatigue hurting Barcelona as well as taking its toll on many of its top players, manager Pep Guardiola may be forced to opt for an under-strength side to take on Rubin, a decision which may well alter the course of this match.

Team News

The importance of this match cannot be stressed enough as it will give Barcelona ample breathing space at the top of the table which will mean the Blaugrana can rest players in the later period of the group stage. Pep Guadiola has made it clear that his side needs to go out for the win and despite the whispers it can be expected that Pep will opt for next to full strength with Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic back in the side after being rested against Valencia. Thierry Henry is still out whilst Rubin’s only worry is a wrist injury to striker Aleksandr Bukharov, however he is expected to pull up in time.

Predicted Starting XI, Barcelona: Valdes – Alves – Puyol – Pique – Abidal – Xavi – Toure – Keita – Messi – Ibrahimovic – Iniesta

Predicted Starting XI, Rubin Kazan: Ryzhikov – Cesar Navas – Sharonov – Ansaldi – Salukvadze – Ryazantsev – Semak – Noboa – Karadeniz – Dominguez – Bukharov

Key Players

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

With Messi set to be brutally man-marked the fate of the match could well fall upon Zlatan’s shoulders who will be the only relatively fit player in the Barcelona team having not taken part in Saturdays clash. His European record remains to be his Achilles heel and scoring goals in the Champions League is what’s needed to hold a position in Barcelona. Expect to see the first of many.

Sergei Semak

The Messi of Rubin Kazan. Semak is the first man picked for the squad week in week out for Rubin. The illustrious Russian International is the key man behind every Kazan attack and should he be on his ‘A’ game Rubin’s faint heartbeat of an objective in which they would win the match may just enter the realm of possibility.

Prediction

Despite the denial that the ‘bus will be parked’ in the Camp Nou, Rubin Kazan will end up having no choice. Their structured style of build up football may prove to be positive – negative result for Barcelona who may have their work cut out early on. Although the quality of the Barcelona players outclasses that of Kazan’s. Retention of the ball will be key in securing 3 points, Rubin may attempt to fight fire with fire by duplicating Barcelona’s game, however Barcelona will be superior when it comes to finishing chances and the Catalonians should come home with the chocolates.

Barcelona 2 – 0 Rubin Kazan