FC Barcelona vs Rubin Kazan Preview

FC Barcelona would be looking for their first win against Rubin Kazan

Having already qualified as the Group leaders, FC Barcelona's final group match against Rubin Kazan usually should invoke only academic interest. But I doubt it. Guardiola might be taking this test a bit serious than other thinks. I mean, Rubin Kazan is that one challenge in which Guardiola never managed to be on the right side. In their three meetings we have 2 draws and one defeat. So that should make Guardiola a bit more motivated. And more over, we may not get a much better chance to beat Rubin Kazan that tomorrow night. To be honest, Rubin Kazan has been extremely hard for us to break down in the last couple of meetings. They usually line up with a 5-4-1 or 4-5-1 formation against us and we had found it time and again difficult to break. BUt tomorrow they themselves are going to be in a dileama. Rubin Kazan's victory at home against FC Copenhagen means that they now have a realistic chance of qualifying for the second round. They are currently in six points and Copenhagen in seven points. A victory of Copenhagen could break Rubin's hopes, but I still believe they will go for a win and hope for Pananthanaikos to do a favour to them. Now any team chasing for a victory is a very good news for Barca, actually extremely good news for Barca.

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FIFA Balon d'Or Goes to "La Masia"

FC Barcelona's breeding ground, La Masia is guranteed to be crowned as the "Best in the World" after the sensational trio of Xavi, Iniesta and Messi were shortlisted for Inaugral FIFA Ballon d'Or award. This has to be one of the most proudest moemnt as far as a FC Barcelona supporter is concerned. These three has been the heart of all good things at Barca and this comes as no surprise for the proud fans of the club. Lionel Messi, the current Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player is once again the front runner for this award. But most probably this edition, which is the first one after the above mentioned two awards were merged will end up with either Xavi or Iniesta, courtesy of the great triumph in South Africa. Meanwhile Pep Guardiola is also been shortliested for the Coach of the Year award along with Jose Mourinho and Del Bosque. Once again in a World Cup year you expect the award going to a World Cup winner.

Barca - 3, Osasuna (Cowards) - 0

Barca make short work of a terrified Osasuna

FC Barcelona moved five point clear off Real Madrid with tough 3-0 victory against Osasuna. This is our seventh consecutive away win of the season and that's yet another La Liga record. There has been huge controversy into the build up of this match. Barca were planning to fly tonight to Pamplona, but the sudden strike by the air traffic controller through off Barca's plan onto disarray. We were told in the morning that the match was postponed to tomorrow by the RFEF. But it looks like Osasuna objected to that and wanted to play us on saturday. It looks like some phone call from a particular business tycoon in the Capital, might have made that decision. Camacho with his association with Real Madrid, did his best to make life easier for his older club. But his and his club's cowardly insistence to have Barca travel all the way from Barcelona to Pamplona in both train and bus did nothing to change the fate of this match. It is still not clear what made his club to insist on playing tonight - maybe the fear of Barca or maybe the love for Real Madrid. A first half goal from Pedro and two second half strikes from Messi helped Barca to yet another away win in the league. Guardiola retained the same eleven which lined-up against Real Madrid - Valdes, Pique, Puyol, Alves, Abidal, Busquets, Iniesta, Xavi, Pedro, Villa and Messi.

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