FCBARCELONA.CAT

05.09.2009 19:53

European rivals up and running

Sandra Sarmiento

Barca’s three rivals in the Group Stage of the UCL this season will all be going into the competition with more games under their belts than Guardiola’s team, with the Russian team Rubin Kazan actually reaching the end of their season.

When Barca visit Milan to take on Inter in 11 days time, they will have just played their second league game, away to Getafe, having already beaten Sporting in the league opener and taken the Spanish and European Super Cups in August. Their rivals have all had the benefit of a few more games and the Russians are almost at the end of their season.

Inter Milan

Barca’s first game in the Group Stage is in Milan and Inter have already played one more league game than their visitors, boasting a 0-4 win over Milan and a draw against Bari. Sampdoria lead the Scudetto with Inter lying fifth alongside Parma, who Mourinho’s team play the weekend before the clash with Barca.

Dinamo de Kíev

On 29 September, Barca entertain Dynamo Kiev at the Nou Camp. The Ukranians top their league with 16 points, three more than Shaktar Donetsk, having won 5 of the six games played so far and drawn the other, scoring 24 goals and conceding just 4.

Rubin Kazan

The third Group Stage game will be against the Russian team Rubin Kazan. There are just 10 games to go in the Russian league and Rubin have a 4 point lead over second place Spartak Moscow, who beat them 0-3 in the last league game. Rubin have won 12 games, drawn 4 and lost 3 games in the league so far.