Champions League - Rubin hold Barcelona

Eurosport - Tue, 03 Nov 12:59:00 2009

Rubin Kazan held Barcelona to a goalless draw in Russia to take an unlikely four points off the Liga and European champions in their Champions League Group F clash.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Barcelona against Rubin Kazan - 0

After completing a shock 2-1 win at the Camp Nou on the previous matchday, the Russians defended like lions and could even have won against a sluggish Barcelona side.

Barcelona utterly dominated first-half possession but, for all their pretty passing, struggled to break down their well-organised hosts in freezing conditions.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic came agonisingly close to giving the Blaugrana an early lead but his third-minute curler struck the post after Cesar Navas slipped to let him in.

Rubin keeper Sergei Ryzhikov made saves at the feet of Lionel Messi, who raced on to Ibrahimovic's flick but delayed on shooting, and Andres Iniesta, who similarly hesitated after the bright Ibrahimovic released him with a clever free-kick.

But otherwise the Russian champions restricted Barca to hopeful efforts from distance and went close themselves when Alexandr Ryazantsev raced in from the right but was denied by a low save from Victor Valdes.

There was little change in the second half, as Barca plugged away but Rubin's deep, solid defending kept long shots from Messi, Iniesta, Xavi and Yaya Toure harmless.

Indeed, as the game entered the latter stages the hosts came very close to snatching a goal when substitute Alexandr Bukharov was twice denied by Valdes after the Barcelona defence went to sleep.

First he raced on to a superb crossfield pass from the impressive Alejandro Dominguez but his chest-down should really have been a header or volley on goal and Valdes was able to claim at his feet.

Then, after the visiting defence stood like statues, Bukharov was able to get clear on goal but Valdes again flew out to block.

Bukharov had another superb chance late on, heading Dominguez's corner just over from the near post,

Thierry Henry made a late entrance for Barcelona but, clearly lacking match sharpness, was caught off-guard when Alves's cross landed at his feet three yards out and - in the final minute - hammered his finish wide as he lost balance when Messi played him through.

The hosts held out for a famous draw that leaves Group F wide open, as all four teams - including Internazionale and Dynamo Kiev - can still qualify with two games remaining.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

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  1. hey guys, lets just pray for barca to qualify for the­ 2nd round by winning all their matches and i assure you­ that if so be, they will go ahead and claim it again -­ i mean back to back win by God's grace and may God­ help us cos am Barca4Life......

    From kehindee, on Fri 13 Nov 2:00PM

  2. well am glad that inter won, but very displeased with­ Barca. Not quite please with Liverpool since they could­ not thrash lion never the less very proud of the young­ stars of Arsenal cuz i have my man Alex Song the rock­ and heart of this mid field

    From ngouabe tumnde, on Thu 5 Nov 1:18PM

  3. credit to rubin soccer has come of age

    From evans, on Thu 5 Nov 6:51AM

  4. BARÇA MUST BEAT INTER NOW!! IF THEY DON'T I WILL­ HAVE AN HUGE LAUGH!!

    From Vítor, on Thu 5 Nov 1:54AM

  5. #23 Well said and delivered! But ofcourse is always­ hard to swallow the truth.

    From tonybush, on Wed 4 Nov 10:10PM

  6. Guys, everybody, please give it up for ''money­ does not buy success'' he ......HE did so much­ good today, that only I know of :))))) compliment the­ guy in some way....I dont know, I just want him too­ feel good too right know :))))))
    I be like saying­ something bad about Barca and omagine his face­ HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAA­ AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA­ AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA­ AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA)))))))))))))))))))))))))))
    O GOD ,­ Please do good to this guy :))))))))))))))))))))))

    From artakjan2001, on Wed 4 Nov 10:09PM

  7. Again you ))))))
    I swear you make me laugh, tomorrow,­ when I go to work, Im gonna comment
    something bad­ about Barcelona and look around acpecting too see your­ fat, uggly, mad to death face jumping from some were­ to my direction­ ))))))))))))))))))))))
    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA­ AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA­ AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA­ AAAAAAAA
    I cant stop laghing right now ,­ AAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA )))))
    thank you­ ''money doeas not but success'' thank­ you so much, I apraciate the help, I did not laugh at­ anyone like this for weeks ...for real, TY

    Listen­ bro, Im not that bad, am really funy guy, don't­ hate me that much, It's probably not good for your­ health )))))))))))))))))ok...thats it, Im not laughing­ any more (yes I do :))))))))))))))))))))))

    From artakjan2001, on Wed 4 Nov 10:06PM

  8. ANNA WILL U MARRY ME?

    From Dalton, on Wed 4 Nov 10:01PM

  9. wowee barcelona the champs in a slump...and madrid fans­ dont even think that your team is good enough in the­ last 16 they will be knocked out!!!! at the moment the­ three big guns of the english prem league are still­ there ,chelsea,man united,arsenal...forget about­ liverpool they aint gonna make it....!!!!

    From theonebehindthewheel, on Wed 4 Nov 10:00PM

  10. @ #18, #19 and #20, go fuxk yourself artakjan2001, or­ should I say getachew44. what is this your 501 account­ that you have. You mother fuxker, go get a fuxking­ life. At leat Barca dreaw the champions of russia,­ it's not like they lost to a third division team­ 4-0, like madrid did. You have no room to talk mother­ fuxker.

    From Money Does Not Buy Success, on Wed 4 Nov 9:41PM

  11. Anna, I quite understand your argument. But my own­ standpoint is that the Coach is yet to justify why he­ decided to change his attacking personality. The­ question is, does Ibra has more goals at this stage­ than what Eto'o had last season? Does Barca exhibit­ more attacking treat now? Rubin took 4 points from­ Barca, if Chelsea had done that last season they would­ have featured in the final. A good attacking team­ should be able to open up a resistant defense and not­ just "taking the ball forward and playing­ attractive precision based football" like you­ claimed. Can you please remind me of a trophy set aside­ for teams that engage in such display without goals to­ show for it...? There are investors in this game of­ soccer that needs returns. Anna, simply put, your­ journalistic response may not allay the fears of those­ investors...

    From Richieyoms, on Wed 4 Nov 9:25PM

  12. be scared, russians are coming

    From renegatess, on Wed 4 Nov 9:02PM

  13. I WRITE HERE FOR TWO GOOD REASONS: FIRST OF ALL IM A­ REAL
    MADRID FAN, AND TO BE HONEST IM REALLY ENJOYING­ IT WHEN BARCELONA LOSSES )))
    I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WOULD­ THINK IT IS NOT WRITE, BUT THEY ARE JUST LIEING CUN*S,­ WELL I LIKE TO SAY WHAT IS IN MY MIND ALLWAYS )))
    MY­ SECOND AND BIGGER REASON IS THAT I ALLWAYS LIKED­ RUSSIA
    N PEOPLE, LIKE THERE SOUPS, THERE LANGUAGE, ­ THERE PRETT
    Y GIRLS, AND FRIENDLY AND WARM WELLCOMING­ AUTMOSPERE , I LIKE
    RUSSIANS !!! AS FAR AS THE GAME­ GOES-I AM SO NICELY SURPRISED BY THE TEAM OF RUBIN,­ THAT I HOPE AND WANT THEM TO BELIVE IN THERE
    OWN­ SPIRIT AND FORCES, AND I HOPE THEY MAKE IT TO THE­ FINALS
    , AGAINST REAL MADRID, AND I SWEAR, IF THEY­ WIN IT-I
    WOULD BE KIND OF HAPPY THERE ))))))
    V­ PREIOD RUBIN, V PERED RUSIA, ETI ANGLICHIANI DUMAYUT­ ONI LUCHSHE VAS-ONI YESHYO NEZNAYUT SHTO VI LUCHSHE IX,­ v PEEEEEEERIIIIOOOOOOOOOOD ))))))
    VOT TAK VOT­ )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

    From artakjan2001, on Wed 4 Nov 9:02PM

  14. I WRITE HERE FOR TWO GOOD REASONS: FIRST OF ALL IM A­ REAL
    MADRID FAN, AND TO BE HONEST IM REALLY ENJOYING­ IT WHEN BARCELONA LOSSES )))
    I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WOULD­ THINK IT IS NOT WRITE, BUT THEY ARE JUST LIEING CUN*S,­ WELL I LIKE TO SAY WHAT IS IN MY MIND ALLWAYS )))
    MY­ SECOND AND BIGGER REASON IS THAT I ALLWAYS LIKED­ RUSSIA
    N PEOPLE, LIKE THERE SOUPS, THERE LANGUAGE, ­ THERE PRETT
    Y GIRLS, AND FRIENDLY AND WARM WELLCOMING­ AUTMOSPERE , I LIKE
    RUSSIANS !!! AS FAR AS THE GAME­ GOES-I AM SO NICELY SURPRISED BY THE TEAM OF RUBIN,­ THAT I HOPE AND WANT THEM TO BELIVE IN THERE
    OWN­ SPIRIT AND FORCES, AND I HOPE THEY MAKE IT TO THE­ FINALS
    , AGAINST REAL MADRID, AND I SWEAR, IF THEY­ WIN IT-I
    WOULD BE KIND OF HAPPY THERE ))))))
    V­ PREIOD RUBIN, V PERED RUSIA, ETI ANGLICHIANI DUMAYUT­ ONI LUCHSHE VAS-ONI YESHYO NEZNAYUT SHTO VI LUCHSHE IX,­ v PEEEEEEERIIIIOOOOOOOOOOD ))))))
    VOT TAK VOT­ )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

    From artakjan2001, on Wed 4 Nov 9:01PM

  15. I WRITE HERE FOR TWO GOOD REASONS: FIRST OF ALL IM A­ REAL
    MADRID FAN, AND TO BE HONEST IM REALLY ENJOYING­ IT WHEN BARCELONA LOSSES )))
    I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WOULD­ THINK IT IS NOT WRITE, BUT THEY ARE JUST LIEING CUN*S,­ WELL I LIKE TO SAY WHAT IS IN MY MIND ALLWAYS )))
    MY­ SECOND AND BIGGER REASON IS THAT I ALLWAYS LIKED­ RUSSIA
    N PEOPLE, LIKE THERE SOUPS, THERE LANGUAGE, ­ THERE PRETT
    Y GIRLS, AND FRIENDLY AND WARM WELLCOMING­ AUTMOSPERE , I LIKE
    RUSSIANS !!! AS FAR AS THE GAME­ GOES-I AM SO NICELY SURPRISED BY THE TEAM OF RUBIN,­ THAT I HOPE AND WANT THEM TO BELIVE IN THERE
    OWN­ SPIRIT AND FORCES, AND I HOPE THEY MAKE IT TO THE­ FINALS
    , AGAINST REAL MADRID, AND I SWEAR, IF THEY­ WIN IT-I
    WOULD BE KIND OF HAPPY THERE ))))))
    V­ PREIOD RUBIN, V PERED RUSIA, ETI ANGLICHIANI DUMAYUT­ ONI LUCHSHE VAS-ONI YESHYO NEZNAYUT SHTO VI LUCHSHE IX,­ v PEEEEEEERIIIIOOOOOOOOOOD ))))))
    VOT TAK VOT­ )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

    From artakjan2001, on Wed 4 Nov 9:01PM

  16. If Chelsea didn't play like a bunch of 14 year old­ ninnies perhaps... Although the do look the much better­ side this year.

    From Anna, on Wed 4 Nov 8:49PM

  17. Barcelona are S H I TE,they wont get past the group­ stage.

    From rafascrackingup, on Wed 4 Nov 8:42PM

  18. Anna but you also said they played like Chelsea. What a­ controversy!
    Does it mean you are also taking you hat­ off for the Chelsea you "condemned"?
    Rubin­ vpered!

    From tonybush, on Wed 4 Nov 8:34PM

  19. Ahhh tony I took my hat off to Rubin

    From Anna, on Wed 4 Nov 8:26PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    To all you fuxking eto'o lover. Why don't you­ guys suxk his dixk since you are talking about him so­ much. Quit mentioning his name, he is not a Barca­ player anymore. He suxks anyway, look at how horrible­ he is doing with inter, that he only has 3 goals so­ far. And don't blame Ibra, he is doning good, 7­ goals in 7 matches in la liga. It's the whole Barca­ team that is not performing like they should have. So­ fuxk you all eto'o lovers, and quit bringing his­ name into Barca forum. Barca don't need him, we got­ Ibra. On the other hand eto'o needs Barca, because­ he suxks with inter.

    From Money Does Not Buy Success, on Wed 4 Nov 8:25PM
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