Unexpected defeat (1-2)

Barca suffered their first defeat of the season as Rubin Kazan shocked the Nou Camp with a 1-2 win tonight. Barca had the lion's share of the ball and hit the woodwork twice, but the Russians proved more effective in front of goal.
On paper Rubin Kazan were the weakest team of the Group F, but they showed that upsets are still a part and parcel of the game with their shock win at the Nou Camp. After a very early goal put them ahead, they defended doggedly and in the end inflicted Barca's first defeat of the season. Barca seemed to have punctured Rubin's hopes when Ibrahimovic drew them level just after half time and with nearly 70% of possession, Guardiola's men certainly dominated, but the Russian team hit them on the break to make it 1-2 and with two posts denying them late on, Barca were left to rue their bad luck on a disappointing evening at the Nou Camp. Early shock After just a minute,Rubin Kazan were one up when Ryazantsev connected with a scorching 35-yard drive that gave Valdes no chance as it shot into the top left hand corner. Barca seemed unperturbed by the goal though and were soon in charge with Ibrahimovic making the keeper Ryzhikov work on 4 and 10 minutes. Packed defence For their part, Rubin tried to sit on their lead, closing down midfield and packing their defence against Xavi and Iniesta's clever probing and with Messi coming deep, Barca found the congested centre hard to break through. It was therefore out on the flanks that Barca got most joy with Alves cutting in and hitting the side netting with a shot on 15 minutes and Pedro heading just wide on 38 minutes, but it was still the Russians who went in ahead at the break. Ibra brings Barca level The second half began as almost a carbon copy of the first, but this time it was Barca who got the early goal. And what a goal it was: Xavi lofting a pinpoint pass for Ibrahimovic in the inside right lane to turn and fire low past the keeper. Now the fans were roaring Barca on as they searched for their second against opponents who were determined to sit back and defend. Second goal killer Despite having nearly 80% of the possession in the second half, it wasn't Barca, but rather Rubin who broke the deadlock as Karadeniz rounded off a lightening quick counter attack on 73 minutes. That second goal was a real body blow to Barca and though there was still time for Ibrahimovic on 79 minutes and Toure in injury time to both hit the woodwork, it just wasn't to be -sometimes there's just no justice in football!


Barça more than Messi

Both Kurban Berdyev and César Navas agreed that although Leo Messi is a great player, there is a lot more to FCB than just him. Navas explained that "Leo Messi is a great individualist and very hard to defend against. But the team is full of great players and it would be a mistake just to worry about Leo Messi."

Last defeat was in March

The defeat against Rubin Kazan on Tuesday evening was the first time that FC Barcelona had been beaten for exactly six months and 20 days, when they went down against Atlético de Madrid in Vicente Calderón.Pep Guardiola's side had not been beaten for 34 consecutive matches as they were not on the wrong end of a result since March, when Los Colchoneros beat them in la Primera. During that time the Catalan club have lifted five major trophies. Point of inflection On March 1, 2009 a dramatic game was seen in Madrid as Barça were beaten 4-3 by Atlético and saw the Blaugrana's lead at the top of the table reduced to just four points. That reverse though became a point of inflection for the visitors and since then the team has gone on an incredible run of form. As well as clinching the league title, Barça also won the Copa del Rey, the UEFA Champions League, the Spanish Super Cup and the European Super Cup, as well as beating Real Madrid 2-6 in the Santiago Bernabéu. 34 games later Rubin's win saw Barça lose their first game of the new season too as they had gone 13 matches without being beaten. In ten of those 13 games Guardiola had led his side victory.

Ten months in Europe

The last time that FC Barcelona were beaten in the Champions League was on December 9, 2008 when Shaktar Donetsk secured a 2-3 triumph in Camp Nou. The Blaugrana had already qualified for the next stage when they took the field against the Ukrainian outfit.

Berdyev: "Who are Barça not favourites against?"

Rubin Kazan manager, Kurban Berdyev, knows that on Tuesday night he is facing one of the strongest teams in the world, but denies that they are coming to the Camp Nou just to sit back and see what Barça can do. This is the first time Rubin Kazan have played in the Champions League and also their first meeting with FC Barcelona. So this is much more than any ordinary football match. As many as 26 players took part in their training session, their initiation to the Camp Nou stadium. First v last Despite coming to Barcelona as the bottom ranked side in Group F, with just one point, Rubin Kazan gave Barcelona the greatest shock of their life by beating them in camp Nuo for the first time 2:1.

BARCELONA'S BIG SHOCK

A big shock it was for the catalans of barcelona as the opponents RubinKazan gave an early shot straight into the goal to put them above the catalans. Barcelona came back into the gave with an early equalizer in the second half only to be beaten at the almost the end of the match as another shocking goal came in.
The catalans really tried to equalize but it was rather to late as the time gradually ticked away to the end of the match leaving the defending champions to a home defeat from their visiting opponents.
The fans were actually disappointed and felt really bad about this unexpected loss at home.

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COACHING STAFF

Manager: Josep Guardiola

Assistant manager: Tito Vilanova

Goalkeeping coach: Juan Carlos Unzué

Fitness coach: Lorenzo Buenaventura / Paco Seirul•lo / Aureli Altimira / Francesc Cos

Doctors: Ricard Pruna / Daniel Medina

Representative: Carles Naval

Podiatrist: Martín Rueda

Physiotherapists: David Álvarez / Jaume Munill / Emili Ricart / Juanjo Brau

Scouting and Tactical Analysis: Domènec Torrent, Carles Planchart and Jordi Roura

Kit Managers: Chema Corbella / José Antonio Ibarz / Gabriel Galan

Player Liaison: Pepe Costa