Russian Federation, Kazan : Players of FC Barcelona warm up during a training session in Kazan on November 3, 2009 (AFP Photo / Alexander Nemenov)
Russian winter scares Barca stars
Published 04 November, 2009, 12:12
Russia's Republic of Tatarstan is gearing up to go football crazy on Wednesday as the region's leading football club, Rubin, host Barcelona after their 2-1 shock win in Catalonia.
Barca go into the game in Kazan on the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw at Osasuna at the weekend.
But the game that will be very much on Pep Guardiola and Co's minds is the shock 2-1 defeat handed out by Rubin at the Camp Nou on October 21.
But it’s not only revenge, but the cold Russian winter as well that the Barca stars are talking about.
“It will be cold – that’s the way it is. We shouldn’t think about that for a moment more. The team wants to achieve big things this year, and we’ll have to play in cold grounds, on muddy pitches, against twelve men… If it’s cold here, then cold it is,” Josep Guardiola, Barcelona manager, said, the club’s official website reports.
“I have never played anywhere so cold. I hope it doesn’t show, and the way to do that is simply not to think about it. The important thing is to play a good game” Lionel Messi echoed his coach.
The weather forecast for Wednesday in Kazan is sunny and minus 4 Celsius, but the temperature may fall to minus 7 in the evening when the game kicks off.
Both teams will enter the latest fixture without any big injury worries.
Barcelona, Dinamo Kiev and Rubin Kazan share the first spot in the group, having 4 points after three games, while unbeaten, though winless, Inter Milan are behind with 3 points.
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