Inter v Barca: Can Mourinho, Swine Flu & Rubin Kazan Down European Champions?
Will we see a huge early Champions League upset for Barça? (Manuel Montilla)Jose Mourinho, as he is wont to do, has been speaking again. "Only Guardiola and I respected this [Champions League] group. Everyone thought Inter and Barcelona would be first and second and that it would be a stroll in eastern Europe. Butthe other two teams aren't here on holiday and, who knows, they may send one of us to the Europa League and the other one home."
This time however, one gets the feeling that the mischievous Portuguese coach is talking less smack and more sense. The east is rising in Group F, and it could be about to claim two European giants.
Matchday 5's Champions League games in this group pit FC Barcelona against former son Samuel Eto'o and Inter Milan, while in the depths of Russian winter newly crowned champions Rubin Kazan play Dynamo Kyiv. The situation is thus: if Inter Milan grab a win at Camp Nou and Rubin Kazan beat Dynamo, the European champions FC Barcelona go out of the competition as early as the group stage. It would be a huge upset.
Barcelona's task is far from straightforward. Even allowing for the possibility that they beat Inter, if Rubin Kazan win their game Barça would still need something from the final group game in Kiev to guarantee safe passage to the knockout phases. No wonder coach Josep Guardiola is calling on supporters to get fully behind the team on Tuesday.
In order to continue the defence of their Champions League crown past Christmas, Barcelona need safely navigate the following:
Jose Mourinho & Samuel Eto'o
Mourinho's relationship with the Catalan people is as special as his old moniker. But not in a good way. He goads them, they taunt him - everyone is happy in disharmony. Only Jose Mourinho, you feel, would wade proudly onto the Camp Nou turf prior to a crucial Champions League game to soak up the crowd's relentless jeers and boos, waving his arms frantically like a struggling orchestra conductor. He loves it.
The chance to be centre stage in Catalunya once again, this time by helping shove the European champions through the exit door, is highly likely to appeal to his ego. "I want to beat them with all my soul," Mourinho told journalists before Tuesday's game, and quite aside from victory being an appealing string for the coach's managerial bow, his team needs it. A win would send Inter into the next round.
Barça must also securely see off the attacking prowess of their former hero Samuel Eto'o, who Guardiola sold to Inter back in the summer. Eto'o spent five seasons with Barcelona, scoring 109 goals in 144 league appearances including 30 last season. In the Champions League he managed 18 in 43 games, and with goals in two winning finals Eto'o's name is forever etched into Barcelona history.
Now however, he poses a dangerous threat to his former club's current Champions League status. "He [Eto'o] will get the reception he deserves, and he deserves a good one," Guardiola said of his former No9. "The fans understand the player was not responsible for his exit, his coach was." Warm reception or not, Barcelona's defence needs to be on it's toes. Something tells me the Cameroonian hasn't forgotten how to score at the old stomping ground.
Swine flu & injuries
Though Barcelona remain unbeaten in La Liga this season, a string of injuries and a nasty outbreak of swine flu has hindered their recent progress. Deprived several players against Athletic Bilbao last weekend Barça scraped a 1-1 draw, and Guardiola will be without several players against Inter.
With Yaya Toure, Eric Abidal and Rafa Marquez all suffering from the H1N1 virus, swine flu looks to have plonked a massive pork chop in Guardiola's defensive plans for the game. Against Bilbao he lined up with Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Dmytro Chygrynskiy and Maxwell in defence, and a similar back four will have to deal with Eto'o, Diego Milito and co against Inter.
Barça also have problems in attack with key players Lionel Messi and former Inter hitman Zlatan Ibrahimovic doubtful. Hardly ideal ahead of a must-win game.
The rise of Rubin Kazan
Until they shocked the football world with a 2-1 win at the Nou Camp back in October, few people took Russian champions Rubin Kazan seriously in this competition. But now the Tatarstan outfit hold the keys to Barcelona's Champions Leage destiny in their hands. Rubin took four points from their two meetings with Barcelona. Consequently the Russians sit ahead of Guardiola's side in Group F by virtue of a better head-to-head record. Rubin have a big part to play in the outcome of this group.
Barça's future is still in their own hands at the moment, but if they can't beat Inter at home their progress will most likely depend on how Rubin fare. If Inter win and Rubin beat Dynamo Kyiv it'll all be over for the current European Cup holders.
Rubin Kazan became the first ever Russian team from outside Moscow to win their domestic league more than once last weekend. Having already stunned Barça twice this season they'll be feeling they can now help put the champions out to pasture.
