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European Champions League

Rubin Kazan 1 - Barcelona 1

Rubin: Ryzhikov; Kaleshin, Salukvadze, César Navas, Bocchetti, Ansaldi; Ryazantsev, Noboa (Natcho 88'), Murawski, Karadeniz (Martins 65'); Kornilenko (Macbeth Sibaya 62'). 5-4-1.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Dani Alves, Puyol, Piqué, Maxwell; Xavi, Busquets, Mascherano (Messi 61'); Iniesta, David Villa (Bojan 86'), Pedro. 4-3-3.

Goals:
1-0. 30. Noboa (penalty). After Dani Alves pushed over Kaleshin inside area.
1-1. 60. David Villa (penalty). After Iniesta brought down by Salukvadze in area.

For the second year in a row Barcelona were held to a draw at Rubin Kazan at the group stage. The Russian team are rapidly becoming Barça's new bogey side after also beating them in the Nou Camp last season, and this time they put up a solid wall of a defence which the Catalans were not able to find a way through. Things might have been different if Pedro had scored rather than turning Villa's pass on to the bar on the quarter hour mark. But after that chances were few and far between, and Rubin caught them out a few minutes later with a rare counter-attack which ended with Alves giving away a penalty on Kaleshin which Noboa converted. Piqué, Pedro and Villa went close either side of half time, but fifteen minutes in to the second half Barça were awarded their own penalty after Salukvadze fouled Iniesta, Villa making no mistake from the spot. Guardiola brought on Messi after that, and he carved out three or four chances without success. Martins almost won it for the locals however when he headed against the post, but Bojan and Iniesta could also have scored as both sides tired near the end.