Played
November 20, 2012 6:00 PM WAT
Olimpiyskiy stadion Luzhniki — Moskva
Referee:‬ I. Bebek‎
Attendance:‬ 67325‎
 
 
Daniel Alves 16′
 
Lionel Messi 27′
 
Lionel Messi 39′

Spartak Moscow - Barcelona Preview: Injury-hit hosts face tall order against Catalan giants

The Russians' coach Unai Emery, who has not got the greatest record against the Blaugrana, will have his work cut out here with a number key players missing for their crucial game

By Craig Turnbull

More On :  Barcelona, Spartak Moscow, Spartak Moscow vs Barcelona
Emmanuel Emenike, Spartak Moscow
Getty Images
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

SPARTAK MOSCOW

Chernyshuk
Makeev, Bryzgalov, Suchy, Kombarov
Rafael, Kallstrom
Jurado, Ari, Gorbatenko
Emenike
BARCELONA

Valdes
Alves, Puyol, Pique, Alba
Fabregas, Iniesta, Xavi
Pedro, Messi, Villa

Spartak Moscow have an injury crisis ahead of their crunch match with Group G table-toppers Barcelona.

The Russians have a goalkeeping dilemma, with third-choice Artem Rebrov now also ruled out having suffered an injury in Unai Emery's men's 1-1 draw with Volga at the weekend. He now joins Andriy Dikan and Sergei Pesyakov on the sidelines.

Also missing for the hosts is strikers Artem Dzyuba and Welliton while skipper Sergei Parshivlyuk, Russia international Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Brazil midfielder Romulo and Republic of Ireland winger Aiden McGeady are unavailable.

Argentine defender Nicolas Pareja is suspended for the bottom of the table side who need a good result here to have any chance of reaching the knockout stages.

Meanwhile, Tito Vilanova will be looking for a response from his Barcelona team after falling to a shock 2-1 defeat to Celtic on Matchday 4.

The Catalans welcomed back Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol at the weekend where the Blaugrana disposed of Zaragoza 3-1 and it would be surprising if the pair did not start in the Russian capital.

One defender who is definitely ruled out is 21-year-old Marc Bartra, while attacker Alexis Sanchez is missing for up to four weeks after returning from international duty with Chile injured.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Spartak Moscow coach Unai Emery has the unenviable record against Barcelona having not won in his last 14 attempts versus the visitors.
  • The hosts 2-1 victory over Benfica on Matchday 4 was just their second win in 16 attempts at home in the Group stages.
  • The hosts' record in the last 12 home games against Spanish opposition reads W3 D6 L3.
  • Barcelona's Lionel Messi (pictured, right) is now just seven behind Gerd Muller's record of most goals in a calender year, having scored a double against Zaragoza at the weekend which takes his tally to 78.
  • The Argentina international is the fourth top goalscorer in Champions League history behind Andriy Shevchenko Ruud van Nistelrooy and Raul.
  • The Catalan giants with their win on Saturday equalled Real Madrid's 1991-92 record of 34 points from a possible 36 in La Liga - the best ever start to a Primera Division campaign.

Follow Goal.com on Twitter

Follow Goal.com on Facebook
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Spartak Moscow 1-3 Barcelona
    20.4 %
  • Spartak Moscow 0-3 Barcelona
    12.43 %
  • Spartak Moscow 1-4 Barcelona
    8.78 %
Head to Head
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ Nov 20, 2012 Spartak Moscow 0 - Barcelona 3
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ Sep 19, 2012 Barcelona 3 - Spartak Moscow 2
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Last Five Matches
Spartak Moscow
May 18, 2013Krasnodar 0 - Spartak Moscow 1RUS1
May 10, 2013Spartak Moscow 1 - Kryliya Sovetov 1RUS1
May 3, 2013FC Mordovia Saransk 2 - Spartak Moscow 1RUS1
Apr 28, 2013Spartak Moscow 2 - Anzhi Makhachkala 0RUS1
Apr 21, 2013CSKA Moscow 2 - Spartak Moscow 2RUS1
Barcelona
May 19, 2013Barcelona 2 - Valladolid 1LIGA
May 12, 2013Atletico Madrid 1 - Barcelona 2LIGA
May 5, 2013Barcelona 4 - Betis 2LIGA
May 1, 2013Barcelona 0 - FC Bayern München 3UCL
Apr 27, 2013Athletic de Bilbao 2 - Barcelona 2LIGA
Odds
Returns: Spartak Moscow $90.00 Ladbrokes Sign up today with Ladbrokes and get a $20 welcome bonus!
Returns: Draw $50.00 Ladbrokes Sign up today with Ladbrokes and get a $20 welcome bonus!
Returns: Barcelona $13.00 Ladbrokes Sign up today with Ladbrokes and get a $20 welcome bonus!
Team News
Available Squads
81Andrey DykanGoalkeeper
-Juan Manuel InsaurraldeDefender
17Marek SuchyDefender
16Evgeniy MakeevDefender
5Rafael CariocaMidfielder
77Kirill KombarovDefender
18JuradoMidfielder
6Kim KällströmMidfielder
99Dmitriy KombarovMidfielder
9AriStriker
-EmenikeStriker
-Sergey ChernyshukGoalkeeper
-Sergey BryzgalovDefender
-Emin MakhmudovMidfielder
20Demy de ZeeuwMidfielder
27Zhano AnanidzeMidfielder
26WellitonStriker
14Pavel YakovlevStriker
1Víctor ValdésGoalkeeper
2Daniel AlvesDefender
3PiquéDefender
18Jordi AlbaDefender
4Cesc FàbregasMidfielder
6XaviMidfielder
8Andrés Iniesta LujánMidfielder
14Javier MascheranoMidfielder
16BusquetsMidfielder
10Lionel MessiStriker
17PedroStriker
13José Pinto ColoradoGoalkeeper
5Carles PuyolDefender
35MontoyaDefender
34Jonathan Dos SantosMidfielder
25Alex SongMidfielder
27GerardMidfielder
7David VillaStriker
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid 		12 0
Robert Lewandowski Robert Lewandowski
Striker
Dortmund 		10 1
Thomas Müller Thomas Müller
Striker
Bayern 		8 1
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona 		8 0
Burak Yılmaz Burak Yılmaz
Striker
Galatasaray 		8 0