Champions League Group D preview: Barca on course

Barcelona and FC Copenhagen are just one victory away from the Champions League knockout stages.

Barcelona, who top Group D with eight points, face lowly Panathinaikos on Wednesday, while Copenhagen travel to Russian club Rubin Kazan.

Copenhagen are second on the table with seven points, and a win at Rubin would seal up the second qualifying spot behind Barca, who can still progress if they draw with Panathinaikos and the Danish champions win.

But Barca’s progress into the last 16 looks all but assured when they travel to Athens.

Panathinaikos have managed just two points from their four fixtures, both goal-less draws against Rubin, and will play under new manager Jesualdo Ferreira for the first time.

Ferreira, who was sacked from Barca’s La Liga rivals Malaga earlier in November, took over at the Greek champions last week after Nikos Nioplias resigned.

While Ferreira’s familiarity with Barca is undoubtedly an advantage, it seems unlikely he will be able to turn around Panathinaikos’ European campaign so quickly.

Barca, who thrashed Panathinaikos 5-1 in their home leg, warmed up for their trip to Greece with an astonishing 8-0 drubbing of league rivals Almeria at the weekend.

Argentinean superstar Lionel Messi netted a hat-trick at Almeria, and leads Barca’s scoring in the Champions League with five goals. Two were against Panathinaikos.

Panathinaikos were also in the winners’ circle over the weekend, rubbing out a two-goal deficit to smash league rivals Iraklis 4-2 with caretaker coach Jacek Gmoch at the helm.

But Ferreira’s back four will struggle to contain the likes of Messi, David Villa and Andres Iniesta.

Sidney Govou netted an early opener for Panathinaikos the last time the sides met, in what remains Panathinaikos’ only goal of the group stages.

But look to fellow forward Djibril Cisse to set the tempo for the Greek side.

Cisse has been handed the captain’s armband by Ferreira in place of Gilberto Silva, and will be keen to repay his manager’s faith.

Copenhagen, meanwhile, will be buoyed by their 1-1 draw with Barca last time out as they travel to Kazan.

Senegalese attacker Dame N’Doye nabbed a late winner as Copenhagen edged Kazan 1-0 in their home leg and will look to do the same again.

But the defensive-minded Russian outfit have shared the points in all five of their Champions League matches on home soil and will aim to frustrate the Danish club into a draw.

Cesar Santin could be the spark for Copenhagen, who are in indomitable form in the Danish Superliga with 14 wins and three draws from their first 17 fixtures.

The Brazilian striker has netted 12 goals in the league campaign, including six from his past seven games, and could get on the scoresheet at Rubin.

Rubin are third on the Russian Premier League table, 10 points behind Zenit St. Petersburg, but have managed just one win from their past seven matches in all competitions.

It is safe to say their European campaign appears to be almost over.