Win in Rubin´s sights

Rubin Kazan know nothing less than victory at home to FC Copenhagen on Wednesday will do if they are to progress in the Champions League.

The Russian champions sit third in the Group D standings while their opponents are second and four points better off with only two matches left to play, with both sides still to travel to the Camp Nou to face Barcelona.

Copenhagen overcame their Russian opponents 1-0 when the two teams met in September and Rubin midfield player Bibras Natcho believes they will again provide a tough challenge.

“They are very strong from a tactical point of view and are a team capable of delivering aggressive performances,” Natcho said on Tuesday.

“When the group was drawn I wouldn’t have expected them to be better than Panathinaikos but four matches into the competition I can see that I was wrong about FCK.”

Israel international Natcho, 22, knows just how important it is for Rubin to record their first home victory of the group stage on Wednesday.

“If we fail to beat Copenhagen we will have no chance whatsoever of getting second place, but there is a first time for everything and hopefully our first win will come on Wednesday,” he said.

“I don’t think (the home form) is affecting us mentally,” Natcho said. “We drew against Barcelona (1-1), which was a good result, and if you look at the Panathinaikos game (0-0) we had several good chances but didn’t take them.”

However, should Rubin fail to leap-frog Copenhagen come the end of the group stage, then at least they would still be in a good position to secure Europa League football.

“We are certainly well situated to take that slot, as Panathinaikos are below us in the table (by one point),” Natcho said.