Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova admits his side cannot expect to have any element of surprise in their favour when they take on Spartak Moscow in the Champions League.

Barca may be one of the most famous teams in the world but Vilanova felt the Catalan giants could still rely on a certain amount of mystery when they played in Europe - but not this week.

The main reason for that is Unai Emery, Spartak's Spanish coach.

Prior to moving to Russia this summer Emery spent five years battling in the Primera Division against all-conquering Barca, first with Almeria and then at Valencia.

Emery has not actually won any of his previous 14 showdowns with Barca but Vilanova concedes there is now little the 41-year-old will not know about the Blaugrana.

``Normally the advantage we have in Europe is that they don't know us as well as they do in La Liga, but in this case against Spartak that advantage disappears,'' said Vilanova.

Spartak, who also boast Spanish midfielder Jose Manuel Jurado in their ranks, have already shown Barca what they are capable of when they gave the four-time European champions a big scare at the Nou Camp in the opening round of the group stage.

On that occasion Spartak led 2-1 with less than 20 minutes to go, only for Barca superstar Lionel Messi to work his magic yet again with a late brace that earned his side a 3-2 victory.

Vilanova is expecting another tough clash, saying: ``Like in Barcelona they will make things very difficult for us, they will be a very tough opponent and very well-organised in both attack and defence, such are the teams of Emery, who we know well.''

Since beating Spartak at home, Barca have moved on to nine points in Group G, two clear of second-placed Celtic who they lost 2-1 to in the previous round.

If Barca had won that match they would have qualified for the knockout stages, but as things stand they still have work to do.

``We've got another opportunity now and if we don't achieve it we will have to go and do it in Barcelona. But that's normal, the public thinks that it's an easy group and it isn't, not at all, all the opponents are very demanding.''

Spartak prop up the group with three points but can still claim a top-two berth if results go their way over the final two rounds.

``The defeat in Glasgow has complicated things for the Catalans. It's going to be a tough game. In any case, our mission is to win,'' said Emery

``We will go out with this idea. We will try to take advantage of the chances that we'll have in the game.''

Emery has a number of absentees for the clash at the Luzhniki stadium, with Romulo, Artem Rebrov, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Soslan Gatagov, Nicolas Pareja, Aiden McGeady and Artem Dzyuba all set to be missing.

Barca, meanwhile, travelled to Russia without injured quartet Adriano, Thiago Alcantara, Alexis Sanchez and Marc Bartra.


http://espnfc.com/en/preview/355697/preview.html?soccernet=true&cc=3888

Up Barca!!!
Up Messi!!!

hehehhe...where are my moscow boys? lol. emenike to score today.
was planning on going for this match, but I do have better things to do.
anyways, go spartak!

@Mukina...
Match would be coming up earlier..6.00pm

6pm Nigerian time Boss!!!

FCBARCELONA FOR LIFE

Up Barca

Up Barca

Pls modify d topic. It's 6pm not 8.45

Expect surprises!

good luck to the might barcelona!!

good luck to them

[size=26pt]Can someone please tell the mods to change the time.Its 6pm not 8:45pm.GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT BEFORE POSTING ERRORS [/size]

6pm now

It's 6:00PM today, change d tym on d post Topic......Emenike 2 goals for u today. Anoda defeat for uefalona

Up Barcaaaaaaa!!!! The mightiest club there ever was/is!

persistenc: [size=26pt]Can someone please tell the mods to change the time.Its 6pm not 8:45pm.GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT BEFORE POSTING ERRORS [/size]

Seun u don fuckup for dis post... Na 6pm not 8:45pm

The match is presently on now...

chei pedro nearly score

Pedro!!!

Did i just heard pedro hasn't scored in 15 games? Wow!

xavi sef can dive

Clever build up from the SPMoscow corner. Wasted!

Alves!

#Wharrafinish#

goooaal

idiotic alves score

the goal get k leg

dani alves 0-1 barca

Dani Alves scores

Barca are playing these guys half-field oo

Jordi Alba fouled

mukina2: goooaal

idiotic alves score

the goal get k leg

He concern u . K leg o no leg goal na goal

Messi dispossessed by a common defender

fredoooooo:


He concern u . K leg o no leg goal na goal

he is still a goat