Barca, Real seek Champions League revenge

HAMBURG - Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid are on revenge missions in the European Champions League this week when they play Rubin Kazan and AC Milan again.

While holders Barca and Real aim to rebound from home defeats against the Russian champions and Italian heavyweights, an English trio of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea heads a group of seven teams which can qualify for the knockout stages.

The Tuesday and Wednesday games mark the fourth of six group action rounds, and the holders Barcelona cannot really afford another slip-up.

Barca were caught cold at the Nou Camp by Rubin and face a Wednesday date in freezing Russia after a mediocre 1-1 league draw at Osasuna.

“We are aware of what is at stake and we will go to win, however the pitch is and whatever the temperature,” vowed captain Carles Puyol.

“We are Barca and we will go out with the same idea as always: to have possession of the ball and to be aggressive in attack.”

Barca’s Group F promises to be a veritable cliff-hanger as Josep Guardiola’s team are on four points along with Rubin and Dynamo Kiev, with Inter Milan last on three.

Inter are currently dominating the Serie A but have only managed three draws in Europe, the latest 2-2 at home against Dynamo.

Coach Jose Mourinho has injury concerns ahead of the crucial trip to Ukraine, with midfielders Sulley Muntari and Thiago Motta serious doubts.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, were stunned 3-2 at home by Milan and go to the San Siro for a Group C topper in which the winner has a good chance of making the knockout rounds, with Olympique Marseille playing Zurich in the other game.

Real president Florentino Perez said his dream was a Champions League final between Real and Milan “because we are good friends” and also said that embattled Chilean coach Manuel Perllegrini will stay on until “the end of the season.”

However, another defeat against the Italians will put the pressure back on Pellegrini, who earned himself a little breathing space on Saturday with a defiant 2-0 home win over Getafe.

Both goals came from Gonzalo Higuain, who is set to play in Milan as well, while Cristiano Ronaldo remains injured.

Sevilla have no such worries as Barca and Real, sitting top of Group G with a maximum nine points ahead of Unirea Urzizeni (four), VfB Stuttgart (two) and Glasgow Rangers (one).

Another win at home Wednesday against Stuttgart will clinch a knockout berth, with Urziceni also close to advancing if they beat Rangers in Romania.

But the fourth Spanish side, Atletico Madrid, could be out of contention Group D on Tuesday, with Chelsea coming to town on nine points, as in-form Premier League leaders and with Didier Drogba back from a suspension for his outburst last season against Barca.

Porto can join Chelsea in the next round if they win at APOEL Nicosia in the other game.

The 2007 champions and 2008 runners-up United (nine points), meanwhile, will win Group B with a victory at home against CSKA Moscow (three) and if VfL Wolfsburg (four) don’t get all three points at Besiktas Istanbul (one).

Girondins Bordeaux top Group A with seven points as they visit indifferent Bayern Munich (four) on Tuesday, with Juventus (five) at Maccabi Haifa (zero). Bordeaux and Juve will be almost through with victories.

The other big French team, Olympique Lyon, are even better off with nine points at the top of Group E, hosting troubled Liverpool (three) after a 2-1 win at Anfield and will qualify with another victory on Wednesday. Fiorentina (six) welcome Hungary’s Debrecen

(zero).

A 3-1 league defeat away to Fulham at the weekend did nothing to boost Liverpool morale, but coach Rafa Benitez is still upbeat that the Reds can improve.

“You have to be calm and keep working hard … we have confidence we can do it but we have to take our chances,” he said.

In Group H Wednesday, Arsenal (seven) and Olympiakos Piraeus (six) will be into the round of 16 if they win at home against AZ Alkmaar (two) and at Standard Liege (one), respectively.