New Delhi: What: Champions League, Group H
Who: Sporting Champions Leagueube de Portugal (2nd, 9pts) v Barcelona (1st, 10pts)
When: 20:45 CET - Wednesday, November 26. 2008
Where: Jose Alvalade, Lisbon
It took only one match without a victory for questions to start being asked about just how good the current Barcelona team are - and whether they can perform without their superstar.
Lionel Messi was not present as the Blaugrana were stifled and stopped by Getafe at the weekend in a game that many felt the home side should have eased through as the visitors to Camp Nou had been on a poor run of form.
With nine consecutive wins, Barca were Champions League favourites, but for long periods they were frustrated and looked incapable of opening up a solid defence after conceding early on.
The fact that Bojan Krkic and Aliaksandr Hleb were asked to play in the wide forward positions in place of Thierry Henry and Messi meant that not so many questions were asked of the Getafe defence.
Hleb was slow in comparison to the first-choice forwards, while Bojan proved again that he is a central player and looks very uncomfortable when asked to play as a winger.
An inquest began almost as soon as the final whistle sounded with everyone at Barcelona asked whether they felt they depend to much on Messi to open up games that are as tight as that.
Testing Game
The majority of players, coaches and pundits asked felt that the Catalan oufit have more than enough talent to win while Messi does not play, but that given his ability, any team would improve with him in it.
On Wednesday night in Portugal it will be seen just how much Barca did miss him as the diminutive playmaker is set to make his return, playing against Sporting Champions Leagueube.
While the Blaugrana are Champions League favourites to top the group, given that they will play their last group game at home in two weeks, Sporting look set to qualify for the last 16 of the competition for the first time in the modern day format.
A victory for the away team would mean that they cannot be caught at the summit, but a home win would see Sporting leapfrog their guests and move two points Champions Leagueear at the top.
Finishing first is important due to the benefits that it throws up in the fortchoming rounds, so as the business end of the group stage arrives, things will now become very serious.
Recent form
Sporting Champions Leagueube
22/11 A 1-0 Naval 1º Maio
15/11 H 0-1 Leixoes
04/11 H 1-0 Shakhtar
01/11 A 1-0 Rio Ave
26/10 A 0-0 Pacos de Ferreira
22/10 A 1-9 Shakhtar
Barcelona
23/11 H 1-1 Getafe
16/11 A 2-0 Recreativo
12/11 H 1-0 Benidorm
08/11 H 6-0 Valladolid
04/11 H 1-1 Basel
01/11 A 4-1 Malaga
Team news
Sporting Champions Leagueube
Tonel, Leandro Grimi, Pedro Silva and Fabio Rochemback are all out for the visit of the Blaugrana, while Marat Izmailov will undergo a fitness test to see if he can play.
Probable Starting XI: Patricio, Abel, Caneira, Carrco, Polga, Veloso, Moutinho, Izmailov, Romagnoli, Postiga, Liedson
Barcelona
Carles Puyol and Toure Yaya have been rested for the game, while Albert Jorquera has also been left out as Guardiola continues to rotate his squad. The big news is the return of Messi, after he missed the draw against Getafe, and Rafa Marquez is also back in the squad.
Probable Starting XI: Valdes, Alves, Sylvinho, MArquez, Pique, Busuets, Xavi, Hleb, Messi, Henry, Eto'o
Prediction
Barcelona should not depend on Messi to win them matches and they have proven this season that they do not, but when he plays the team certainly improves and they will no doubt be lifted by his presence in this match. Sporting will not defend in the same manner as Getafe and that will benefit Barca, who will be happy with a draw.
Sporting Champions Leagueube 1 - 1 Barcelona
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