ian1964

Head-to-head The 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture on 23 October was the first time these two teams had ever met. European history Last season, FC Barcelona reached the last 16 and were beaten by Liverpool (1-2, 1-0). In 1992, they won the Champions Cup and in 2006 they lifted the Champions League trophy. In 2005-06, Rangers were the first Scottish club to survive the Champions League group phase, reaching the last 16. Current European form Barcelona are unbeaten in their four Champions League matches, keeping clean sheets in all four. They are yet to concede a goal in this season's Champions League. Arsenal are the only other team to have kept three clean sheets in this season's competition. Rangers are on the longest running unbeaten streak in the Champions League of nine matches. It's a run which started with six consecutive draws. They are also undefeated in four Champions League away matches. VfB Stuttgart are the only team to score against Rangers in seven matches of European competition this season. Player and disciplinary info Kevin Thomson (Rangers) is suspended. Team mate David Weir will be suspended if booked. Thierry Henry is Barcelona's most prolific CL striker with 43 goals. The Frenchman is fourth on the all-time top scorers list of the Champions League. If Barcelona's Bojan Krkic scores, he will become the youngest goal scorer in Champions League history (17 years and 71 days) Other miscellaneous facts Barcelona beat Real Betis 3-0 on Sunday, and are now second in the Primera Division, a point behind leaders Real Madrid. Rangers beat Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2-0 on Saturday, and are second in the SPL, three points behind leaders Celtic. Definitions of terms used:- Champions League (CL) - only group phase matches and beyond of this competition which began in 1992-93. Champions Cup/Champions League - all matches played since it began in 1955-56 including qualification matches. European matches - all matches played in the major European tournaments (Fairs Cup, Uefa Cup, Cup Winners' Cup, Champions Cup, Champions League). Uefa Super Cups, Intertoto Cups and the old Intercontinental Cup competition are excluded. Big Match Stats source: Infostrada Sports

Rangers V Barcelona: Countdown Thuram Is Braced For Another Torrid Battle WORLD Cup winner Lilian Thuram admits Barcelona's superstars fear they will be driven mad by Rangers' never-say-die approach in the Nou Camp. The French veteran is still smarting after dropping two Champions League points at Ibrox a fortnight ago. And he has warned his team-mates to brace themselves for another torrid and mentally draining 90 minutes against Walter Smith's battle hardened side. Thuram said: "Rangers showed at Ibrox they are strong. They just about drive you mad because of their pressure and the fact they never seem to give in. "Like Frank Rijkaard says, you should never underestimate any rival and must respect them - Rangers deserve our respect. "They were determined not to lose in Glasgow and fought for it in their special way. "You have to give them credit, though of course we want to beat them tomorrow." Thuram's concern was echoed by midfield linchpin Yaya Toure who expects the Ibrox men to offer monumental resistance as they attempt to stay on course for the knock-out stages. Toure said: "We'll have to give 200 per cent and can't take risks because Rangers can get you. "We must be focused, pass the ball well and be ready for a surprise attack any minute. "You can't make any mistakes against a side like Rangers and it's up to us not to. "Both teams know now what to expect from the other and that's good and bad at the same time." Barcelona warmed up for tomorrow night's showdown with a convincing 3-0 home romp over La Liga strugglers Real Betis that included two superb free-kicks from Ronaldinho. Keeper Victor Valdez believes the Brazilian's set piece specials might provide the key to unlocking Rangers' defence. Valdez said: "We are looking forward to the match. It's a challenge because we don't want another 0-0 but we know Rangers will be hard to beat. "They'll do a great job to avoid defeat and that's where Ronaldinho could be so important. His free-kicks are very difficult to stop. "He has so much quality and practises them all the time in training. I'm just happy he is on my side and I don't have to try to save them." Manager Rijkaard also believes Ronaldinho is getting back to his best after a recent slump in form. Rijkaard said: "He needed those goals. He is getting better every day and working hard, even looking to take people on again." And Barcelona striker Eidur Gudjohnsen insists his team can have no excuses should they fail for a second time to break Rangers down. The former Chelsea hitman said: "Hopefully we'll find the way to breach their defence. "You can't just say it's impossible or will be very hard, you have to go and do it. "Rangers will feel strong after their home win over Inverness." Barca president Joan Laporta, meanwhile, has hailed the imminent arrival of around 15,000 Gers fans as "incredible". Laporta said: "We have three important games coming up against Rangers, Getafe and Alcoyano in the Spanish Cup. "We have to win three in a row - or at least this is our wish. "Rangers will be a tough rival and will have big support. "The other day they told us the number of fans travelling to Barcelona and it's incredible - it's maybe better I don't release the number."

And I think I can guess who you were fishing for johnny boy :cheers:

Apologies Craig,I misread your post :cheers:

Not true Craig,as i've already said I think we can get a result,more likely to be a draw,but IMO WS will play the same 4-5-1 formation and try and hit them on the break,but in reality we shouldn't expect to go there and get a result,but I said the same when we went to Lyon :cheers:

:cheers: :cheers:

Aye,I heard the same rumour and it's supposed to happen sooner rather than later,Burns & Aitken to take over

Hope you had a bet on that scoreline my man :cheers:

I actually think we are capable of getting a draw over there

Kingston to join Rangers from Hearts !!!!

It's all about opinions Gribz,I happen to think Buffel is shite,Boyd gets far too much criticism IMO

If there is one player who deserves a new contract it's Nacho,he's still only 29 I think,his energy alone ups the pace in any game he plays in

You mean the four teams are at the same level

He brought in a 17 yer old left back against Lyon,made him captain in what was only his second first team game !!!!!!!!

I don't like the idea of a British team,I also don't like the idea of Scotland breaking away from the union,independance ?,not for me !!!!!

Is Faye not here on loan ?,I think he is and therefore we shouldn't play loan players ahead of our own players.

There's no doubt England have better players,BUT so do France and Lyon and Barca have better players than Rangers,doesn't make them a better team

I just hope that wee Rangers fans don't rise to his antics in future and just let him make a fool of himself at every opportunity and we can get a good laugh at him

ANTI-FOOTBALL? Dry your eyes, Leo. . . game was for you to win not for Gers to throw away Lionel Messi exposed his immaturity Charlie Adam and Kevin Thomson close in on Ronaldinho as Rangers stick to the game plan by Darrell King LIONEL MESSI has contributed to many an enjoyable evening around Glasgow for those - myself included - who take great pleasure in watching him showcase his skills on Sky's superb La Liga coverage. 'Leo' is arguably the best footballer in the business right now. That mesmeric dribbling, when the ball seems attached to his boot, the sensational slalom runs and wonderful ability to finish, has rightly for me seen the 20-year-old Argentinian tagged as the new Maradona. But Lionel should let his football do the talking. His attack on the Rangers' players for their display in Tuesday's Champions League draw with Barcelona, describing their tactics as "anti-football", is ridiculous. The only thing anti-football about Ibrox the other night was the way both he - and his below par team-mate Ronaldinho - started collapsing and diving when anyone came within a foot of them as things started to drift away from Frank Rijkaard's side. advertisementIt appears the tactics set out by Walter Smith have upset the diminutive Argentinian. Aw, diddums, Lionel. Did that pesky little Scottish team not open up enough for you to rattle in a couple of goals for the cameras? My goodness, surely they should have gone with three up top and allowed you - and the four other team-mates who join you on the short-list for World Player of the Year - to put on a show and reinforce just why you are one of the greatest talents on the planet? Maybe Messi should look at his own application and over-elaboration on the ball as the reasons why he couldn't score. After all, he was attacking a defence that contained a guy six months shy of his 38th birthday; a makeshift left-back who gave him as good as he got; and a defender who hasn't played 20 games yet in a country where he can't fully speak the lingo! Unlike his more experienced team-mates, Thierry Henry, Eidur Gudjohnson and Carles Puyol, Messi showed a lack of understanding of the game - and the main objectives of this tournament. His three amigos, in more diplomatic terms and without complaint, suggested Rangers had put most of their team behind the ball for most of the night. They were spot on. It was backs to the wall, hoof it anywhere, don't give them an inch, fight and scratch for every ball. Did that come as a shock to them? Not in the slightest. Had Henry, Gudjohnson or Puyol been Rangers boss they would have done exactly the same. They headed home to Spain confident that, when Rangers turn up at the Nou Camp, they will get in behind more, finish with more aplomb, win by a few, and close in on the last 16. Never mind Messi, the reaction is astonishing from some in this country to what was a fabulous, hard-fought display from a team who continue to punch above their weight in a section in which no-one gave them an earthly. Smith had started out praying that Rangers could get a point, now they have seven. But some, even among his own support, had a pop at his tactics. Opposition fans claimed they would hate to see their team play that way, and that Rangers fans had paid �£35 to watch a training session. Sure, watching your team getting stuffed by three or four is so much more fun. Smith went for it in the past, with teams that included such as Brian Laudrup, Paul Gascoigne, and Richard Gough - and took a right sore face from the likes of Juventus and Ajax. Scotland's Euro 2008 wins over France illuminated this country and gave the nation two of the best sporting nights in our history. Is the way Rangers played this week any different? Does it deserve any less praise? The brilliance of Shunsuke Nakamura's late free-kick winner aside, was it that dissimilar to Celtic's home performance against Manchester United last season that took the Parkhead men into the last 16 of the Champions League? That evening, Celtic knew they were against players who man for man were technically superior. But Gordon Strachan got it spot on tactically, pressed United in midfield, and had players who were so determined that any inferiority in terms of ability was overcome by sheer endeavour. Rangers, a team without a trophy and in turmoil for two years, were dumped out of two domestic cups by St Johnstone and Dunfermline a year ago. Since then they are, incredibly, on a nine-game unbeaten run in the Champions League. But they are expected to go and launch themselves, gung-ho, at Barcelona? Smith knows Rangers are not pretty to watch at times. They do lack flair and finesse, and could maybe do with bringing in the likes of Thomas Buffel to try and add a bit of magic dust. The manager is still searching for the right blend in a squad that has seen more than 25 players come and go since he took the helm 10 months ago. But he has to perform this against the backdrop of an insatiable appetite among his support for results. And that, young Lionel, is what this game is all about. The object of the premier tournament in club football, the Champions League, is to finish as high up as you can. In a couple of months' time, that point Rangers snatched the other night could be worth millions of pounds, should they go through to the last 16. Gordon Strachan summed it up perfectly after Celtic had beaten AC Milan a few weeks back at Parkhead. On his way to address the media, delighted at what he had just seen as his players produced a stunning victory to beat the reigning champions, he came across a fan. "It's lucky it's only the result that counts," Strachan was told. Astonishing. On Planet Glasgow, it's the norm for fans on either side of the Old Firm divide to refuse to give the other lot credit for their European achievements. Petty on both sides, maybe. But, for me, that's fair enough. Rivalry is healthy if it's channelled properly, and it's no different to Spurs supporters wishing Arsenal get stuffed in Europe, as highly unlikely as that may be right now. But for those within the supports of the Old Firm to have a go when the teams have just drawn with Barcelona, or beaten Milan, is simply unfathomable. As for you, young Master Messi. Apparently your nickname is The Flea. Well, here's one in your ear, because it was you who didn't come up to scratch the other night, not Rangers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofNTK7qb2_M

Is he too young for a big move ?,IMO he'd be better to play at Rangers for a few more seasons,and I think he would want to stay at Rangers for a few more seasons

Defending well is a skill on it's own,it's not just luck that teams find it hard to score against a good defence,our skill is that we are a good strong team all over the park and capable of scoring as well,ask Lyon

He's been out of work for approx 18 months,then is at Leicester for 6 weeks,strange one IMO

The guy is not only a wanker,he is a trouble making wanker,on Saturay when McManus was down injured he grabbed his balls and was gesturing to the Rangers fans,the man is a TIT

We are also one of the best teams in europe just now :cheers: