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Three-time Champions League winner in the last seven years, Barcelona, is once again competing for the most prestigious European club trophy.
The tournament draw placed the Catalan club in Group G with Benfica from Lisbon, Spartak Moscow, and Celtic from Glasgow.
Barcelona's first opponent is a club from Russia.
The road to the Champions League. Tito Vilanova's team immediately entered the main stage of the tournament, guaranteed by their high Spanish ranking, tournament quota, and of course, second place in the national championships.
For the Russian capital team, getting to the group stage required playing in qualifiers, where Spartak eliminated Fenerbahce from Istanbul. Spartak won the first match 2-1, and the second match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Previous clashes. Barcelona and Spartak crossed paths in the Champions League tournament during the 1993-1994 season when both teams faced each other in the group stage. The first match in Moscow ended in a 2-2 draw. Barcelona took the lead after accurate strikes by Hristo Stoichkov and Romario, but Vitalijus Radionovas and Valerijus Karpinas equalized the score.
In the return match at the Camp Nou, the hosts crushed their opponents with a 5-1 victory. Scorers for Barcelona included H. Stoichkov, Guillermo Amor, Romario, and a double from Ronald Koeman. Spartak scored a consolation goal through V. Karpinas.
Spain vs. Russia: Barcelona has played against Russian teams at home 6 times. Barcelona has 4 wins and 2 losses on their record.
Spartak has visited Spain 12 times and has never drawn against teams from the Iberian Peninsula - with 4 wins and 8 losses.
Personal matches. Spartak's current head coach, Unai Emery, previously trained Almeria and Valencia. With each of these teams, he has faced Barcelona 6 times and has never defeated the Catalans.
If Spartak's defender Kim Kallstrom appears on the field, it will be his fifth match against Barcelona. Previously, the Swede faced the Catalan club as a player for Lyon Olympique and has never won - with 2 losses and 2 draws.
Aiden McGeady will face Barcelona for the third time and has never celebrated a victory against the Catalan club. Previously, the Scot represented Glasgow Celtic and lost to Barcelona 0-1 and 2-3 in the 2007-2008 season.
Series. Barcelona has not lost at their Camp Nou stadium in the last 16 Champions League matches: 13 wins and 3 draws. In these matches, Barcelona scored 49 goals and conceded 11.
Other facts
- These are Tito Vilanova's first Champions League matches as head coach.
- Throughout the Champions League history since the 1955-56 season, Barcelona has played 233 matches. Barcelona has 134 wins, 56 draws, and 43 losses.
- Barcelona has reached the semifinals 14 times, played in the final 7 times, and won 4 trophies.
- Barcelona has scored 459 goals and conceded 226.
(Note: The first elite club tournament known as the European Cup was held in those years. The current league format has been used since 1992).
- The top scorers for Barcelona in Champions League: L. Messi - 51 goals, Rivaldo - 25, Patrick Kluivert - 21, Luis Enrique - 20, Samuel Eto'o - 18, H. Stoichkov - 15, Ronaldinho - 14, Pedro Rodriguez - 13.
- Whenever Lionel Messi scores, Barcelona has never lost a Champions League match - 29 wins, 3 draws.
- Last season, Barcelona was the team that controlled the ball the longest - 68% of the match time. Manchester United followed with 58%.
- In the last 3 seasons, Barcelona won 56.5% of Champions League matches when Carles Puyol played. Without their captain, Barcelona won 71% of played matches.
- In the last 3 seasons, Barcelona players hit the goal structure more frequently than any other team in the tournament, hitting the crossbar or posts 10 times. Bayern Munich is second with 6.
- In the last 3 seasons, Barcelona and Real Madrid are the teams that most often keep a clean sheet in their games. In 16 matches, their opponents failed to score a goal.
- Throughout the tournament history, Barcelona has finished the group stage as group winners the most times - 13. Manchester United and Real Madrid have won the group stage one time less.
- In the last 50 Champions League matches, Barcelona has won 30, drawn 15, and lost 5. At the Camp Nou stadium: 17 wins, 5 draws, 2 losses.
- In the last 50 Champions League matches, Barcelona scored 117 goals. The average is 2.34 per match.
