Rubin Kazan will be aiming for its second win at Barcelona in as many seasons as the Russian club bids to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Rubin Kazan recorded a shock 2-1 win at the Camp Nou last season and will try to repeat the feat against the Spanish champions on Tuesday and hope second-place FC Copenhagen doesn't beat Panathinaikos to advance to the last 16 from Group D.
Barcelona has clinched top spot in the group, allowing coach Pep Guardiola to leave out six regular starters. They include Xavi Hernandez, who was shortlisted for FIFA's "Ballon d'Or" award for the world player of the year Monday along with teammates Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta.
Guardiola called up five reserve team players for the match after also leaving out David Villa, Pedro Rodriguez, Daniel Alves, Seydou Keita and Gabriel Milito. Keita has an injured left knee while Milito is still recovering from a leg injury.
Messi and Iniesta, however, are available. Messi has only missed one of Barcelona's games because of injury, and scored two goals in Saturday's 3-0 win at Osasuna - the club's seventh straight win in all competitions.
Barcelona has 11 points, four more than Copenhagen and five in front of Rubin Kazan. Panathinaikos is last with two points.
Rubin Kazan would also advance on goal difference if it draws and Copenhagen loses. The third-place team will play in the Europa League.
Barcelona has yet to come out on top in three matches against Rubin Kazan over the past two seasons.
But Copenhagen can make the result at the Camp Nou meaningless if it can rebound from defeat to Rubin Kazan with a victory at its Parken stadium. Copenhagen is seeking to become the first Danish team to advance to the knockout stage of the Champions League, and it has taken a record 51 points from a possible 57 in its first 19 games in the domestic league ahead of the winter break.
"It would be extremely frustrating if we don't make it and would send us into our vacation with a very bitter taste in our mouths," captain William Kvist told Danish news agency Ritzau.
Central defender Mikael Antonsson has declared himself available despite leaving Saturday's 3-1 league win over Esbjerg with a chest injury. Martin Vingaard also picked up a knock but is expected to be available against the Greek champions.
