‘Barcelona full of confidence before PSG clash’

MADRID — Barcelona host Paris St Germain for Wednesday’s Champions League Group F showdown on something of a high after securing a seventh straight victory in all competitions on Sunday, according to forward Pedro.

Barca appear to have put consecutive La Liga defeats just over a month ago to Real Madrid and Celta Vigo behind them and Pedro came off the bench to score in Sunday’s 5-1 romp at home to city rivals Espanyol in the Spanish top flight.

Wednesday’s clash at the Nou Camp will decide which of Barca or PSG finishes first in the group and avoids a fellow pool winner in next week’s draw for the last 16, with both sides already assured of their place in the knockout round.

With one match to play, PSG lead on 13 points thanks to their 3-2 victory against Barca in Paris in September. Barca have 12 in second, with Ajax Amsterdam on two points and APOEL Nicosia on one.

“We are confident and on a positive run,” Pedro told Barca TV after Sunday’s match. “We have played well against teams like Valencia, Espanyol, rivals who are on good form.

“It [the PSG game] is going to be very tough, we know their potential and what it’s going to cost us. But we are counting on our fans and on our good rhythm and the confidence we are bringing.”

Pedro, a World Cup and European Championship winner with Spain, has had limited playing time this season following the arrival of Uruguay forward
Luis Suarez.

Suarez opened his Barca account in the 4-0 win at APOEL last month but has yet to score in La Liga in six appearances and was replaced by Pedro with around 20 minutes left on Sunday.

Pedro said competing with Barca’s formidable forward line of Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar was a big challenge.

“Competing with the trident is tough but I have to make the best of it,” added the 27-year-old.

“What I am trying to do is learn from them, improve every day and help my teammates as best I can.

“I have always have talented teammates here at Barca and that means you have to perform at a high level.”

Bayern Munich’s Bastian Schweinsteiger could make his first start of the season against CSKA Moscow on Wednesday as the Bavarians struggle with a long injury list having already secured top spot in Group E.

The 30-year-old playmaker only recently made a comeback after a four-month break due to a knee injury and has played less than 45 minutes in four substitute appearances so far.

Bayern are top on 12 points and coach Pep Guardiola could give Schweinsteiger his first start this term with defender Medhi Benatia suspended and half a dozen other absences.

Schweinsteiger’s return offers more options in the holding midfield position and, with Xabi Alonso having played 15 consecutive games since joining this season from Real Madrid, Guardiola could give the Spaniard a rest.

Winger Franck Ribery, who was also injured earlier in the campaign, looks to be back to his very best, having scored his 100th goal for the Bavarians in their home win over Leverkusen.

With CSKA keeper Igor Akinfeev having conceded at least a goal in each of his past 26 Champions League matches, Frenchman Ribery could add to his Bayern goal tally.

The Russians have a mountain to climb to reach the knockout stage for the third time. With five points from five games, they need a win in Munich and must hope Manchester City do not lose at AS Roma in the other group game to reach the last 16.

CSKA, who have never beaten a German team in Germany, will need to be at their very best with Bayern having conceded only three goals in 14 league games this season.

The calculators will be out in force as AS Roma and Manchester City clash for a place in the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday with outsiders CSKA Moscow lurking in the background.

The head-to-head rule which UEFA use to separate teams who are level on points means that all sorts of complex connotations are possible as the three sides bid to follow runaway Group E leaders Bayern Munich into the next round.

Manchester City have never won a competitive match in Italy in four previous attempts and, even if they break that taboo, could still suffer another premature group stage exit.

Roma’s fate is in their own hands as a win will be enough for them while a draw, paradoxically, could send either themselves or City through, depending on CSKA’s performance.

“City are obliged to win. They have all the pressure. Not Roma. City are in the same period that Chelsea used to be before they won it. It becomes complex until you win the trophy,” Roma’s Ivorian striker Gervinho told British media.

Roma, City and CSKA all have five points from five games after mediocre campaigns in a group dominated by Bayern.

A win for Roma, still in the hunt despite losing 7-1 at home to the Bavarians, will guarantee them a second place finish, even if CSKA also win, as the Serie A side would have the better head-to-head record against the Russians.

CSKA can only qualify if they win in Munich and Roma fail to beat City while City will qualify if they win and CSKA do not.

The rule fun begins if Roma and City draw. If CSKA also draw, Roma would go through, and if the Russians lose, it would come down to the head-to-head record between the Serie A and English side. A goalless draw would favour Roma and a score draw would do for City.

City have gone out in the group stage twice in three attempts and their task has been made even harder after their leading scorer Sergio Aguero was injured against Everton on Saturday.