THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LONDON -- Barcelona's hold on the European title could be loosened with another loss to Russia's Rubin Kazan this week, while five-time winner Liverpool would be closer to Champions League elimination if it loses again to Lyon.
But Barcelona, which lost 2-1 at home to Rubin Kazan two weeks ago in one of the biggest surprises in the competition's history, now travels to play the Russian club again in wintry conditions expected to fall to minus-10 Celsius.
After three rounds of games, Group F is the closest of the eight. Barcelona, Dynamo Kyiv and Rubin have four points each and Inter Milan -- more than two wins clear in the Italian league -- is last with three.
While Barcelona travels to Rubin, unbeaten Inter also has a long journey to Kyiv on Wednesday (Rogers Sportsnet, check local listings) aiming to end a run of three straight group draws.
The omens aren't good for Barca.
Aside from Barcelona vs. Rubin Kazan at 12:30 p.m., viewers in Sportsnet Ontario and East will see Arsenal vs. AZ Alkmaar while West and Pacific can watch Dynamo Kyiv vs. Inter Milan. Start times for both are 2:30 p.m. ET.The defending champions go to Rubin after a 1-1 draw with Osasuna in the Spanish league and lost to the Russian side two weeks ago after a 0-0 draw with Valencia. Coach Pep Guardiola's team has won its other seven league games and is top of the Spanish standings but doesn't respond well to draws.
"They are upset, especially at not winning when they were so close. Now we have to go into the cold and win in Russia," Guardiola said after the draw with Osasuna in Pamplona.
"We lost two points right at the end, but that's part of the game. I'm disappointed with the result, but we played very well. We played a pretty complete game, we were in control and I'm happy with that. Now we have to pick ourselves up and prepare for the Champions League game."
Barcelona's position is nowhere near as bad as Liverpool's.
Two defeats in a row in Group E to Fiorentina and Lyon have left Liverpool third in the standings, six behind the French side and three behind the Italian club. Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Fulham was also its fifth in the Premier League.
Liverpool has lost six out of its last seven matches in all competitions but manager Rafa Benitez is convinced his team will turn its season around.
"We have confidence we can do it but we have to take our chances and not make mistakes like today," he said after Saturday's loss to Fulham, where Liverpool also had Philipp Degen and Jamie Carragher sent off. "You have to be calm and keep working hard and find solutions."
Liverpool meets Lyon on Wednesday (Setanta Canada, 2:45 p.m. ET)
Lyon comes off a 1-0 victory at St. Etienne and Fiorentina, which hosts last place Debrecen on Wednesday, beat Catania 3-1 in Sunday's Serie A games.
Victories for Lyon and Fiorentina would put the French team through. That would also mean that Liverpool will have to win its final two games, including a victory over Fiorentina by a three-goal margin, and hope that the Italian club doesn't pick up another point at home to Lyon.
Group G leader Sevilla will qualify with a draw at home to third-place VfB Stuttgart while Romania's Unirea hopes to move closer to the knockout phase in its debut season by beating Scottish champion Rangers at home.
Arsenal and Olympiakos would both qualify by winning their Group H games on Wednesday. The Gunners, fresh from domestic victories over Liverpool and Tottenham, host Dutch champion AZ Alkmaar (Rogers Sportsnet, check local listings) and Olympiakos visits last-place Standard Liege and victories will put them out of reach.
