Barca wait on Messi and Ibrahimovic
The team’s leading scorers are doubtful for the Group F game at the Nou Camp through injury.
“Messi has an injury in the abductor muscle of his left thigh,” read a club statement. “We do not discard his presence in Tuesday’s game.
“As for Ibrahimovic, there has been an improvement with regards to his thigh injury but we will have to monitor the situation.”
Barcelona are currently level on five points with Rubin Kazan and one point behind leaders Inter.
Barcelona have a trip to Ukraine to meet Dinamo Kiev in their last group match next month.
There is a great sense of urgency to win tonight for Barcelona because a defeat to Inter coupled with a win for Rubin against Dynamo Kiev would see Barca eliminated.
“We know what we have to do,” said Barca captain Carles Puyol.
“We have the same ambitions but we know Barca v Inter is a final and we will face the game as such.
“I don’t like the word failure but not to qualify for the next round would be a huge blow.’’
The Italian giants also know the implications of the game.
While a defeat would complicate their hopes of progressing, a win could give them the upper hand, given that they face their campaign against Rubin Kazan at the San Siro.
“This game will be a test of character for my players,” said Inter coach Jose Mourinho.
The Nerazzurri will welcome back Wesley Sneijder, who has recovered from an ankle injury. But they will be without injured Davide Santon.
Barcelona will be without Eric Abidal and Yaya Toure, who are sidelined with swine flu.
Meanwhile Walter Smith has refused to rule out handing Kris Boyd a rare Champions League outing as Rangers bid to resurrect their campaign against Stuttgart tonight.
The striker has spent most European nights kicking his heels on the bench, with Kenny Miller usually given the nod in the lone striker role favoured by the Rangers boss.
Boyd could be granted a rare start tonight with Smith possibly tempted to opt for a two-pronged attack in a match he knows Rangers must win to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages alive.
Boyd and Miller have proved to be an effective partnership in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, with both on the scoresheet in the 3-0 win over Kilmarnock at the weekend and the former notching his eighth goal of the season.
Asked whether he will stick with the same front pairing against the Germans, Smith smiled: “You will have to wait and see.”
But he admitted Boyd is in his thoughts for the match, adding: “You are always tempted to play him.
“There is always a temptation to play anyone who gets his number of goals and there has been since I came here.’’
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