Published>Mon, Sep 13 10 09:37 AM
Panathinaikos could be on the receiving end of a Champions League backlash from a wounded Barcelona on Tuesday after the La Liga giants were stunned 2-0 at fortress Nou Camp by unfancied Hercules at the weekend.
Barca host the Greek side for their opening Group D clash (1845 GMT) smarting from a first home defeat in the Spanish league since May 2009, one that defender Daniel Alves said had raised the hackles of coach Pep Guardiola's players.
"Winning is the only thing that matters at this club and when we don't win we get angry," the Brazilian said at a news conference on Sunday.
"Whatever team we're facing we're always motivated to win and Tuesday will be no different. We'll go out there with the same motivation but we hope that we show a bit more quality."
Barca were denied a second straight triumph in Europe's elite club competition when they lost out in last season's semi-finals to Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan, who went on to defeat Bayern Munich in the final at the Bernabeu.
With Portuguese Mourinho now at Barca's arch rivals Real Madrid, the Catalans will be keen to lay down a marker and kick their latest European campaign off with a convincing home win.
Guardiola's decision to rest World Cup-winners Xavi, Sergio Busquets, Pedro and Carles Puyol against Hercules backfired and even with Spain striker David Villa and Argentina forward Lionel Messi on the pitch the 2009 winners were worryingly toothless.
PAINFUL LESSON
However, Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta, scorer of the winning goal against Netherlands in the World Cup final in July, said the Barca players would learn from the defeat and move on.
"We play a lot of matches and we know that what counts is the day to day," he told reporters. "This was a lesson for us and that's that."
Back in the Champions League after an absence of one season, Panathinaikos warmed up for Tuesday's match with a 1-0 win at Aris Salonika that leaves them in third place after two matches.
Their best Champions League performance came in the 2001-02 season when they reached the last eight before losing to Barca.
France international Djibril Cisse, who helped Panathinaikos to a Greek league and cup double last season, scoring 29 goals in all competitions, netted the winner at Aris and will likely play as a lone striker at the Nou Camp.
Midfielder Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, striker Antonis Petropoulos and defenders Giorgos Seitaridis and Nikos Spiropoulos will not travel due to various injuries.
Former Liverpool midfielder Luis Garcia, who is not expected to start, returns to the the club where he was a youth trainee alongside Xavi, Puyol, Iniesta and goalkeeper Victor Valdes.
Danish side FC Copenhagen and Russia's Rubin Kazan complete Group D and play in Copenhagen also on Tuesday.
Probable teams:
Barcelona: 1-Victor Valdes; 2-Daniel Alves, 3-Gerard Pique, 5-Carles Puyol, 22-Eric Abidal; 16-Sergio Busquets, 6-Xavi, 8-Andres Iniesta; 10-Lionel Messi, 7-David Villa, 17-Pedro.
Panathinaikos: 30-Alexandros Tzorvas; 22-Stergos Marinos, 4-Jean Alain Boumsong, 3-Josu Sarriegi, 24-Loukas Vintra; 29-Kostas Katsouranis, 15-Gilberto Silva; 26-Giorgos Karagounis, 11-Sebastian Leto; 7-Sotiris Ninis; 9-Djibril Cisse.
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy)
Source: Web Search
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