Barcelona's reign as Champions Cup holder could be over as early as Tuesday if the Spanish club loses at home to Inter Milan and group rival Rubin Kazan beats Dynamo Kiev.
Barca sputtered to a 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, allowing Real Madrid to take a one-point lead in the Spanish league. And in Group F, they are 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.
However, there is a great sense of urgency for a win tomorrow, for a defeat could mean Barcelona being relegated if group rival Rubin take the lead against Kiev. The fact that Lionel Messi was one of six players who missed training on Sunday, adds to coach Pep Guardiola's woes as he faces up to a tough game against the Italian champion.
An attack of swine flu has already ruled out defender Eric Abidal and midfielder Yaya Toure, and Rafael Marquez is awaiting tests to see if he has become the third victim.
Strikers Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have leg injuries and defender Gerard Pique could only do light training in the gym.
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.
Unlike Barca, Inter face an easier encounter in their last group game as they take on Rubin Kazan at the San Siro.
Inter travel to Spain in buoyant mood after Saturday's 3-1 win at Bologna. That result allowed the Nerazzurri to go five points clear at the top of the Serie A standings.
The Nerazzurri will welcome back Wesley Sneijder, who has recovered from an ankle injury. But they will be without injured Davide Santon.
REVIEW:
Holders Barcelona moved two points clear at the top of their Champions League group after producing a classy display to defeat previous leaders Inter Milan at Camp Nou.
Gerard Piqué's fourth UEFA Champions League goal and Pedro Rodríguez's ninth of the season in all competitions accounted for José Mourinho's Serie Leaders as the hosts dominated the chances, possession, passing and the scoring.
There had been a marvellous precursor to an exceptional first half when Samuel Eto'o's name was read out by the Camp Nou announcer. Despite the change of clubs and his potential to damage the European champions' challenge, 95,000 Barcelona fans rose to their feet and roared their thanks for two UEFA Champions League titles won during his time here.
Within the opening 25 minutes, the treble winners had raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to Pique and Pedro, and there was no way back for Inter after that. Barca would have been desperate for a good start, and they got just that as, with only 10 minutes on the clock, Pique muscled aside the challenge of Lucio to volley home from close range after Thierry Henry had flicked on Xavi's corner.
Not long afterwards, Barca doubled their lead with a slick team goal. A quick ball into Xavi near the edge of the box was immediately played on to the marauding Dani Alves down the right, and the Brazilian's cross to the far post was volleyed home by Pedro, whose effort found the back of the net despite Julio Cesar getting a hand to the ball.
That put Barca in total control and they almost made it 3-0 just before the break when Seydou Keita powered in a header from another Xavi corner, but Julio Cesar was in the right place this time to save his side going further behind.
A brilliant one-handed save from Julio Cesar prevented Xavi from heading in Barca's third in the 54th minute, before the Inter custodian performed similar heroics to push behind Alves' low free-kick 13 minutes later.
Barca continued to dominate possession in the closing stages and, although they were unable to build on their lead, they ran out comfortable winners to not only get their Champions League campaign back on track but also boost confidence ahead of this weekend's Clasico against bitter rivals Real Madrid.
The result leaves Barca on eight points after five games, two clear of Inter and Rubin Kazan and three above Dynamo Kiev - who had earlier played out a goalless draw with Rubin. Barca travel to Kiev in their final match next month.