It's win or die for FC Barcelona

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
It's win or die for FC Barcelona
Defending champ needs 3 points to reach next phase

By BERNARDO FALLAS
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

As defending champion, FC Barcelona figured to be one of 10 teams that have secured passage to the knock-out stages of the Champions League.

Instead, it's on the outside looking in.

With the final dates of the first stage getting under way today, the Spanish club has no choice but to beat German and Group A foe Werder Bremen when the two meet at Camp Nou.

The win is imperative because Werder leads the champion by two points and because English champion Chelsea secured the top group berth.

"I'm not prepared to think about not winning," Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard told uefa.com. "We have to win. It's the only option, so we'll go all out and attack."

Rijkaard is betting on having Mexico international Rafael Márquez (ankle) available.

Barcelona joins AS Roma (Italy), Man United (England), Arsenal (England) and Porto and Benfica (Portugal) as the big clubs yet to advance.

Should Barcelona fail to advance, it would mark the first time since the inception of Europe's top club tourney in 1992 that the defending champion is ousted in the group stage.

Source: www.chron.com