Barcelona: FC Barcelona knew it would be tough to defend its Champions League title - just not this early in the season.
Barcelona hosts Chelsea on Tuesday, two weeks after the 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge left the Catalans five points behind their London rivals.
With Barcelona stuck on four points in Group A - along with Werder Bremen - the Spanish champions are finding it harder than expected in a group that was seen as a two-team race with Chelsea.
Only two teams advance to the last 16 from each group.
A win for Chelsea will put the Blues through to the knockout stage. For Barcelona, a loss - along with Bremen beating last-place Levski Sofia - could leave the Spanish powerhouse in real danger of elimination.
"This is the game that people around the world want to see," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said. "We want, at least, to get the two points we still need to qualify. If we can do that, so much the better, if not, we have three other games in which to do it."
While Barcelona tops the Spanish league, Frank Rijkaard's side flopped in London, with the English champion dominating and effectively taking star forward Ronaldinho out of the match.
"We have played them several times and know how they play," Rijkaard told BBC radio. "They are not as quick as they were two years ago in counterattacking but they are very solid, consistent, strong and well organized."
The addition of Germany international Michael Ballack has changed Chelsea's playing style.
"They are playing in a different way with Michael Ballack in midfield," Rijkaard said. "He is closer to the goal of the opponents. It is a little bit different and when they don't have the ball they are well organized and give away little space."
Ballack is still enjoying the Blues win two weeks ago.
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"Defeating Barcelona was vital and has given our confidence a real boost, especially as we played such good football," he said. "Every season you have two or three very special matches and this one against Barcelona was one of them. If you win such a crucial clash, the boost is tremendous."
Didier Drogba, who scored the Blues' winner in that match, and record-signing Andriy Shevchenko both traveled with the team despite injury concerns.
"They still have the same players but have added new ones of very high quality, and so they continue to be a great team," Barcelona forward Lionel Messi said. "I don't know if we have a better or worse team than last year. But we were lucky enough to win the Champions League last season, and the plan is to repeat the feat this year."
Barcelona also has injury problems. Samuel Eto'o's knee injury has ruled him out of the remaining group stage games, while Argentine forward Messi hasn't played since hurting his ankle in a 2-0 loss at Real Madrid last week.
"The pressure on us is much less as we beat Barcelona in the first leg," Ballack said. "Now the pressure is on them and it will be hard for them to reach the next stage."
This is the third year in a row that Chelsea and Barcelona have met in the Champions League.
Chelsea ousted Barcelona in the first knockout round two seasons ago, and the outcome was reversed last year when the Spanish club won at Stamford Bridge on the way to capturing the title.
The meetings have been packed with red cards, disputed goals, penalties and verbal outbursts. Rijkaard claims he holds no ill feelings toward Chelsea's Mourinho, who says he's not concerned with trying to aid his Dutch counterpart should the London club come out of Tuesday's game with a win.
"I am not here to help anybody, just to win games," Mourinho said. "Whatever happens here, we will be going to Bremen to win. The day we have to go onto a pitch and lose will be the day I leave football."
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