Rangers eye draw at Barca

Champions League, Group E match
Date: Wednesday, 7 November
Kick-off: 1945 GMT
Venue: Camp Nou
Listen: BBC Radio Scotland 810 MW & BBC Radio 5 Live Updates: BBC Sport website and mobile; Score on BBCi (1930 GMT)

Rangers manager Walter Smith hopes his side can once again nullify the talents of Barcelona in Wednesday's Champions League match in the Nou Camp.

"For all the teams in the section, coming to Barcelona would be looked upon as being the hardest game," Smith told BBC Sport.

"So anything that you do take would be looked upon as a bonus," he added.

"It's a big game for us and one that the players themselves are looking forward to."

Interview: Rangers manager Walter Smith

It seems likely Rangers will adopt similar tactics to the match at Ibrox where Rangers held Barcelona to a goalless draw.

With Kevin Thomson suspended for the match, Smith is delighted to have the services of Brahim Hemdani in midfield.

"Brahim has the experience that I felt we lacked a little bit in the first game, that calmness on the ball, so he will play in the match."

The Rangers manager knows that his team have a few games in which to secure the points necessary to take them into the last 16.

"It's a great achievement by the players to get the number of points that we've got," said Smith.

"If Stuttgart don't win in Lyon it means we have European football guaranteed for us after Christmas, regardless of whether it's Champions League or Uefa Cup.

"We know that we have a game to go to in Stuttgart, where if we can win that and Lyon lose in Barcelona we have an opportunity of qualifying before the last game, which would be terrific for us," he added.

Meanwhile, Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist has spoken out in praise of the large travelling band of supporters heading to Barcelona.

Some 20,000 fans are expected to make the trip, with only 5,000 of them in possession of tickets, and McCoist said: "I think it's fantastic.

"As soon as the draw was made, this was effectively the tie that everybody wanted to go and watch.

"I just hope they go and behave themselves and enjoy themselves because it's a wonderful city as well."

Source: BBC Sport