Barcelona set their sights on nothing less than a victory over Werder Bremen on Tuesday or they will be the first Champions League holder ever to depart the tournament from the group stage. "It would be a failure to go out at this stage because we have the squad and the game to get into the quarter-finals,"Barca's Brazilian defender Edmilson said. "It would be a massive disappointment," he added on their website. The hosts are in third place with eight points, two behind joint leaders Chelsea and Bundesliga leaders Bremen. Premiership leaders Chelsea have already qualified to the knock-out stage and they entertain Levski Sofia, who lost all their five games in Group A, to secure a non-disputed top spot. Another Brazilian, Ronaldinho, bears all Barcelona's fans hopes on his shoulders as Frank Rijkaard's men enter the must-win encounter. Without Barca's top scorer for the last two years Samuel Eto'o and talented teenager Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho will be pulling the strings in the midfield and trying to feed lone striker Eidur Gudjohnsen. He should be helped by the class and experience of Frenchman Ludovic Giuly, two-time Champions League winner Deco and Spanish international Xavi, all eyeing to beat Bremen keeper Tim Wiese. But the 24-year-old goalie said he and his team mates are capable to toppling their high-profile challengers. "I'm certain we'll win 1-0 and reach the last 16," he told uefa.com.
Frings (C) and Klose (L) "Of course the pundits and fans have labelled us outsiders, but we see ourselves on a par with Barca and believe we have a good chance." Bremen bank on World Cup bornze medalists Torstn Frings and Miroslav Klose as the first's lethal set-pieces and the second's clinical finishes always prove vital for the Germans. Brazilian playmaker Diego, who joined from Porto in the summer, can also make a difference with his skillful touches. Standings deciders With the two qualifying tickets already booked in Group B, Tuesday's games will be decisive in determining who will clinch the top spot and naming the UEFA Cup side. Serie A unbeaten leaders Inter Milan travel to Bayern Munich, seeking revenge and the first place. Bayern, who downed Inter at the San Siro, are in charge with 11 points, two clear off the Italians. The group eventual leaders will play a runner-up club in the round of 16. Sporting Lisbon, third with five points, host Spartak Moscow, who have only two points as both teams still have hope to stay in the European action even through the continent's second-important tournament. The Portuguese side had a 1-1 tie in Moscow and a defeat at home would guarantee Spartak a UEFA Cup berth on the head-to-head rule.
