Rubin relishing underdog status

Kurban Berdyev was keen to downplay recently-crowned Russian champions FC Rubin Kazan's chances of springing another major surprise at FC Internazionale Milano in their Group F decider. The teams are tied for second on six points but while José Mourinho is confident Inter are "a better team" and will win, his Rubin counterpart already counts this campaign as "a wonderful experience". Victory for either side would ensure progress at their opponents' expense, while a 0-0 or 1-1 result would ensure Inter finish higher and any other draw favouring Rubin. However, if the points are shared both teams need leaders FC Barcelona to take something from their meeting with FC Dynamo Kyiv to have a chance of reaching the UEFA Champions League first knockout round.

José Mourinho, Inter coach
I want to compliment Rubin for their league title; I want the team, the coach and their supporters to know they have won a really tough league with five or six great teams involved. We are not afraid of this game, though, not at all. We're a better team than Rubin and I think we will win. I expect us to win; we have to do that, not to draw. Nobody knows which starting XI I will field against Rubin, not even my assistants, but journalists are very good at guessing so they will have no problems. I haven't prepared for this game in a particular way, we haven't done specific work to cope with the pressure; all we have to do is concentrate on winning. As we haven't even qualified we can't afford to think about first or second place.

Kurban Berdyev, Rubin coach
It's the first time we have had to prepare a very important game like this in December and it's not easy. The Russian league has ended and we are very tired, both physically and psychologically. We have tried to do our best to approach this game in the right way. I know Mourinho said they will win: we will see. Inter won't just think about defending, they will try to attack. They have had a few problems recently but I don't think that will influence the game. Even if we don't go through this has been an incredible experience for us. It was amazing to beat Barcelona and of course we want to qualify; but even if we don't we will remember this campaign as a wonderful experience.

Weekend results
05/12/09 Juventus 2-1 Inter
(Chiellini 20, Marchisio 58; Eto'o 26)

• Mourinho was sent to the stands midway through the first half as Inter were condemned to their second defeat in 13 matches in all competitions.

Rubin − no fixture

• Berdyev took his squad to Barcelona for a four-day training camp on 3 December.

• With the title already wrapped up, Berdyev changed his entire starting lineup for Rubin's final Premier-Liga fixture of the 2009 season at FC Kuban Krasnodar on 29 November. Goals from Hasan Kabze, Rafał Murawski and Igor Portnyagin earned a 3-0 win.

Team news
Inter
Out: Davide Santon (knee), Ricardo Quaresma (knee)
Doubtful: none
Suspended: Cristian Chivu
Misses next match if booked: Walter Samuel, Maicon, Javier Zanetti

Rubin
Out: Roman Sharonov (knee), Aleksandr Bukharov (wrist)
Doubtful: none
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: Cristian Ansaldi, Sergei Semak

Background
• Inter have won not at home in the UEFA Champions League since defeating Anorthosis Famagusta FC 1-0 on 22 October last year. They have subsequently endured a four-game winless streak and had to come from behind twice to hold Dynamo 2-2 on Matchday 3.

• Inter have scored just four goals in their last seven UEFA Champions League outings at San Siro, during which they have registered one win, four draws and two defeats.

• The Italian champions nevertheless boast a strong home record against Russian opponents, recorded five wins and a draw in six encounters.

Did you know?
Rubin's only previous trip to Italy brought a 1-0 defeat by Parma FC in the 2006/07 UEFA Cup first round.

For more information on the match in the official press kit, click here.