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City news, 25.11.2009 17:51

Shevchenko Predicts Tight Affair

Champions League Rubin Kazan secured their second successive Russian Premier Liga title after a 0-0 draw against Zenit St Petersburg and could make it a double celebration in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Rubin made it back-to-back titles as Spartak Moscow lost 3-2 at home to city rivals CSKA, and a win against Dynamo Kiev could put them into the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Rubin are unbeaten in three games in Group F and victory at the Centralniy Stadium would continue their bid for a place in the knockout stages.

With four points from their games against Barcelona, the Russian side, who are playing their first season in the Champions League, would need the Spanish giants to lose to group leaders Inter Milan to confirm their progress with a game spare.

In a tightly-contested group, Dynamo are only two points behind the leaders but defeat to Rubin would end their hopes of making progress.

Dynamo have been buoyed by a 3-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukrainian Premier League but star striker Andriy Shevchenko is expecting a tough match.

"It's not going to be easy, that's for sure," Shevchenko told The Moscow Times.

"The result [against Shakhtar] will give us some confidence because Dynamo Kiev haven't won many games recently. It's good to head into the game in a positive mood."

Dynamo will be without defender Yevgen Khacheridi who has a broken bone in his foot.

The centre-back suffered the injury in the second leg of Ukraine's World Cup qualifying play-off with Greece.

Dynamo will also be without another defender for the tie as Leandro Almeida is suspended.

News source: sportinglife.com

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