Rubin Kazan, Champions League dark horses?

         Russian football has never been represented greatly on Europe's biggest stage, although Zenit St Petersburg won the UEFA cup in 2008, no Russian club has ever truly shown their full potential in the Champions League. Rubin Kazan, however, may buckle this trend this year. Kazan, the sixth biggest city in Russia, lies on the Volga river and is the home of local side Rubin Kazan who, over the last few years, have been transformed from a little known team from the Republic of Tatarstan to Russian Champions. Having gained promotion to the Russian Premier League for the first time ever in 2003, Rubin quickly became established in the Russian Premier League before becoming consecutive champions in 2008 and 2009.

      They competed in the Champions League for the first time in the 2009/2010 season but were drawn in a tough group with 2008/2009 champions Barcelona, the eventual winners Inter Milan and gritty Ukranian side Dynamo Kyiv  Finishing a respectable 3rd in the group Rubin still caused many surprises by beating Barcelona away at the Camp Nou and getting 2 draws at home against Inter and Barca.
      When you think of big spenders in international football you think of Man City, Chelsea, Real Madrid but last summer (July & August 2010) Rubin were 5th biggest spenders in the world, not what you'd expect from an unknown eastern Russian team. Spending £38,970,000 (€43,300,000) Rubin added even more strength to their championship winning team. Big name attacking signings like Obafemi Martins (signed from Wolfsburg for £8million) and Brazillian winger Carlos Eduardo (signed from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim for £18million) should replace the goals and creativity lost with the sale of Aleksandr Bukharov (Rubin's top goalscorer last season). Rubin's defence has also ever more steel with the addition of young Italian international Salvatore Brochetti (signed from Genoa for £8.5million).
     In this years Champions League Rubin have been given a relitively easy group, yet again drawn with Barcelona they also have Greek champions Panathinaikos and Danish champions F.C. København for company in Group D. Despite losing 1-0 away in Denmark in their first game, a game in which they dominated, I strongly believe that with their new signings and a favourable group they can progress through to the knockout phase and possibly surprise a few people by progressing further...