Barcelona stalemate in Kazan

Kazan - Russian side Rubin Kazan continued to frustrate Barcelona by holding the Spanish side to a 1-1 draw in Champions League Group D on Wednesday.

Rubin, who took four out of six points off Barcelona in the group stage last season, went ahead when captain Christian Noboa converted a 30th-minute penalty after Barca defender Dani Alves brought down Vitaly Kaleshin.

Spain striker David Villa equalised from the spot on the hour after Andres Iniesta was fouled inside the box.

Rubin, who stunned the then European champions 2-1 in the Nou Camp before holding them to a 0-0 home draw last season, could have snatched an unlikely victory three minutes from time but substitute Obafemi Martins hit the post.

The Catalans, with Lionel Messi on the bench following an ankle injury, wasted a host of chances in the first half with striker Pedro being the main culprit.

Barca introduced Messi shortly after scoring the equaliser and the World Player of the Year had a chance to give the visitors victory late in the game but Rubin keeper Sergei Ryzhikov averted the danger.