Barcelona are set to field their reserves against Viktoria Plzen as the Czech side look to avoid an unwanted Champions League tag - and leave Rangers with a horror record.
Gio van Bronckhorst goes into the the final matchday of the group stage campaign with near nonexistent hopes of beating Ajax to third spot, needing to win by a five-goal margin to climb above the Dutch champions at Ibrox. Given the results among Europe's elite there is little to suggest that a miraculous path to the Europa League will be handed to Rangers with Alfred Schreuder's side in poll position to send the Scottish Premiership side crashing out of Europe.
With Liverpool, Napoli and Ajax all dishing out hammerings to Rangers in Group A fears have been ramped up among fans that the Light Blues could make Champions League group stage history and be branded as the worst ever team if they fail to pick up a single point. As things stand, Dinamo Zagreb's dreadful 2011/12 campaign remains the worst the competition has ever seen when they finished with no points, three goals scored and 22 conceded for a goal difference of -19.
After falling to five defeats on the spin Rangers have scored just once, and conceded 19, leaving them on a goal difference of -18 going into the showdown with the Dutch giants. However, the ibrox side could be spared from the indignity of the 'worst ever' tag by Czech league leaders Viktoria as they prepare to face Barcelona.
They remain pointless at the bottom of Group C having scored three and conceded 20 ahead of their final day showdown, but have been handed a massive boost by Camp Nou boss Xavi going into the game. With Barca destined for the Europa League several big names have been left at home for the trip to Pilsen.
Focus has shifted to the La Liga campaign for Xavi as he revealed the 26-man squad for the clash. Robert Lewandowski is to be rested alongside defensive duo Jules Kounde and Eric Garcia.
Barcelona will also be missing key man Sergio Busquets for the game in another boost for Viktoria, having picked up a red card in the 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich. The home side will be encouraged that they can pick up at least a point against the back-up Barca side on Tuesday.
It leaves Van Bronckhorst knowing he must pick up at least a point to escape the nightmare of falling below Zagreb's record. Or at very least avoid another European drubbing.
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