A Champion's response (2-0)

Barça's defence of the Champions league title is still alive after beating Werder Bremen with goals from Ronaldinho and Gudjohnsen. Barça have once again withstood the pressure and will be in the hat for the second round draw.

Barça had only one option this evening, and that was to take all three points from the final first round Champions League match against Werder Bremen. But despite the tremendous pressure to deliver, they got the hard work out of the way early on with a fantastic first half performance. An extraordinarily cunning free kick from Ronaldinho, followed by a prime example of Gudjohnsen's goalscoring instinct ensured that Barça will be in the hat for the second round draw. Justice was served, and Europe will be able to continue enjoying the finest football in the continent.

Pressure and intensity

It was an exemplary first half performance from Frank Rijkaard's side. With Ronaldinho leading the playmaking, Werder Bremen were surprised by the Catalan outfit's first touch football and relentless pressure, with a defence that was giving nothing away, and a midfield capable of creating danger with every attack.

Ronaldinho the hero again

Ronaldinho's opener was a peach. Barça were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Bremen area, and practically the entire German team gathered to form the wall, prepared for one of the Brazilian's trademark free kicks. But rather than hit the ball high, Ronaldinho opted to slip the ball along the ground with the inside of his foot and right through the feet of the unsuspecting defence. It caught everybody by surprise, and the ball slipped inside the post leaving visiting keeper Wiese with no option but to vent his frustration at being outwitted on his defence. Once again Ronaldnho had produced a moment of unforgettable magic just when the pressure was really on.

Gudjohnsen in his place

Barça were 1-0 up, but there was no time to relax, because a Werder equaliser would still be able to put them out of the tournament, and what followed was a relentless period of non-stop Barça pressure. And Werder did not know what had happened when Barça conjured up another goal to remember. Ronaldinho switched the play from right to left with a sublimely perfect pass to Giuly who beat the offside trap to slip the ball through to an opportunistic Gudjohnsen to slot home from point black range. Just 18 minutes into the game and Barça were already looking comfortable.

Great football but no more goals

Barça did not take their feet off the gas, but the third goal just did not want to come. The most clear-cut chance came after an amazing run from Deco, straight up the middle of the pitch, steamrolling the Bremen midfield out of his way. He got the ball to Gudjohnsen who skipped and jockeyed his way around four defenders but his shot ended up hitting the post to rebound into the path of Giuly, who inexplicably managed to miss the open goal.

Things calm down

In the second half, the game took a somewhat different course. Barça played it more conservatively, and although Bremen never gave up the hunt, they never really looked like getting back into the game. Frank Rijkaard's side was willing to let the Germans hold onto most of the possession, although they still managed to create the odd chance of their own, including one when Gudjohsen, having his liveliest evening in a Barça shirt, failed to beat Werder keeper Weile in a one on one.

Solid defence

Thuram came on for Motta while Xavi replaced the injured Iniesta, which added a bit more spark to a Barça side that had dangerously come to rely almost entirely on the defence, supremely led as usual by Puyol, and with Valdés not making a single error. Neither did Werder create much danger themselves, save a Jensen effort that alarmingly struck the Barça crossbar in the 61st minute. The clock ticked away, with Werder getting half chance after half chance but very little coming of them, as the 95,824 spectators around them starting enjoying yet another memorable night of European football at the Camp Nou, and looking forward to finding who they will meet next in their quest to retain the biggest prize in European club football.

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To be or not to be

Barça entertain Werder Bremen (20:45, A3) in a game that will decide which of the two clubs goes into the hat for the second round of the Champions League and which side is relegated to the UEFA Cup. It's the biggest game of the season so far.

The hour is upon us. It is do or die in the Champions League. Barça take on in-form German outfit Werder Bremen, and unless they win, their European title defence will be over (20:45, A3). The draw will not do, that would see Werder joining the already qualified Chelsea in the next round. But, although everybody is aware that the pressure will be on tonight, there is confident mood in the Barça camp. Rijkaard has a strong side to pick from, and Ronaldinho, who thrives on big occasions like this, got a well deserved rest at the weekend.

Near full strength side: Frank Rijkaard has Rafa Márquez back from his ankle injury suffered in Sofia in the last Champions league outing. But Javier Saviola has been declared unavailable, although he is almost completely recovered from his own injury concerns. Rijkaard opted not to play Ronaldinho in Saturday's draw at Levante, preferring to rest his star player ahead of tonight's crunch encounter.

Two quality strikers: The Brazilian has found his form again after a slow start to the season, and is now the leading scorer in the Spanish championship, with ten goals. But Werder Bremen have a forward who is proving just as dangerous in front of goal this term. He may not have Ronaldinho's 'magic' touch, but Miroslav Klose has been on target the same number of times in the Bundesliga, and he was also, of course, the top scorer at last summer's World Cup.

Germans not daunted: Thomas Schaaf's side comes to the Camp Nou with their minds set on causing a surprise and qualifying from a very tough group. You could say that they have 'nothing to lose and everything to win'. Drawn in a group with arguably the two strongest sides in the competition, Chelsea and Barça, Werder Bremen have already exceeded expectations by getting as a far as the last round of matches and still having a very real chance of qualification. Didier Drogba's last minute goal in the Barça v Chelsea match means that the side that is currently on top of the German Bundesliga now just need a draw at the Camp Nou. It promises to be a memorable game, Werder, like Barça, play fresh, attacking football, and although they only need a draw, they are more likely to play the game the way they know best and come out in search of a win.

History on Barça's side: Werder Bremen have never won at the Camp Nou. The first time they met at the venue was in 1992-93 in the return leg of the European Super Cup, when Barça won 2-1. Last season the two sides met in the Champions league group stage and Frank Rijkaard's side won 3-1 with goals from Gabri, Ronaldinho and Larsson. Werder's only goal was scored by Borowski.