Ahead of Tuesday’s clash against Rubin, the Barcelona team was buoyed by the news that the three players up for the FIFA Ballon D'or Award all hail from the Catalan side.
Midfielders Andres Iniesta, Xavi and striker Lionel Messi are the stars shortlisted for the award.
Quite surprisingly, Holland's Wesley Sneijder, who won the Champions League with Inter in 2010, and Diego Forlan of Uruguay, the player who received the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, were excluded from the list.
Meanwhile, Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola is also in the running for Coach of the Year, alongside Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho and Spainish head Vicente del Bosgue.
All of these nominees were confirmed after voting by the captains and head coaches of the men's national teams as well as international media representatives selected by France Football.
The winners will be revealed at a gala in Zurich on January 10.
This year, the Golden Ball has been merged for the first time with the FIFA Player of the Year award, to create the single title.
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