Barcelona, April 22:

Manchester United couldn’t have asked for a better time to play FC Barcelona.

The English league leaders arrive for Wednesday’s first leg of the Champions League semi-final at the Camp Nou Stadium to find Barcelona under pressure to avoid a second straight season without a trophy.

Barcelona are realistically out of the Spanish league race with Real Madrid set to win a record 31st title. “They’re coming to the game with a lot of pressure on them because they aren’t playing like people want them to,” Man United striker Carlos Tevez said. “If we get to play in our style, we can make it very difficult for Barca.”

Barcelona and Man United are both unbeaten in the Champions League this season, each winning eight of 10 matches, but Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o is concerned about the Red Devils’ threat. “We have to be concerned about our Champions League options,” Eto’o said. “And the game against Manchester United will be at the highest level. A game for men.”

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard can call on a near full-strength squad with Ronaldinho, who is reportedly ready to join AC Milan, the only regular missing to injury. But Rijkaard has lately had a healthy team and the Catalans have won only once in eight league matches. France teammates Thierry Henry and Eric Abidal have shown the transition to Spanish soccer hasn’t been easy, both admitting to a drop in form.

Barcelona will be counting on Lionel Messi. The Argentine is expected to start after coming off the bench in the past two matches following a injury layoff. “Let him play. If we beat them with Messi, there’ll be no excuse,” said Tevez, Messi’s Argentina teammate.

Barcelona know a victory — and a clean sheet — is crucial going back to Old Trafford. United are looking to draw on the luck of the Camp Nou, the venue where they scored their second European Cup with a dramatic injury-time comeback victory over Bayern Munich in the 1999 final. But United have never won at Barcelona, recording two losses and a draw.