Reigning Champions FC Barcelona took a huge step towards qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League following a 2-0 win at home to Inter Milan.

First half goals from Gerard Pique and Pedro Rodriguez were enough to give the Catalans all three points and the result leaves them top of Group and needing just a point from their trip to Kiev in two weeks time to assure a place in the knockout stage.

The run up to the game had been dominated by speculation as to whether Barcelona duo Leo Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovich would be able to shake off injuries in time to start.

Barcelona's Pedro Rodriguez (C) celebrates with teammates Dani Alves (R) and Sergio Busquets after scoring against Inter Milan during their Champions League soccer match at Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona November 24, 2009

Messi was struggling with a groin strain picked up in Bilbao on Saturday, while Ibrahimovich had a hamstring problem.

In the end both started the game on the substitutes' bench with Pedro Rodriguez and Thierry Henry in the starting 11. Eric Abidal was also a surprise starter after having recovered from his case of Swine Flu.

The news of the 0-0 draw in the other Group F game between Rubin Kazan and Dynamo Kiev, which had kicked off two hours earlier, took some pressure off Barcelona, meaning a win would take Pep Guardiola's team back to the top of their group.

Had Rubin won in Russia, a defeat in the Camp Nou would have seen Barcelona out of the competition.

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