BARCELONA, Spain (AP):

MANCHESTER UNITED couldn't have asked for a better time to play FC Barcelona.

The English league leader arrive for today's first leg of the Champions League semi-finals 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."

No silverware, no Eto'o

Eto'o added to a tense week by stating he would leave the 2006 European Cup champions should they finish a third straight season in 2009 without silverware.

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.

"At the moment, they're flying, but you never know in football," Henry said of United. "Hopefully, they will have a bad day when we play them. You know how it is in the Champions League - one bad day and you're gone."

Barcelona will be counting on Lionel Messi. The Argentina forward is expected to start after coming off the bench the past two matches following a lengthy injury layoff.

"Let him play. If we beat them with Messi, there'll be no excuse," said Tevez, Messi's Argentina teammate.

Victory crucial

Barcelona know a victory - and a clean sheet - are 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.

"Manchester United have not been there for a while, but the lads who were around in 1999 have spoken about what a special night it was," midfielder Michael Carrick said. "Hopefully, we can repeat some of that success."