MOSCOW, October 21 (RIA Novosti) - Russian champions Rubin will be greeted by a crowd of rapturous supporters when they arrive at their home city of Kazan on Wednesday night, after stunning the football world with a memorable victory over Barcelona.
The team's charter plane will land in the Volga city at 20:05 local time (16:05 GMT).
However, fans waiting at the airport will only catch a brief glimpse of the local heroes. The city administration said in a statement that the team will not stop for an official meeting with supporters, so as not to over-play the importance of the win, with much left to play for in the Champions League group stage.
After the final whistle blew in the Nou Camp on Tuesday night, sealing Rubin's smash-and-grab 2-1 victory over the giants of European football, the city of Kazan several thousand miles to the east erupted in celebration, with fans flooding out of packed bars and cafes onto the streets.
Car horns and shouts of "Victory!" "Rubin!" rang out through the city until the early hours. However, the local police force said the celebrations passed peacefully, with no arrests.
Rubin got off to a perfect start in Barcelona on only their third away game in the European top flight, with Alexander Ryzantsev smashing a long-range drive into the net in just the second minute.
Despite losing captain Sergei Semak to injury, the Tatarstan side hung on to their lead until half time. Zlatan Ibrahimovic equalized soon after the break, and the Spaniards swept forward in search of a second, but Turkish striker Gokdeniz Karadeniz hit back for Rubin in the 73rd minute.
Rubin's victory appeared all the more remarkable in view of the match statistics, with Barcelona's 24 shots on goal to Rubin's three, 11 corner kicks to Rubin's one, one save to Rubin's nine, and total dominance of possession - 76%.
An ecstatic match reviewer on the Kazan-based Tatar Inform site wrote: "I've been watching football since I was four, and have seen a huge number of Barcelona matches of different generations. But never in my life have I heard the Nou Camp ring out to chants in Russian - and in the accent of Tatarstan."
"This match is clear proof that any team can defeat the most fearsome of opponents if they have the desire, and faultlessly carry out the game plan of their trainer."
The mayor of Kazan, Ilsur Metshin, released a statement congratulating the team and the city.
"I congratulate the people of Kazan on Rubin's historic victory. This is a remarkable day in the history of our city. I am sure that this victory is not Rubin's last, and that everyone will see more of Kazan."
In the night's other Group F game, Dynamo Kiev drew 2-2 away to Inter Milan to leave the Italians bottom of the four-team group, with three points. The other three have four points each.
Rubin host Barcelona on November 4 in the fourth round of group games.
