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Defending together key to stopping Ibra - Luis Enrique

By Elena Gyldenkerne

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Defending as a unit will be vital to thwarting Paris St Germain talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Wednesday's Champions League Group F showdown, Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said on Tuesday.

Sweden striker Ibrahimovic, who spent a season at Barca in 2009-10, returned from injury and struck twice in PSG's 2-1 Ligue 1 victory at home to Nantes at the weekend and is expected to lead the line for the French champions at the Nou Camp.

"We are talking about a top player," Luis Enrique told a news conference. "If he is at his normal level he is very difficult to stop," added the former Barca and Spain midfielder.

"I always like to transmit to the team the idea that we defend as a unit.

"If we manage to work collectively and work in a block and pressure well then the ball won’t get through to Ibra. And if the ball doesn’t get through to Ibra then his effectiveness is reduced.

"But as he showed against Ajax at any moment he is capable of scoring and of deciding a match."

Barca and PSG are through to the last 16 and the French side need only a draw to secure top spot and avoid a fellow group winner in Monday's draw for the knockout round.

PSG lead on 13 points thanks to their 3-2 victory against Barca in Paris in September. Barca have 12 in second, with Ajax Amsterdam on two points and APOEL Nicosia on one.

Barca will be without suspended Brazil right back Daniel Alves but Luis Enrique refused to be drawn on who might replace him in the starting lineup.

Adriano is the obvious choice, or Martin Montoya, although the latter has barely featured this term.

Barca have won their Champions League group every year since 2006-07 and have triumphed in 22 of their last 29 home games in Europe's elite club competition, losing once.

Barca forward Lionel Messi will have a chance to extend the Champions League scoring record of 74 goals he set last month but PSG defender David Luiz said he was hoping the Argentina captain might be feeling the pace of a gruelling season.

"He has scored enough goals, he could be a bit tired and that would help us out a bit," Luiz told a news conference.

"Messi is a great player, one of the best in history. That is something we all know," added the Brazil international.

(Writing by Iain Rogers, editing by Alan Baldwin)