FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola played a side packed full of reserve team players in Tuesday night's Champions League 3-2 home defeat to Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk.

With Barcelona already guaranteed to finish top of their qualifying group ahead of Sporting Lisbon and 'El Classico' at home to Real Madrid on Saturday night, Guardiola fielded a team that contained only Eidur Gudjohnsen and Gerard Pique as recognizable first choice players under normal circumstances.

As a result Barca were 2-0 down after 58 minutes after Shakhtar striker Alexandr Gladky found the mark on two occasions.

Sylvinho pulled one back for Barcelona a minute later, before Fernandinho made it 3-1 to the visitors with 15 minutes remaining.

The big talking point in the Camp Nou was not Tuesday's game, but the replacement of Bernd Schuster by Juande Ramos as Real Madrid coach, although the home supporters did have something to cheer about when Sergi Busquets pulled a goal back with seven minutes remaining.

The final score still leaves Barcelona top of their group and although he won't be pleased to see his side lose at home, Guardiola would have drawn consolation from the fact that star players such as Leo Messi, Xavi Hernandez and Samuel Eto'o will be fresh and rested from the visit of Real Madrid in just four days time.

(Xinhua News Agency December 10, 2008)