Cesc Fabregas: 'Pitch and cold no excuse'

Cesc Fabregas has insisted that Barcelona will only have themselves to blame if they fail to defeat Spartak Moscow tomorrow evening.

Conditions in the Russian capital will reportedly be below freezing, while the artificial pitch inside the Luzhniki Stadium has been the source of much controversy in recent years.

However, former Arsenal midfielder Fabregas is adamant that his team will not be using those factors as an excuse should the result go against them.

"The artificial pitch and the cold will not be a problem or an excuse," he told reporters.

A point for Barca will see them reach the last 16.