Russian side Rubin Kazan continued to frustrate Barcelona [ Images ] by holding the Spanish side to a 1-1 draw in Champions League [ Images ] Group D on Wednesday.

Rubin, who took four out of six points off Barcelona in the group stage last season, went ahead when captain Christian Noboa converted a 30th-minute penalty after Barca defender Dani Alves brought down Vitaly Kaleshin.

Spain striker David Villa [ Images ] equalised from the spot on the hour after Andres Iniesta [ Images ] was fouled inside the box.

Rubin, who stunned the then European champions 2-1 in the Nou Camp before holding them to a 0-0 home draw last season, could have snatched an unlikely victory three minutes from time but substitute Obafemi Martins hit the post.

The Catalans, with Lionel Messi [ Images ] on the bench following an ankle injury, wasted a host of chances in the first half with striker Pedro being the main culprit.

Barca introduced Messi shortly after scoring the equaliser and the World Player of the Year had a chance to give the visitors victory late in the game but Rubin keeper Sergei Ryzhikov averted the danger.