Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Michael Ballack has been deprived of a possible start in their Champions League tie with Barcelona due to an injury picked up in training.

The former Germany captain has sat on the bench for Leverkusen's last three Bundesliga matches, but the 35-year-old was expected to be called upon due to his vast European experience.

Instead, he faces even more time on the sidelines, depriving Leverkusen of an influential figure at the BayArena where their chances are already regarded as being low.

"They are not a bad side,'' said Leverkusen's director of sport Rudi Voller with a smile.

"We have been looking forward to this game for weeks, for the fans and for our young players who will play against the best side in the world.

"This is definitely a dream.''

After losing for the sixth time in the league at the weekend, Voller is hoping his side can use tomorrow's game as a learning exercise.

"Of course we will try to cause Barca problems,'' he is quoted as saying by Die Welt newspaper.

"Usually, when you watch them, you say to yourself `my word, they play good football'.

"It is great for the players to experience in the flesh how they do it and why they are so good.''

Bayer coach Robin Dutt is not being so pessimistic, though, and feels his side have a chance against the Catalans.

"Nobody has ever believed in us in the Champions League,'' he said. "We went behind twice - to Valencia and to Chelsea - and in the end, the winners were Bayer Leverkusen.''

Osasuna gave Leverkusen a good example of Barca's fallibility at the weekend with a win which, combined with Real Madrid's victory over Levante last night, leaves Pep Guardiola's side 10 points adrift at the top of the Primera Division.

A successful defence of their league title therefore looks unlikely, which is why they will now focus on becoming the first club ever to defend a Champions League crown.

"The league is very difficult now, but we are not going to stop competing and we will keep up the pressure,'' said their director of sport Andoni Zubizarreta to reporters at Barcelona airport today.

"If anything happens to Madrid, then we have got to be there to take advantage, but if they carry on playing the way with such consistency then they will win the league.

"Obviously it is not in our hands, nor does it depend on the game at the Nou Camp.

"We are a club set up to compete in every competition and when you are not able to do that, then it does leave a bitter aftertaste.

"But we are able to regroup and start afresh.''

Barca have taken 22 players with them to Germany, where they are set to face freezing temperatures tomorrow night.

"I don't think it will be much colder than it was in Pamplona, but if it is, then we will just have to adapt,'' added Zubizarreta, who will not accept the weather as an excuse for an eventual disappointment.

Sergio Busquets' name features on the squad list, although he is unlikely to play.

In addition to being without Ballack, Leverkusen are also unable to count on the injured Sidney Sam.

Match

nice match, I Barca can win in this game

Barca wil win dis1

We shall see

Champions league is back yipeeee but I still prefer Afcon

Barca won't make it to the semi final

with an inconsistent away form.
barca may perform below per.
but with Leverkusen ridden with injuries and xavi/iniesta/fab4 rested over the weekend.
its gonna be a whitewash and backlash for BL.

THIS IS GOOD ENOUGH AS A VALENTINE GIFT NAH

I expect a Champions League performance from both teams,

Seems illiterates now run barcelona. When did Bayer Leverkusen become German champions

See the article on their website

The defending Bundesliga champions were optimistic at the start of the season, and were considered runway favourites for the championship along with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. The star-studded line-up includes such international names as Ballack, Bender, Rolfes, Schürrle, Kiessling and Derdiyok.

But now in February, it is looking very unlikely that they'll be retaining their German title. They're down in sixth with 31 points, 15 less than the leaders, and even their place in the next edition of the Champions League is in trouble – they're 12 points adrift at the moment.

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/bayer-leverkusen-difficult-year-despite-huge-talent

Write off Leverkusen at your own peril. It will be a tough match.

Barça's starting line-up: Valdes, Alves, Puyol, Mascherano, Abidal, Busquets, Iniesta, Cesc, Adriano, Alexis and Messi

fredoooooo:

Champions league is back yipeeee but I still prefer Afcon

me too afcon is more fun

see grandma Puyol

teams lined up . . .

see this dirty alvez shioooooorrr

game on

dirty alvez cross for messi didnt get to him . .

cheats this barca team . .looking for freekick shiooor

what happened to grandma puyol?

good i like this linesman hin eye sharp

up barca  

dayokanu:

Seems illiterates now run barcelona. When did Bayer Leverkusen become German champions

See the article on their website

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/bayer-leverkusen-difficult-year-despite-huge-talent

Lols. DayoKanu's eagle eyes transcend Nairaland. Nice one

If na Complete Sports report non-sense like dis, we go hang their head on a stick

see podolski  

freekick barca

cesc is still a little rebel, not scared of tackles

another barca freekick . .hmmm

how on earth is that a foul on messi?

^
ask the ref even the commentator said lucky boy

over by dirty alvez  

choiii see sanchez dey find messi . .if that ball had gotten to messi na goal

^^^This game don turn training already

Barca is pressing bayr O!

yeah poor leverkusen