Barcelona, with all in favor to be in Champions League quarters
Following the 3-1 first-leg against Leverkusen, Guardiola receive the Germans at the Camp Nou.
Barcelona will face the first leg of the knockout stages of the Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen (20.45, 19.45 GMT), with the advantage of the first leg (1-3) and positive history with the German rival, which has never won at Camp Nou on both occasions he has played in the top flight.
Yes instead Bayer Leverkusen has a favorable outcome in the feud Barca, winning by 0-1 in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup in 1988, goal that gave the pass to the semifinals.
The story in the current match is very different because of the obvious superiority Barca in the continental concert, where he defends the title of champion of the Champions League.Barca has a foot in the quarterfinals after winning the party’s BayArena with goals from Alexis (2) and Messi.
The hero of the first leg, however, can not play, because Chile’s Alexis Sanchez was injured in Saturday’s match against Sporting (3-1) and will be sidelined for about two weeks with a hamstring injury. Barca will be another casualty of Eric Abidal, with a groin injury.
Barca recovered two props with which he could not count for the last league match, the suspended Sergio Busquets and Lionel Messi.
Xavi, who played last weekend, will be doubtful for the match against the Germans because of his hamstring problem that is forcing him to be a bit conservative for dosage until the end of the season.
Thiago, who eventually lost the match against Sporting by a physical problem, it might be available tomorrow, while Carles Puyol is apperceived of sanction in case you see a yellow.
Barca look for a new victory to reach the fourteen straight games at the Camp Nou unbeaten in its field in the Champions League, and jump to a new round that put him closer to the final of the Champions League in Munich, waiting reissue, a fact that has not made any team from the new competition format in 1993.
The Bayer Leverkusen should provide a much more risky than that exhibited in the first leg if you want to aspire to a surprise at the Camp Nou.
Despite the sense of honor that said yes the first leg, the Robin Dutt were at the mercy of the game of Barcelona and only in the minutes before and after the equalizer given the size of a brave team.
The success that the Leverkusen started the weekend against Bayern Munich (2-0), which marked the third consecutive victory of rival Barca, gives some confidence to those of Dutt, fifth in the Bundesliga.
However, within the German team is a feeling of resignation in the match against Barcelona, they can come too great, by the rival and also the downside of the trip, which was evidenced a clear difference between the two sets.
Regarding options make the starting lineup, Robin Dutt is expected to have the Swiss Eren Derdiyok, who was not in the first leg and played half time against Bayern.
Schürrle André, who broke his nose in the match for Germany, appeared the weekend with a mask.
Another concern is the Croatian defender Vedran Corlunka, who missed the weekend for a few problems in the quadriceps suffered in the match between Croatia and Sweden.
The low secure are the German midfielder Sidney Sam, with a muscular problem, as Michael Ballack, suffering from a calf injury since mid last month.
Probable teams:
Barcelona: Valdes, Alves, Pique, Puyol and Mascherano, Adriano, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta, Pedro, Messi and Cuenca or Tello.
Leverkusen: Leno, Schwaab, Friedrich, Toprak, Kadlec, Reinartz, Bender, Castro, Renato Augusto, Schürrle, and Kiessling.
Referee: Svein Oddvar Moen, Norway.
Stadium: Camp Nou (99,354 spectators)
Time: 20.45 (19.45 GMT).
