Barcelona Vs. Bayer Leverkusen: Where to Watch Live Stream, Match Preview, Lineups, Prediction
When and Where: The Champions League last-16 second-leg encounter kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET from the Nou Camp. The match will be shown on Fox Soccer Channel. You can catch the encounter online from 5 p.m. on FoxSoccer2Go, with a subscription. For those in the U.K., the game is being shown on ITV1 and will also be available online at ITV1.com.
Preview: Bayer Leverkusen face a near-impossible task in trying to overcome a 3-1 first-leg deficit when they travel to the Nou Camp on Wednesday. Indeed they need to achieve a feat matched by no other visiting side this season: score three goals on Barcelona's own turf.
Those looking for some encouragement for Leverkusen can point to the fact that, since their defeat to Barca in Germany three weeks ago, Robin Dutt's men have amassed three consecutive victories, including a 2-0 triumph over giants Bayern Munich at the weekend.
For Barcelona's part, simply guarding against complacency should be all that stands between them and a place in the Champions League's last eight for the fifth straight year.
We dominated Leverkusen in the first half but they were very strong in the second half, and very fast, said Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola, according to UEFA.com.
Leverkusen never give up a match as being lost, never give up. It looks like they're dead and suddenly they hit back.
They have their chances of qualifying, of course they do.
Guardiola faces several injury concerns for Wednesday's encounter. Alexis Sanchez and Eric Abidal have already been ruled out, while captain Carlos Puyol and midfielder Thiago Alcantara are major doubts for the match. If Puyol, as seems likely, fails to make it then Javier Mascherano is expected to step in alongside Gerard Pique at the back. Isaac Cuenca is anticipated to line-up in attack.
For Leverkusen, defender Vedran Corluka-on-loan from Manchester City-is a doubt with an injury that already kept him out of the victory over Bayern Munich. The trio of Tranquillo Barnetta, Michael Ballack and Sidney Sam will definitely miss the match.
Prediction: Even for Leverkusen to claim a victory on the night would be a monumental triumph, to envisage them scoring at least three and winning by a two-goal margin, though, is surely living in fantasy land. Barcelona are so adept at keeping the ball and they will know that they can simply frustrate their opponents while not even approaching top gear.
Barcelona 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen
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