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Pep Guardiola tips Bayer Leverkusen as favourites for the first-leg

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The Barcelona manager believes that his team will be under pressure during the first-leg of their UEFA Champions League tie against the BayArena outfit.
As UEFA Champions League action resumes on Tuesday, February 14, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 expect a tough fight from their German opponents, Bayer Leverkusen. Barca manager, Pep Guardiola, reckons that Leverkusen will possess aerial threat to
his side, and are a well balanced team. He insists that it will be extremely hard for his players to cope with the heavy built Germans especially in their own back yard.
Leverkusen will host Barcelona on Tuesday, February 14, at the BayArena for the first leg of their Champions League knock-out tie. The visitors will definitely be under pressure after losing to Osasuna in the La Liga on Saturday,
February 11, by a 3-2 score line.
On the other hand, the hosts themselves lost their away game to Borussia Dortmund last weekend, but defeated the likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Valencia-c40863 at the BayArena during the group stage of the Champions League. This proves the authority
of both sides, while playing at home and away.
While talking to reporters ahead of the all-important first leg, Guardiola further added:
"They are a physically a stronger team than us and they will be stronger than us when we do not have possession. They are dangerous from set pieces and dead ball situations and they are very strong in the air."
The manager continued to raise concerns at the physical ability of their opponents, and, by no means is ready to undermine them on their home turf. Leverkusen were the last German team to beat Barcelona during the 2001/02 season,
but this time around, the odds might not favour the home side despite being rated favourites by the opposition manager.
"My biggest concern is knowing Leverkusen well. I know their strength and their virtues. They are a German team. If we do not control possession then we will have problems. Our goal is to compete well and see how far we get. We
will take stock at then end of the season," Guardiola concluded.
Leverkusen will be without experienced, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Michael-Ballack-c25270, who has been sidelined due to injury.
 

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