Barca’s Lionel Messi

AP

With hopes of a fourth consecutive Spanish league title fading, Barcelona is turning its full attention to defending its European crown which is bad news for Bayer Leverkusen.

Both sides are having domestic troubles going into their meeting in Tuesday’s Champions League round of 16 first-leg match, but it is arguably Barcelona which has more to prove, reports The Associated Press.

Saturday’s 3-2 loss at Osasuna, coupled with Real Madrid’s 4-2 win over Levante on Sunday, left the defending Spanish champion 10 points behind its bitter rival, which has dropped only eight points all season.