Evenin' all. It's back. The Champions League returns the first leg of the last 16 clash between Bayer Leverkusen and Barcelona from the BayArena.

It's a sad state of affairs for English football when the return the Champions League almost brings with it a sense of relief; a chance for us all to embrace a purer form of football, played by decent human beings and free from the bile and invective of the domestic game. When the Champions League has become a noble bastion of all that is good in the game you know you have done something badly, badly wrong.

Leverkusen are beset by injury problems with Michael Ballack (whose return to the club where he made his name has not gone entirely as anticipated), Sidney Sam and Eren Derdiyok all missing. Robin Dutt's side have picked up seven points from losing positions in this season's tournament and that's the kind of resolve they will need if they are to get a result they can take to the Camp Nou and protect.

Dutt has gone on record to say how much he has enjoyed the preparation for this game. I have watched a lot of good football," he said of his hours pouring over tapes Barça at the end of which he came to the conclusion that, yes, they are the best side in the world.

Barcelona head into the game on the back of their first defeat in 18 games against Osasuna on Saturday and with Madrid streaming clear in La Liga, Pep Guardiola knows that this competition is the only real hope of keeping Barcelona fans in the manner in which they are accustomed.

Kick off in the BayArena is 7.45pm (GMT).

7.08pm: Some team news deftly acquired from the wires, which is not like a real wire like a tightrope but more an imaginary concept like a credit rating.

There's no Xavi in the Barcelona side, but Sergio Busqets starts having recovered from injury.

Vedran Corluka is in a Leverkusen side which, as I mentioned earlier, has serious injury problems. Renato Augusto and Michal Kadlec are in the side after injury and suspension which has kept them out domestically, while the one to watch in the home side is left-winger André Schürrle.

Bayer Leverkusen: Leno; Corluka, Schwaab, Friedrich, Kadlec; Reinartz, Rolfes; Bender, Castro, Schurrle; Renato Augusto.

Subs: Yelldell, Oczipka, Kiessling, Ortega, Da Costa, Toprak, Bellarabi.

Barcelona: Valdes; Dani Alves, Mascherano, Puyol, Abidal;

Fabregas, Busquets, Iniesta; Sanchez, Messi, Adriano.

Subs: Pinto, Thiago, Pedro, Jonathan, Roberto, Bartra, Cuenca.

Referee: Craig Thomson (Who says Scotland don't have a representative in the final stages of the Champions League?)

7.17pm: According to Ray Wilkins Michael Ballack is the type of player "who very much wants to know the score." I would hope that all players want to know the score. It would seem to me that that is a somewhat important piece of information. But what do I know. I'm not an ex-pro after all.

7.30pm: David Correia has a prediction: "My prediction for tonight is that Messi will put his recent poor form (he really hasn't been poor, just not his usual clinical self) to rest and scores a hat-trick tonight." Ah, Messi. He has five in six Champions League starts this season, and 27 in the last 28 in this competition. Tonight's other Champions League is between Lyon and "surprise package" Apoel. You can get all tonight's latest scores here.

7.36pm: "Maybe Butch Wilkins was thinking of Darren Bent's preference for shopping to knowing the score in the Villa game?" writes Justin Kavanagh. "I think Herr Ballack might be better off going shopping today than checking the score." I suspect he may have gone shopping - he's certainly not involved tonight. And judging by his pre-match, pre-recorded interview, he has eyes on playing some soccerball in the US and A.

7.40pm: There is a distinct tactical emphasis to the emails tonight as opposed to the rough and tumble of the Premier League emails: "Barcelona have three midfield superstars in Iniesta, Fabregas and Thiago but none of those is a particularly good Xavi surrogate," says Philip Podolsky. "He's a pivot, they are drifters the carefree b******s . Not that this should matter all that much given the overall quality gap, but Barcelona are not the same without him."

7.41pm: You do all know it's Valentine's Day, don't you? And you're still here? Good. Just thought I should let you know that in the interests of full disclosure. It's all about transparency these days.

7.43pm: Under Pep Guardiola Barcelona have never won the first leg of a last 16 tie played away from home. What a bunch of jokers.

Peeep!!!: Barcelona get the game underway playing in their mint chocolate green from right-to-left. Leverkusen are in black and red. It's a cold, wet night in Germany.

2 min: The first sign of what Leverkusen's tactics might be tonight - Kadlec pushes a ball down the line in behind Puyol and turns the Barça defender. Schurrle gives chase but bundles Puyol over and gives away the free kick, somewhat needlessly.

4 min: Robin Dutt predicted before the game that his side would have about 30% possession and so far he would seem to be spot on. Leverkusen can barely get a kick but there's not much penetration yet from the visitors.

6 min: Yellow card for Daniel Schwaab for a nasty challenge on Eric Abidal. For a moment it looked as if Craig Thomson might pull out a red, but sensibly it was just a yellow. Foolish challenge from the full back.

8 min: Barcelona work the free kick cleverly with Messi squaring to Dani Alves who attempts to find Messi with a chip over the top but it glanced of Schwaab's head and away to safety.

11 min: Messi scampers in from the right flank like a Jack Russell trying to escape its owner. Castro has a couple of swipes at his heels and eventually Thomson blows his whistle. Decent position for Barça ... Dani Alves goes for power but it's always sailing high over the bar.

14 min: A great sliding challenge by Daniel Schwaab prevents what would have been a certain opener for Messi. It is a mix up in midfield which causes the ball to ricochet into the path of Sanchez. He squares to Messi who has a straightforward tap-in but the Leverkusen No2 slides back to knock behind for a corner.

15 min: Vedran Corluka makes his first foray down the right but is on a completely different wavelength to Renato Augusto and his pass, intended for the Leverkusen front man, rolls through to Valdes.

18 min: Paul Taylor is really putting it up to me. At least I think he is. "Curious to get your guess on how often teams are seriously compromised by injury in these major competitions," he writes. "That is, what percentage of titles could arguably be said to be 'tarnished' by one side's injury situation? Or are all matches, in the end, valid indicators of club prowess?" I don't know. *quick think - what would Alan Shearer say?* These things even themselves out over the course of the season.

23 min: Ok, regarding the previous point. There are obviously certain years where teams have extreme injury problems. In 2005 Liverpool were decimated by injury – Anthony le Tallec started in the Champions League quarter final - but they still managed to win in. And that wasn't because they had a squad of great depth. Perhaps it's to do with how you let the injuries effect your mindset? Leverkusen don't really look like they believe they can win this tonight.

25 min: Barcelona emerge through the fog of a scrappy period with slick move which ends as Adriano cuts in from the left but his curling shot is miles wide. "I had moved to Germany specifically for evenings like this when Barca are playing a German team thus allowing me to gloat at it being on free TV," writes Ian Copestake. "It isn't. There is however a whole programme devoted to the game in which deep-voiced men like Mario Basler sit around talking about eveything but the actual game itself, while it is shown on a TV in the background, blurred and just out of view. It's like an MBM that's in denial." I think we're all in denial in one way or another.

26 min: The good news for all of us is that right about now all those couples who are out for Valentine's night have just started into the subject matter that will result in a blazing row later on. 1-0 us.

30 min: "Anyone have any info as to what the black armbands are for?" asks Matias Pasch. " For those of us supplementing our alternate-language illegal internet feed with MBM reports." That sounds like the kind of thing I should know. But I don't. I'll endeavour to find out. Maybe it's for the death of dignity in English football.

34 min: Leverkusen are doing alright here. Schurrle tries a long-range shot but doesn't quite catch it right. They have had none of the ball - Barça have 88% possession - but have been defending pretty well and I'm of the opinion that a 0-0 first leg draw actually favours the home side.

37 min: A half-chance for Messi (if there is such thing). He pulls an angled pass out of the air and tries to pick out Sanchez but it clips of Schwaab's heels and deflects safely into Bernd Leno's hands. "I recently read that Barça are the second richest club, just behind Real," says David Correia. "I imagine the gap would be smaller if they actually had an away kit that their supporters would buy. That kit is downright awful!" The lucrative away kit market is one are for improvement alright.

40 min: Free kick in a dangerous position for Barça - just outside and to the left of the penalty area. Messi tries to pick out Abidal in the centre but it's cut out and then Puyol fouls, much to Barcelona's chagrin.

41 min: GOAL!!! Bayer Leverkusen 0-1 BARCELONA (Sanchez). Just as it looked like Leverkusen might hang on until half-time they go and fall apart at the back and Barça have the lead. It was beautiful through ball from Messi but Sanchez had acres of space on the right and ambled into the area and slotted through Leno's legs and into the bottom corner. Seeing as Leverkusen have barely had a kick of the ball coming back from this might be problematic.

44 min: The black armbands are because the mother of a Barcelona club employee passed away (thanks to Christian and Camilo for that answer). Just having another look at the replay of the goal - it was a perfect half-volleyed pass from Messi but the Leverkusen defence was shambolic.

45 min: One minute of stoppage time as Messi tries to weave through the massed ranks of the Leverkusen defence. He almost makes it, but eventually runs out of space.

Half time: Bayer Leverkusen 0-1 Barcelona. The scoreline at the interval is (probably) no more than Barcelona deserve. they've been utterly dominant without creating many chances. They've had 110% possession (how come we don't exaggerate possession stats?) without ever clicking into anything like top gear.

Half time Valentine's Day date watch: "I'll have you know that I'm on a Valentines date right now Fanning," says Alex Hanton. "Just checking the MBM on my phone while my date's in the bathroom. Although come to think of it it has been a suspiciously long time. And the waiters are shooting me pitying looks ... and the bathroom has those big unlocked windows ... Oh God not again! I knew I shouldn't have spent half an hour talking about Rangers impending insolvency! I blame you for this, like a lot."

Barça away kit chatter. "David Correia is being parochial," says Nicholas. "That kit almost certainly sells a lot in Muslim countries and among women. How do I know this? My girlfriend is a Muslim." Can kits appeal to specific faiths? I'd love to see which kit Kabbalah devotees flock to. Sean Hurley, meanwhile, puts us all back in our box: "Barca are actually playing in their alternative kit. Their away kit this season is all black, which wouldn't stand out too much from the home team's."

Peeep!!! We're underway again in the second half of this training match Champions League last 16 first leg tie.

48 min: An early set piece for Leverkusen. It's a decent delivery from Castro but there's no Leverkusen player attacking the ball. Puyol makes a bit of a meal of it and it skims off his head and into the path of the stretching Friedrich who can only knock it behind for a goal kick. A bit of a waste that.

49 min: "If your other reader is wondering what it is to be a romantic at heart, then perhaps a little Richard Thompson interlude might be an education," says Ian Copestake. "The footie will still be on by the time it's finished mind, so no harm done." Hey, we have loads of readers.

50 min: GOAL!!!! BAYER LEVERKUSEN 1-1 Barcelona (Kadlec). This has been much better from Leverkusen and they've shown how fragile the Barça defence can be. Vedran Corluka swung over two decent crosses in quick succession, the second of which was met by Kadlec at the back post, who rose above Sanchez and powered a header past Valdes.

54 min: Yellow card for Corluka for a mis-timed challenge on Adriano. That's a harsh decision and this is a decent crossing opportunity for Barcelona. Dani Alves tries a shot from a ridiculous angle and predictably it ends up nearer the corner flag.

54 min: GOAL!!! Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 BARCELONA (Sánchez). It's a lovely finish from the Chile striker but what are Leverkusen playing at? They were level for just three minutes. Fábregas picks the ball up in acres of space in the centre circle and threads a lovely through ball to Sánchez who opens up the angle with his first touch before slotting home at the near post with his second. The keeper may have been a little hasty off his line. I think he made up Sánchez's mind for him.

57 min: Valdes is called into action with a fairly straightforward save from Renato Augusto, but it's a sign for Leverkusen that there is another goal in this if they keep going forward. There may not be any goals in Lyon, as Loig Thivend points out: "Meanwhile, it's still goalless in the Lyon match and I am still waiting for a Valentine other than the one from me Ma -which one do you think is more likely, Evan?" Probably a goal I would say. And an Apoel one at that.

59 min: Thiago comes on for Andres Iniesta. Meanwhile, Matias Pasch writes: "Interesting to note that while Kadlec was at fault for the Barcelona goal, two players broke through on his side of the defence, he then easily beat Sanchez (the scorer of said goal) in the air to level the scores, and then failed to mark Sanchez again for Barcelona's second." I think the amount of space given to Fabregas in the centre circle was as much to blame for the second.

63 min: Leverkusen hit the post!! Valdes was beaten by Castro's low shot across goal but it cannoned back off the woodwork and Puyol cleared. In fact Valdes may have got the faintest of touches to the strike. "I see the Barca goal merits three exclamation points and the Leverkusen four," writes Mark in Chicago. "Is this a challenge to pedants, or comment on the quality of the goal?" It's a comment on how surprised I am by the goal. Leverkusen's very surprising, Barça's was still a surprise but less so.

66 min: This is much livelier from Leverkusen with Rolfes and Castro heavily involved. "One might gently take issue with your statement as to the 'death of dignity in English football," says Paul Taylor. "Why do the FA, for example, spend so much time on a few individuals who utter insults, while granting their seal of approval to whole stadiums screaming "you lying bastard" at an opposing player? An American viewer, for one, would find such actions astonishingly novel, and might say, 'What dignity is that?' Anyhow, I'm munching up all the little candy hearts, so none for you today!" Indeed.

69 min: Another Barça change as Pedro - the oldest of Barcelona's outfield subs - replaces Adriano. "I got no Valentine cards/messages, etc nor did I send any, but I did phone my Mum and then realised what the date was," says Ian Copestake. "It probably wasn't as necessary as I then thought it was to explain that I wasn't phoning because I fancied her." Any amateur psychiatrists want to deal with that?

71 min: Barcelona carve Leverkusen apart as Thiago races onto a through ball but credit to Leno who was off his line in a shot and gathered the ball at the edge of the area.

73 min: Messi hits the post! He toys with Daniel Schwaab threatening to go one way and then the other before nutmegging the defender, dinking the ball over Leno but it hits the outside of the post.

74 min: "Why is it a surprise that Barcelona took the lead?" asks Mike in Leeds. "Really it now bores me the ease with which they stroll through the Champions League." It was a surprise because it came so quickly after Leverkusen equalised. But it wasn't a huge surprise, which is why it got three exclamation points. And I may revise that down now than so many of yo9u have a problem with it. Now I won't I'll stay strong in the face of the mob.

77 min: Leverkusen make their first change as Stefan Kiessling comes of for Simon Rolfes, who I though was doing ok.

78 min: Kiessling is straight into the action getting a head to a dangerous, inswinging cross from the impressive Castro. He gets a clean head to it but it lacks power and is a nice height for Valdes who saves to his right.

80 min: Barcelona go straight up the other end and win a corner which Leno punches clear. Busquest then bundles Castro over on the touchline. Somehow Castro gets a yellow card which must be for something he said because he was the one who was fouled. The crowd don't like it.

82 min: Messi weaves into the box and forces Leno to save a low skimmed shot. "This game has seen two through balls result in goals and one cross result in the same," says Ian Copestake who has been paying close attention. You have to give him that. "Fine examples of two classic means of goal scoring. Are crosses, though, the poor man's through balls (so to say) and through balls the real index of quality?" Goal kicks from the hands which land in the opposing penalty area are superior to both those.

84 min: Great save from Leno to deny Sanchez a a hat trick. It was a flicked header from a corner which brought a wonderful full-length save. The crowd are getting at the referee now after Mascherano was awarded a free kick after another fairly innocent looking shoulder charge with Kiessling. They obviously don't have shoulder charges in Scotland. "I don't think Mike in Leeds was really questioning your surprise at the Barça goal," says Ben. "Otherwise, he would have used at least two question marks."

86 min: Final change for Barça as Cuenca replaces Sanchez, who will not get his hat trick. Thiago gets a yellow card for a late challenge in the air on Friedrich. Alex Hanton writes: "To misquote the immortal Terry Pratchett - using more than one exclamation mark is the sign of a deranged mind while using more than three is a pretty good indication that bystanders should begin planning a break for the treeline. Perhaps you could borrow some of Ian Copestake's amateur psychologists?" Aren't you meant to be on a date?

88 min: GOAL!!! Bayer Leverkusen 1-3 BARCELONA (Messi). What a strike from Lionel Messi, who scampered away from his marker in the centre circle and threaded a through ball to Dani Alves. The Brazilian was one-on-one with the keeper and waited and waited before clipping the ball back across to where Messi was arriving on the stretch to knock the ball into the net. A cross and through ball. That goal had every but a Packie Bonner-style punt up the pitch.

990 min: "Barca's strip does look pretty bad," says Philippa Booth, "but I'm reporting in from a romantic evening spent watching Lyon v Apoel with a cup of tea and snickers bar, and it's not a good sitch here either - Lyon in hot pink, Apoel in bright yellow, it's like a bag of rhubarb-and-custards exploded and promptly fell over with a hurty ankle." Well you're missing two Leverkusen substitutions here. And so am I (nearly). Danny Da Costa is on for Corluka and Bellarab replaces Schurrle.

Full time: Bayer Leverkusen 1-3 Barcelona. Pep Guardiola's side are into the next round have a healthy lead going into the second leg. A lead that is surely insurmountable.

9.35pm: So Barcelona are in the driving seat after a game which improved immeasurably in the second half. It's hard to see any way back for a fairly average Leverkusen side. That's it from me. Thanks for all your emails. Final word goes to Valentine's Day lothario Alex Hanton: "Please this is the 21st century – I'm multitasking. Typing and crying."