Pedersen and Juan miss out

International duty
The 25-year-old Norwegian international limped off in the first half of his country's 2-1 friendly defeat by Croatia on Wednesday and is expected to be sidelined for at least a week. He will therefore sit out the away leg of the Leverkusen encounter, on 14 February, with the eventual winners facing either Panathinaikos FC or RC Lens in the Round of 16. "Morten is not looking good at the moment and is going to be out for ten or eleven days," said Blackburn manager Mark Hughes. "It is a blow for us because of the important week we have ahead."

Leverkusen setback
Leverkusen have also been dealt a blow after Brazil defender Juan was potentially ruled out of both legs of the tie with a muscle injury sustained in Tuesday's friendly international loss to Portugal. "That doesn't really help our defence," said coach Michael Skibbe upon learning he will be without the 28-year-old for around two weeks. Midfielder Bernd Schneider, 33, also faces a race to be fit as he nurses a bruised right ankle. The Bundesliga team visit England for the return match on 22 February.