LONDON (AP) Barcelona will have to overcome the absence of Andres Iniesta and a grueling road trip when it continues its Champions League defense with a semifinal at Inter Milan on Tuesday.
The Spanish powerhouse is favorite to win the title and become the first team since AC Milan in 1990 to be European champion for a second straight season.
But it will be making the 725-km journey to northern Italy by bus over two days because of the cloud of volcanic ash from Iceland that has grounded flights throughout Europe.
"We know Inter will make it tough for us," Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets said. "We have been having a lot of big games and it's not the ideal way to travel to Milan, but there can be no excuses.
"We have to get a good result that will allow us to go into the second leg with confidence."