FC Barcelona have suffered a blow ahead of the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final against AC Milan after learning that defender Adriano is unlikely to feature because of a thigh strain.

Adriano picked up the injury during Tuesday's 5-3 Liga victory against Granada CF and was forced off at half-time. Josep Guardiola therefore had to deploy Carles Puyol at left-back, with replacement Javier Mascherano filling in at centre-half.

Adriano is expected to be out for around ten days following scans on his right leg. Barça travel to play Milan on 28 March, when they will also be without left-sided defender Éric Abidal, who is set have a liver transplant. The second leg takes place at Camp Nou on 3 April.