Ballack out of Barça clash

Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Michael Ballack is out of Tuesday's UEFA Champions League match against holders Barcelona as the ex-Germany captain suffered a calf injury today. The 35-year-old pulled up in training with a torn calf and is definitely out of the first-leg of the Round of 16 tie in Leverkusen. It completed a miserable weekend for Ballack, who won the last of his 98 caps for Germany in March 2010, after he was left on the bench for the third match running as Leverkusen lost 1-0 to Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. Ballack's contract expires in June and is almost certain to leave Leverkusen at season's end after a volatile few weeks which saw the club threaten to ban Ballack's agent Michael Becker from their stadium. Becker has said Ballack's options at the end of the season include going to play in China, the Middle East or the United States as the ex-Chelsea star brings down the curtain on his career.