BERLIN, Feb 22, 2010 (AFP) - Stuttgart coach Christian Gross said on Monday he was under no illusions about the German side's chances against European kings Barcelona in this week's Champions League last-16 home first leg clash.
"This is a massive challenge. We have to play better than we have ever played before. We can't afford to make any mistakes," the Swiss said ahead of Tuesday's evening's match in Germany.
Gross has a score to settle against the Spanish league leaders, who have lost just three games this season and who haven't lost to a German team since 2001, having seen them demolish his former club Basel 5-0 in 2008.
Stuttgart's goalkeeper Jens Lehmann also has some history with Pep Guardiola's side, having seen red on 18 minutes at his old club Arsenal in the 2006 Champions League final between the two sides, won by Barca.
Lehman, who said at the time he would take the memory with him "to the grave", was pleased to be taking Barca on again.
"This is an absolute highlight," the 40-year-old former German international said.
"This is what I play for. Games like this are what make footballers carry on."
Lehmann is expected to have a busy night.
Barca "are the only opponents that I wouldn't have wished for," said Alexander Hleb, the Arsenal old-boy now in the Stuttgart midfield.
"It's going to be really, really hard. Of course it's great to be playing against Barca, but our chances are 10 percent."
Hleb should know, with the Belarussian on loan from Barca until the end of the season.
The only ray of hope for Stuttgart could be that key Barca players Dani Alves and Xavi Hernandez were not expected to take part because of injury, while Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was also in doubt.
But Hleb says this will count for little.
"At Barca, every player can be a game-changer," he said.
