Barcelona players from left to right Xavi, Samuel Eto'o, Edmilson and Lionel Messi are seen during a training session at Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona yesterday. Barcelona and Levski Sofia will play their Champions League group A football match today. - Reuters

MADRID, Spain (AP)

FC Barcelona begin their Champions League title defence with a home game against Bulgaria's Levski Sofia today.

Barcelona, whose triumph in May was only their second in Europe's most prestigious club competition, are in confident mood having scored six goals in winning both their Spanish league games so far.

Coach Frank Rijkaard's team will expect a victory against a team which is regarded as the weakest in a Group A also containing Chelsea and Werder Bremen.

The match at Camp Nou will see the Spanish champion break with tradition and wear advertising on the front of their dark red and blue shirts for the first time in a competitive match. Barcelona will promote United Nations children's charity UNICEF this season following an agreement signed in New York last Thursday.

Rijkaard has no injury concerns and is expected to field what he sees as his strongest team, with a recall for captain Carles Puyol, whom he rested for Saturday's 3-0 win over Osasuna. French defender Lilian Thuram, who replaced Puyol to make his Spanish league debut, is expected to return to the bench.

There is likely to be no place in the side for Brazilian right back Juliano Belletti, who scored the winning goal in the final against Arsenal in Paris last season.

"We must respect Levski as a good team with international players. In the Champions League it is always necessary to prepare properly and we will do so for the game," Rijkaard said.

On the other hand, Levski will miss suspended defender Lucio Wagner for its debut against Barcelona. Coach Stanimir Stoilov said that injuries also might sideline defender Zhivko Milanov and young striker Valeri Domovchiyski.

"These injuries will force me to decide on my line-up in the last minute," Stoilov told reporters Sunday. "But I have my options."