Neymar remains absent as Barcelona prepare for Club World Cup semi-finals in Japan

Brazilian forward looks unlikely to play for European champions against Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande due to groin injury.

Neymar has been an injury doubt for Barcelona since hurting his groin while training ahead of their Uefa Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen. Sebastian Konopka / AP Photo

YOKOHAMA // Injured striker Neymar sat out training for a second straight day on Tuesday as Barcelona prepared for their Club World Cup semi-final.

Neymar now looks unlikely to play for the European champions, who are seeking a third Club World Cup crown, against Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande of China.

He sustained a groin injury in training last week ahead of the Uefa Champions League match with Bayer Leverkusen.

Neymar also skipped Monday’s practice, which took place only hours after the team arrived in Yokohama following an overnight flight.

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Guangzhou Evergrande, coached by Neymar’s Brazilian compatriot Luiz Felipe Scolari, are on a 28-match unbeaten run and beat Club America of Mexico in the previous round.

But Barca are only just getting to know about their Chinese rivals.

“Between today and tomorrow, we will know more about the team – our manager, Luis Enrique, will inform us about their team, and our tactics,” left-back Jordi Alba said.

“But it will be a very difficult and complicated game, and difficult to reach the final. We will have to play very well.”

Guangzhou Evergrande last lost in May, just before Scolari, who led Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002, became manager.

The Barcelona squad watched from Japan when the draw was made for the Champions League last 16 on Monday night European time.

Barcelona drew Arsenal in the first knockout stage, to be played in February. It was the third time in seven seasons the two clubs had been drawn to face each other.

Barcelona knocked out Arsenal in 2009/10 and 2010/11. But the London-based club look to be mounting a serious Premier League title challenge for the first time in almost a decade.

“It will be more difficult than in other years,” Alba said. “Arsenal seems to have improved, especially from midfield and from the attacking side.

“What we have done in the past doesn’t help so much. It is a difficult draw and we will have to do our best to try to reach the next round, for Arsenal also has a good defence. But what has especially improved is the midfield and the forward line.”

Barcelona won the Club World Cup – which has returned to Japan after a two-year stint in Morocco – in 2009, when it was held in Abu Dhabi, and 2011.

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