Allan Simonsen believes that Barcelona have to be seen as favourites to retain the Champions League, despite suffering a surprise defeat against Rubin Kazan.

The former Blaugrana and Denmark star still lives in the Catalan capital and revels in the team's style of play. He expects them to be able to repeat last season's success if they maintain their form.

No club has retained the Champions League trophy under the competition's current format but Simonsen, who played for Barca between 1979 and 1983, thinks that Pep Guardiola's side could make history.

"It's difficult, but I think they're big favourites," he told uefa.com.

"If they manage to play like they did last year, then they will win it for sure, because I think that at the moment they are the top of the top.

"They're really the best team in the world. The way they're playing – I haven't seen anything like it for years.

"It's great to be a part of it because I'm living in Barcelona and I see nearly every game, either in the stadium or on television. I really look forward to every match they play."

Standing at 1.65m (5ft 5in) tall himself, Simonsen is delighted that Barcelona's shorter players are the ones earning most of the headlines.

"They have so many good players, but the smallest players in the team are the strongest at the moment," he continued.

"[Lionel] Messi, [Andres] Iniesta, Xavi – very small players but technically fantastic. I love them a lot, because in addition to their skill they're very quick as well, so they have everything."