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CL Preview:Schalke v Barca

CL Preview:Schalke v Barca


CL Preview:Schalke v Barca

The Catalan giants travel to Germany tonight for the Champions League clash against Schalke. Barca is under great pressure because of the recent poor performances and injury worries.

Venue: Arena AufSchalke

Referee:Kyros Vassaras (GRE)


The German club would want to capitalise on Barca's slump in form by beating them at the Arena AufSchalke and boost their chances of progressing to the semi-finals. Barcelona does not have a bad record in the Champions League though their form in the La Liga is very poor.

Recent Form

Schalke have enjoyed a great run in the Bundesliga recently moving close to the top of the table. They are now third in the league following a draw against Karlsruher SC.

They did not have a good go at the group stages of the champions league but managed to rout Porto in the last sixteen.

In the last five matches, they have won four and drew one.

Their strengths are determination, strength in the tackle, pace and drive going forward.

Barcelona are going through a crisis situation in the club and are currently going through a run of very poor form.

Barca's away is too poor and they have conceded 12 goals in the last six games.The Barca boss, Rijkaard stated that the second half performance of his team against Betis was 'inexplicable'. All these has added to Barca worries needless to say the injury problems.

The last five matches see them winning only one and losing three.

The only good thing about them is the technical ability of the high quality players and the youth. They have racked up 68 shots on goal, more than any other team.

Team News

FC Schalke 04

Mirko Slomka has some injury concerns as Gustavo Varela, Zlatan Barjramovic, Heppke,Rakitic, Ze Roberto and Albert Streit has been ruled out injured.

FC Barcelona

Rijkaard have injury problems and their star players are ruled out.Messi tops the injury list which includes Ronaldinho, Deco and Samuel Eto'o. Eto'o will undergo a late fitness test.

The defenders Milito and Marquez has returned back from injury.

Probable Line-ups

Schalke ::Neuer, Rafinha, Bordon, Westermann, Krstajic, Jones, Ernst, Asamoah, Pander, Altintop, Kuranyi

Barcelona::Valdés, Márquez, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Henry, Sylvinho, Thuram, Touré, Bojan, Giovani[Eto'o]

Final Score Prediction

SChalke 2-0 Barcelona