For the third game running Frank Rijkaard has named the same 18 players for tomorrow night’s Champions League quarter final second leg with Schalke 04. This means that Gabi Milito and Toure Yaya will continue in the team despite their respective physical problems and Rafa Marquez will start again on the bench ready to replace the first one who drops.
Schalke have never played an official game at Camp Nou but they did compete twice in the Joan Gamper tournament in the 1970s. In 1970 Barça beat them 1-0 in the 3rd place match with a goal from Fusté, and in 1977 Barça beat them 4-1 in the final with goals from Neeskens(2), Clares and Asensi. Last Saturday Schalke moved up to second place in the Bundesliga when an Altintop goal gave them a 1-0 home win over Hansa Rostock. Jermaine Jones should be back in Schalke’s midfield after missing the first leg last Tuesday.
Rijkaard is likely to start with the same team that drew 0-0 with Getafe on Sunday though he may decide to bring back Eric Abidal at left back in place of Sylvinho. Personally I’d rather see Sylvinho continue and I’d also like to see Giovani dos Santos start on the right which would give Bojan and Eto’o the chance to interchange between the middle and the left. Giovani is the only natural replacement for Messi in this position and my patience with Thierry Henry is all used up.
The fact that many of Barça’s fans seem to see this match as a foregone conclusion combined with the current unhealthy situation at the club make tomorrow night’s game with Schalke 04 a potential bombshell. Failure to get through would almost certainly lead to an outpouring of indignation that would make Sunday’s protest seem like a round of applause. Keeping a clean sheet could prove vital since any Schalke goal scored when the game is still in the balance could provoke an angry reaction from the crowd which will probably only serve to deflate Barça and encourage the Germans. An early Barça goal will help as long as Barça don’t then sit on their lead because Camp Nou will be no place for the faint hearted if Scalke make it 1-1 with 15 minutes to go. Schalke have a very good recent record of playing in Spain: in 2001/2 they won 0-4 at Mallorca, and two seasons ago they knocked out Espanyol winning 0-3 at the Olympic stadium.
Barça’s squad: Valdés, Pinto, Zambrotta, Puyol, Thuram, Marquez, Milito, Sylvinho, Abidal, Xavi, Edmilson, Toure, Gudjohnsen, Iniesta, Giovani, Bojan, Eto’o, Henry.
Possible starting XI: Valdés; Zambrotta, Puyol, Milito, Abidal; Xavi, Toure, Iniesta; Eto’o, Bojan, Henry.
My prediction: Barça 3 Schalke 0
27 responses so far ↓
Frede // Apr 8, 2008 at 21:48
Nice to hear your oppinion about Giovani. He should definetely be in the starting 11 instead of Henry. He could do some serious damage to a quite slow Schalke-defense.
My prediction: Barca 3-1 Schalke04
dnzi // Apr 8, 2008 at 22:03
Wow, haha 3-0? I think Barça will be lucky if they win with 1-0.
FCB // Apr 8, 2008 at 22:41
3-0 barcaaaaaaaa
FCB // Apr 8, 2008 at 22:42
dnzi—lucky if we win 1-0?? so if they arent lucky, u think they will be eliminated 2morrow?
Mirnes // Apr 8, 2008 at 22:47
2:0 for us…we can do it….I am sure….MES QUE UN CLUB…
Morzzan // Apr 8, 2008 at 23:46
2-0, dont know which way, but 2-0 final score
Anders // Apr 9, 2008 at 0:15
I just hope for a good display of football, Barca-style… About time for that again
bobby // Apr 9, 2008 at 0:54
2-0 barca and gio should start rkjaard has givin henry so much chances to proof himself now its gios turn
bobby // Apr 9, 2008 at 1:00
ive heard rafa marquez is moving to man u or milan next season but he wants to stay and retire with barca he has shown his love for barca because 2 -3 seasons ago he refused a 35 mil to milan well also barca did… but i dont know is this true???
Varughese // Apr 9, 2008 at 5:11
I would like to see Iniesta starting in the front left with Xavi and Gudjonsen partnering Yaya. It may not be advisable to start with two youngsters upfront. And most importantly Giovanni looks the most dangerous when he is brought in the second half when other legs are a bit tired. But I also agree on one fact Henry should not start…
Varughese // Apr 9, 2008 at 6:08
The presence of Gudjonsen will also give more option to deal with aerial challenge. For instance we have been getting huge number of corners in last some games, but was not make anything out of it. Gudjonsen can give some option there also.
Joe Henry // Apr 9, 2008 at 6:52
I Just want to make go to the semi final if you ask me. They way Barca is playing they could be lazy till the 80 min and Schalke steal a goal. They didn’t play half bad in the second half last time.
e10 // Apr 9, 2008 at 8:52
Watch out for the turkish sensation Halil Altintop, he is a very dangerous player and can turn the game very quickly.
Barca 1-0
Blaugrana // Apr 9, 2008 at 10:19
2-0 to barça
BARCA 4 LYF // Apr 9, 2008 at 10:33
2-0 to BARCA!!!!!!
Hilal // Apr 9, 2008 at 14:20
Although I do expect us to go through I am not expecting a good performance. I have been let down way too many times this season to expect anything better. When Messi is back he might be able to carry us, but as long as Rijkaard is in charge and we continue to play in the predictable slow paced style which we have over the last few months I cannot see us beating any good teams.
Hilal // Apr 9, 2008 at 14:38
http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=652908
Hey Nick, any truth to this or is it just more Goal.com BS?
Taras // Apr 9, 2008 at 15:05
Barca 2-1 Shalke 04.
Shahenshah // Apr 9, 2008 at 15:08
That article is not really far from what is going on in Barcelona. So much drama in this team. We are starting to behave like los galacticos!! Changes have to be made. Whether it be pay cuts or player cuts.
Nic // Apr 9, 2008 at 15:09
Hilal - I’ve written what I think here - http://fcbnews.com/barca-director-claims-some-players-are-separated-from-team/
Jay // Apr 9, 2008 at 17:31
I say 5-1 Barcelona. God knows why but I’m really confident.
Nic // Apr 9, 2008 at 18:49
Team announced: Valdés; Zambrotta, Thuram,Puyol, Abidal; Xavi, Toure, Iniesta; Eto’o, Bojan, Henry.
Milito is obviously not fully fit. Surprised Marquez wasn’t picked
Nic // Apr 9, 2008 at 18:53
Of course it could be down to yellow cards. Milito, Marquez, Puyol, Toure and Messi are all one yellow card away from suspension. I hope Puyol and Toure are careful tonight.
Barca-Fan // Apr 9, 2008 at 20:35
woot 2-0 GO BARCA GO BARCA
Joe Henry // Apr 9, 2008 at 20:38
1-0 half time but we still play like crap. On the other side thou Man United is kicking ass even thou they didn’t score a goal yet!
Nic // Apr 9, 2008 at 23:00
e10 and dnzi (was that a prediction?) got it right. well done - e10 now joins Blaugrana on 3 correct predictions
dnzi // Apr 12, 2008 at 15:00
yayness! what did i win ;p
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