Barcelona 1 - 0 Schalke 04
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2ND LEG: 2 - 0 (Agg)
- Final
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| Match Stats | |||
| Barcelona | Schalke 04 | ||
| 19(7) | Shots (on Goal) | 18(2) | |
| 14 | Fouls | 21 | |
| 7 | Corner Kicks | 8 | |
| 4 | Offsides | 1 | |
| 52% | Time of Possession | 48% | |
| 1 | Yellow Cards | 2 | |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 | |
| 2 | Saves | 6 | |
| Current Lineup | |
| Barcelona | Schalke 04 |
| 1 Víctor Valdés (G) | (G) Manuel Neuer 1 |
| 22 Eric Abidal (D) | (D) Mladen Krstajic 20 |
| 11 Gianluca Zambrotta (D) | (D) Marcelo Jose Bordon 5 |
| 21 Lilian Thuram (D) |  (D) Heiko Westermann 2 |
| 5 Carles Puyol (D) | (M) Fabian Ernst 8 |
| 6 Xavi (M) | (M) Jermaine Jones 13 |
| 8 Andrés Iniesta (M) | (F) Kevin Kuranyi 22 |
| 9 Samuel Eto'o (F) | (F) Halil Altintop 19 |
7 Eidur Gudjohnsen (SUB)  | (SUB) Søren Larsen 9 |
| 4 Rafael Márquez (SUB) | (SUB) Carlos Grossmüller 21 |
| 17 Dos Santos Ramirez Giovani (SUB) | (SUB) Vicente Sanchez 27 |
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
| Barcelona | 1 | |
| Schalke 04 | 0 | FT |
| Manchester United | 1 | |
| AS Roma | 0 | FT |
The corner is awful and that is just about that for Schalke
Sanchez looks pacey, he skips round Adibal there and wins a corner.
Henry is off and Gudjohnsen is on.
Rubbish from Eto'e. He had a plethora of options as Schalke remained threadbare at the back but chose a slow, telegraphed ball square to Xavi which was easily intercepted.
We're into time added on...
Schalke's frustration is evident now as Grossmuller waves a threatening arm at Thuram after losing the ball. They now they blew a big chance in the first half.
So, it's a Manchester United v Barcelona semi-final. Much more of an interesting prospect than the impending bore fest between Liverpool and Chelsea eh?
Henry skips inside a Westermann challenge but Bordon snuffs out his cross.
Puyol sticks his nut into a dangerous situation and gets a bump for his bother. Things are winding down in the Nou Camp now.
Confusion reigns supreme at the back for Schalke, a wibble here and a wobble there very nearly allowed Eto'o a chance to walk the ball into the net. Then at the other end Kuranyi fires in a shot-cum-cross which Valdes clutches onto gleefully.
Krstajic gets his head to a nice Grossmuller cross but can't get any purchase on his header and it flies harmlessly wide.
The goal scorer Yaya Toure is coming off, and Rafael Marquez is on.
Valdes gets an important touch as Westermann leapt to try and nod home.
Then the first hint of a threat from Schalke as Kuranyi bore down on goal before having his cross blocked by Thuram. Corner.
Fabulous run down the left from Abidal, beating three players but misdirecting his cross. Then as another Barca wave came forward, Eto'o hits one right at Valdes.
Schalke are playing four up front now as they chuck the kitchen sink at Barcelona. One goal is all it takes to completely alter the complexion of this tie.
Rafinha is off and Danish striker Soren Larsen replaces him.
Rijkaard made a big show of hugging Bojan as he came off and the pair shared a smile. The fans were furious though. The Dutch boss is certainly under fire at the minute, despite being on the brink of a Champions League semi-final and second in La Liga. Tough gig!
Oh dear. Schalke are fizzling out here. Altintop tries a ridiculous effort when two team mates were well placed for a cross. They've just not been up to it in this second half.
And that is Bojan's last involvement. His substitution provokes fury from the terraces; many fans leaping to their feet and waving those white hankies about again as well as howling with derision. I smell trouble for Rijkaard!
At the other end Bojan jinks into the area and looks for Xavi before Bordon clears behind for a corner.
Krstajic found himself with room to move into there and rather made a mess of it when he had plenty of decent options around 25 yards out.
Sanchez is straight into the action, trying to turn Puyol inside the area. The curly haired stopper win out this time though.
Vicente Sanchez is on for Asamoah, as Schalke mix things up.
Intricate interplay from Barca on the edge of the area but Bojan's shot is blocked and Ernst clears.
As poor as Schalke have been in this second half, all they need is one goal to thrust the cat amongst the pigeons.
Yaya Toure is at it again, working a little space for himself on the box edge and curling a shot into the arms of Neuer.
Neuer fists away a viciously swerving Xavi shot and Barca have another corner.
Now Puyol has suffered from this suddenly tetchy climate, getting booked for a minor foul on Asamoah. He'll miss the semi-final should they progress. Good news for Man United fans.
Now Grossmuller gives Bojan a little clip after the teengaer had nudged off a pass.
Thierry Henry is sulking after a few fouls on him in the game. He waves away a friendly handshake from Westermann petulantly.
Thuram's long ball looking for Eto's is a bit too strong and Neuer is out to claim.
Roma are having a right go at Old Trafford by the way, and chances are emerging.
Jones and Abidal are having a little nibble at each other and the ref is swiftly over to wag his finger and say, 'Come on chaps, no funny business.'
Bojan wins a corner after more good work down the right, a flank which Schalke are seemingly content to leave unattended.
Substitute Grossmuller hits it and instantly reels away in disgust at his pitiful effort. he came on for Kobiashvili by the way.
Schalke have won a free kick. Its central, about 30 yards from goal.
That's better from Schalke. And a ropey clearance from Puyol demonstrates that Barcelona are still vulnerable if Schalke can play in the right areas.
Kuranyi uses an elbow to control a cross and the ref blows for handball. Kuranyi obviously models his facial hair on Zambrotta. Very neat and precise it is.
Schalke are playing like a team who know their chance has gone. Barca have been rampant in this second half to date.
Super save by Neuer! A nice move sees Eto'o and Henry link well before Xavi jinks inside and hits a curling left footed shot which the keeper gets his fingertips too. Top stop.
Bojan again gets space down the right, runs at Ernst and crosses looking for Henry but Neuer is out to execute a rather spectacular punch clear.
Henry has missed a sitter. Bojan brings down the ball in the area, squares it for the former Arsenal man standing unmarked on the penalty spot, but he blazes it over. Very poor.
Looks like Schalke are still determined to give this a go, but that attacking intent leaves plenty of space for Barca to exploit behind them. I expect more goals.
Eto'o is flagged offisde as Bojan exploited space on the left.
Off we go again...
The corner is a waste, and so was their glut of chances missed in the opening half an hour. They did ever so well, but will be devastated at conceding so close to the break, which has just arrived.
Schalke look to hit back and a swinging Kuranyi cross is shanked by Puyol and flashes just wide. Corner.
Well, I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so. You simply can't dominate Barca on their own patch for as long as Schalke have and not score because they are always liable to pot one out of nothing. Which they just have. Athankyou.
A nice combo down the left from Asamoah and Westermann but the former's cross is blocked by he of the pencil-thin-facial-hair-arrangement, Zambrotta.
Ref Rosetti tells Thuram and Altintop to calm down after a bit of handbags.
Great defending by Krstajic as Eto'o looked to amble into the area.
Schalke won't want half time to arrive here. Rijkaard is already preparing his rockets.
My word, Neuer's got a bit of a throw on him! He's lobbed one over half way down the pitch. Fair enough it was nowehere near any of his players, but impressive nonetheless.
Schalke's fans are getting the ole's out here after a sustained period of possession for their side. That will not impress the home supporters.
Henry is getting gingerly to his feet. It was Krstajic in fact, who stood on his foot after winning the ball.
Yaya Toure looked for a one-two with Henry there but Bordon nipped in. A good tackle.
Valdes is shaking his head at Thuram after the French centre half gave him a rank back pass. The keeper clears it quick smart but hands Schalke a throw in by thr corner flag.
Baraca have wrested a modicum of control from Schalke in the last five minutes. Will the Germans come to rue those early missed chances? Yes, is my considered response.
Back in Barcelona Henry has won a free kick on the left. Xavi is over it ... and his shot is rubbish. Oh for a fit Ronaldinho.
Now Puyol is down after tangling with Asamoah. It looked nasty, and was completely unecessary as Abidal got in a muddle with Valdes before the ball sprung loose.
A nicely worked free kick saw Xavi square it to Bojan, who should have hit it first time, and the young striker controls and shuffles before getting a shot off, but it is right at Neuer.
Fabian Ernst has got a yellow too, for a late tackle on Xavi just as he released Bojan.
Oh dear. Westermann has cleaned Bojan up there. A deserved yellow card for the Schalke left back. Free kick on the edge of the box, out on the right wing.
Then ref Rosetti denies Xavi a blatant foul and but for Abidal's tackle on Altintop, Schalke could have been in on goal. It's getting a bit tasty inside the Camp Nou all of a sudden.
Bojan does his imploring teen look after a little nudge from Jones and ref Roberto Rosetti gives him a free kick ... which comes to nowt.
Rijkaard is frantically waving his arms, as if he was stage dancing at Boujis nightclub, as he tries to imaprt to his floundering side how to counter Schalke's dynamic 4-3-3 formation.
How have Schalke not scored?! Jones sweeps in a ball and somehow neither Asamoah - with his head - or Kuranyi - with his left boot - can tap into the gaping net. Astonishing!
Another excellent break from the German side,; Asamoah finds Jones, who cuts in and hits one just wide. One has a feeling that Schalke need to score in this purple patch of theirs.
Kuranyi got his head to the deep corner but couldn't get enough power on the ball to direct it goalwards.
An important challenege from Bordon robs Henry inide the area then Schalke break and win a corner.
Jermaine Jones is having a big impact on this game - as is his central midfield partner Fabian Ernst - and the Catalans can't get a grip in midfield at all yet.
More decent build up play from Schalke but Altintop's cross is too near Valdes. They've been by far the better side so far though.
What a chance for Kiranyi! Rafinha floated in a superb ball and the striker got in between two Barca defenders but couldn't direct it on target. He's got a nasty bump on his bonce for his trouble too.
That should calm Barca's nerves a little. It was a lovely break from Iniesta and a cracking ball for Xavi, who had ghosted into the penalty area.
Super save from Neuer! Xavi was clean through after an excellent ball from Iniesta but the German keeper stayed down low and palmed it behind for a corner.
A couple of bitty fouls bring a lull to proceedings as Barca try to regroup a little.
The German fans up in the gods of the stadium can be heard and why not? Their team has started with real purpose.
A great burst down the left from Jones; bustling past Abidal then piling into Thuram and winning a corner. Super stuff.
Now Ernst fires in a shot and Valdes needs two attempts to save! He got a strong hand to the low shot intitally, then palmed it away from danger as it looped towards the goal-line! Barca are wobbling a little here.
Its been a decent start to the game and Schalke are holding their own. Jermaine Jones is found inside the area as Barca looked a little stretched but his curled effort was awful.
Another shot comes in from Barca - they broke clear after a Schalke attack faltered - and although he had plenty of options Eto's had a punt from 25 yards, which did not amuse Bojan or Henry, seeing as it went well wide.
Schalke's second effort is a better one; Asamoah cut inside and let rip and although it was travelling, Valdes could watch it go behind for a goal kick.
Then at the other end Eto'o charges into the box from the left wing and a session of pinball ensues after his cross. Eventually Iniesta smashes one goalwards but it flies well wide.
First effort on goal comes in from Schalke's Jermaine Jones but it lacks the power to trouble Victor Valdes in Barca's net.
My word, the Nou Camp really does look spectacular when it is full to the brim with 90,000 people. Stunning.
We're off...
Schalke's three-pronged attack contains Kevin Kuranyi, Greald Asamoah and Halil Altintop - one which smells a little bit like goals. They have to be careful not to get too carried away early on though, a swift Barca goal could be fatal. Here come the teams....
Messi and Ronaldinho are still missing for Barca, but with Henry, Eto'o and Bojan all starting they won't lack firepower. Having said that, they did only manage a 0-0 draw at home to Getafe on Sunday, which prompted the Camp Nou faithful to dust off their snotty white hankies and wave them firmly in the direction of under-fire coach Frank Rijkaard.
..don't fret though, because things are still in the balance. Schalke's much improved second half dislpay in Gelsenkirchen will give them the kind of confidence needed to wander into a buzzing stadium full of 90,000 vociferous fans, score a couple of goals and swagger back from whence they came with a semi-final place tucked firmly down their shorts.
So, but for a Manuel Neuer fumble in the first leg we'd be heading into tonight's match delicately poised at 0-0. But Neuer, reportedly a target for Arsenal, spilled a tame Thierry Henry shot, allowing the French forward to square for Bojan to net a vital away goal for the Catalans. However...
And our German visitors: Neuer, Westermann, Rafinha, Bordon, Krstajic, Kunert, Ernst, Kobiashvili, Jones, Asamoah and Altintop. Schalke subs from: Schober, Streit, Larsen, Grossmuller, Howedes, Pander and Sanchez.
Musings shortly but first, who is playing I hear you cry. Well, let me inform you, starting with the hosts: Valdes, Puyol, Thuram, Zambrotta, Abidal, Iniesta, Toure Yaya, Xavi, Henry, Eto'o and Bojan. Barca subs from: Pinto, Milito, Marquez, Gudjohnsen, Edmilson, Sylvinho and Giovanni.
Good evening one and all, Chris Murphy here at Soccernet's highly-sophisticated, technologically savvy Champions League hubport; all pumped up and ready to bring you every single minute of Barcelona's quarter-final with Schalke 04 from the Camp Nou.