Efficiency and solvency (0-1)

Barcelona secured a crucial away day victory in the Arena AufSchalke thanks to an early goal from Bojan Krkic. The visitors gained the upper hand to set themselves for the return leg next week where the semi finalists will be decided.

Unbeaten in Europe this season going into this encounter, Frank Rijkaard’s team were keen to put their recent defeat by Real Betis behind them and show that they have what it takes to take a step nearer to the Champions League final in Moscow in May. The hosts started slowly but grew in confidence after the break and were at their strongest in the final 15 minutes of the match. But Barça looked strong at the back as Gaby Milito returned to the team and they were able to keep Schalke out and record what could be a vital clean sheet with the second leg still to come.

Clear ideas

Barcelona arrived in Germany with one clear idea about what they had to do and how to go about it and their passing game in the opening half and for period after the break saw them dominate for the majority of the match. Thierry Henry and Bojan Krkic combined well, while Xavi and Andrés Iniesta controlled the midfield. Three of the tour players combined to create the only of the game after 11 minutes when Iniesta found Henry on the left of the area and after his initial shot was saved Manuel Neuer, the Frenchman rolled the rebound across the goal where Krkic prodded home from close range.

Record breaker

The goal made Krkic the second youngest player to ever score in the Champions League, behind Peter Ofori-Quaye, who will holds the record for his goal for Olympiacos around a decade ago. The Barça youngster edged out Catalan midfielder Cesc Fàbregas, who was a day older when he netted his first effort in the competition, and became the first player born in the 1990’s to score. With the lead secured, Barcelona settled down and looked to ensure that their opponents could not have much of the ball as they played it across the midfield. Heiko Westermann shot over just before the half-hour mark, while Samuel Eto'o sent a cross over that Krkic loked set to score for only for the impressive Marcelo Bordon to clip it past the post for a corner.

Calm start

It took Schalke over a minute to have a touch at the start of the second half as Barcelona dominated the ball with some sharp passing across the midfield. While the home fans were expectant of their team raising their game, the Blaugrana were able to settle back and defend while playing on the break. Iniesta took aim from distance midway through the half and Neuer did well to stop Gianluca Zambrotta’s cross from reaching Henry soon after.

Going close

In the final stages of the match, Schalke did finally begin to move closer to finding an equaliser. Westermann then shot off target as Schalke continued to dominate the chances while Barça sat back and looked to play on the break as Iniesta proved with his shot on the run after a surge towards the area. Fabian Ernst, Altintop and Pander all then had chances before substitute Soren Larsen wasted a glorious opportunity as a cross hit his head rather than he heading the ball and it bounced well off target. After Zambrotta had sent over a cross that Neuer did well to stop Henry reaching, Vicente Sánchez went close as Schalke ended the game with their best spell of the game. Bordon forced Valdés into a flying save as he met Rafinha's superb cross and Larsen then headed over moments before the referee blew the final whistle and gave Barça a crucial victory.


Preview


Welcome sign
The Veltins-Arena, which for Champions League purposes is named by its former name of the Arena AufSchalke due to the competition's marketing deal with another brand of beer, welcomes the players of both sides with words of encouragement to the home side. ‘Tausend Freunde, die zusammenstehn, dann wird der FC Schalke niemals untergehn' (‘A thousand friends stick together, and then FC Schalke will never let its arms drop').
Serious businessRoger Bogunyà (Enviat especial)

Tonight Barça (20.45, live on Antena 3 and Radio Barça) face Schalke in Gelsenkirchen in a crucial Champions League quarter final first leg encounter.

After going out of the cup and having a poor run in the league, Barça’s best chance of success this season is in Europe. Rijkaard’s side have marched into the last eight playing spectacular football and, more importantly, looking solid and efficient in gaining six wins, two draws and no defeats. Schalke, meanwhile, have one of the poorest records ever for a quarter finalist and will be hoping their modern stadium and vociferous home support can give them that little extra push as they seek to spring a surprise.

Márquez and Milito return

Barcelona will be looking to hold on to as much possession as they can, make sacrifices and, most of all, stay tight at the back. That latter aspect has been where things have been going most wrong of late for a Barça side that will wear orange tonight, like they did away to Rangers. Milito is back from a groin strain, Márquez is over his problems with his right foot, and that should add security to the away side’s back four.

Strength and skill

The two teams are likely to approach the game in different ways. The Germans will be looking to impose their physical superiority, with plenty of contact and balls in the air. Quite the opposite to Barça, who base their game around skills on the ball. The focus on natural talent worked wonders at Celtic Park, where the Scottish outfit relied on their physical might to overcome Barça, and failed miserably. But the Germans seem to have a more complete squad than Celtic and have been boosted by some good league form and have been looking forward to this game for weeks. This is a match where both sides will have to stick to a very definite game plan, and play to their individual strengths.

Great venue

The stadium has little Champions League tradition and has witnessed very few legendary European nights. But it is a state of the art venue where football is enjoyed in all of its raw purity. Schalke have one of the loudest sets of supporters in Europe, and this can only be further motivation for Barcelona. It is in stadiums like this where tournaments are won or lost, and the Veltins-Arena is set to be the stage for a remarkable game of football.