Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg: Barcelona vs. Schalke 04

Barcelona president Joan Laporta received his first ‘pañolada’ on Sunday evening. A pañolada in Spain is when the home fans at the game wave white handkerchiefs in the air to show their disapproval. To be fair, Barcelona didn’t play that badly in the goalless draw at home to Getafe, and were unlucky not to score, hitting the post three times. Getafe however, still on a cloud after drawing in Germany against Bayern in the UEFA cup, didn’t show Barcelona any respect at all and could also have taken the game.

Barcelona must now turn their attention to the Champions League where they have to defend their one goal to nil advantage over Schalke 04. In theory Barcelona have everything in their favor; they are playing in front of their own fans at the Nou Camp stadium, they have an away goal from the first leg, and Schalke 04 aren’t really a team to fear. Or are they?

Barcelona are in the midst of a crisis at the moment, even if the results aren’t that bad. Ronaldinho seems to have played his last game for the Catalan giants, as the club doctors have now stated he is indeed injured and will be out for what is left of the season. Strange that only a week ago they were saying there was nothing wrong with him. The club is still waiting for Leo Messi to reappear as well. They were not at all happy when the Argentinean announced that he would be recuperating in his native country instead of staying in Barcelona,  and another player, Thierry Henry, doesn’t know if he is injured or not. Many people are saying the ex-Arsenal legend was a waste of money and that the London club knew only too well his physical problems.

The main problem though, and this is what is angering many Barca fans, is the lack of fight in the team. Many can’t believe that their team can throw away a two goal lead and lose to a side like Betis who are struggling to maintain their category. Coach Frank Rijkaard needs to make sure his players do everything in this match or we will see a lot more ‘pañoladas’.

Schalke 04 meanwhile travel to the Nou Camp knowing what an uphill task lies before them but also with morale high as they are now second in the Bundesliga after beating Rostock at the weekend. Jermaine Jones gets back into the lineup after serving a one match ban in the first leg, but Ze Roberto will miss the game with a torn thigh muscle.

Barcelona need to be careful of Gabi Milito, Charles Puyol, Rafa Marquez and Yaya Touré. All four players are one yellow card away from a one match ban, so if they do make it past Schalke 04 they will need to be very careful.

I am going to have to go for Barcelona making it through to the semi finals here. For Schalke 04 to score two goals and win is a bit unlikely, unless something very odd happens. They played very well in the first leg and were unlucky not to score, and that is where they let themselves down.

Prediction: Home win (1-0)

Champions league quarter final first leg: Schalke 04 vs. Barcelona

Schalke go into this match on a five game unbeaten run since losing the Bundesliga game with Bayern Munich at the start of March. Last weekend they drew away to Karlsruhe in a match that ended goalless, but still retain the third spot in their league due to Leverkusen losing away to Frankfurt.

This match could very well be the upset of the Champions League quarter final first leg games as Barcelona are very much favorites but have been having a hell of a time recently. At the weekend they threw away a two goal lead to allow Betis back into the game. Betis then went on to win the encounter by scoring three goals in the worst second half for Barca in living memory. The way the whole team just fell apart (or fell asleep) must be very worrying for the board of directors, most of them wanting coach Frank Rijkaard’s head on a plate. The Dutch manager will definitely be looking for a new job next season, and it remains to be seen if he can finish this one with any silverware. Their chances of winning La Liga are looking slimmer and slimmer after each game, and they have now slipped to third in the table behind Villarreal, who won a very important victory over fourth placed Atlético Madrid.

Another big headache for the Catalan giants is what to do with Brazilian star Ronaldhino. He didn’t even make the list for the Betis game, even though he now claims to be fully fit. Insiders in Spain say that he will never pull on the Barca shirt again this season and he will certainly be sold off in the summer. The problem is finding a club who are willing to pay for his enormous salary.

Schalke 04 by contrast are having a great season. They are third in the Bundesliga and have qualified for the quarter final of the Champions League for the first time. A lot of their success can be given a name: Manuel Neuer. This young goalkeeper has exploded onto the European scene and will surely get bigger and bigger as he gets older. He stopped two penalties in the shoot out between Porto in the last round, and was a major reason why Schalke 04 are still in the competition.

Barcelona meanwhile can rely on the presence of Rafael Martinez and Gabi Milito again, after both defenders have been given the all clear after injury. This is good news for Barca fans as their defense has been absolutely terrible of late, and the team has conceded eleven goals in the last five matches. The bad news is that Samuel Eto’o will have to make a late fitness test to see if he is able to play after picking up a thigh strain in the Betis game.

I’m going for a shock home win here. Barcelona are in crisis at the moment and I don’t see it ending any time soon. They have the second leg at the Nou Camp stadium though, and will probably feel this will be enough to get through to the semi finals.

Prediction: Home win (2-1)

Champions league: Real Madrid vs. Roma

It is going to be interesting to see how Roma go into this match. They won the first leg of this Champions League tie at their stadium in Rome by two goals to one, but traveling to the Bernabeu will prove a much tougher task for the Italian side.

Real Madrid go into this match knowing that they need to score at least once. At the weekend they won three very important points away to Recreativo de Huelva, and are now five points clear at the top of La Liga. They had more problems than predicted to overcome struggling Recreativo, and it was Brazilian sensation Robinho that proved the key ingredient. He came on in the second half and scored two vital goals for the Meringues, his first just thirty seconds after he had entered the field of play. Robinho had missed the last three matches which curiously all ended in defeats for Real Madrid, including the first leg tie against Roma. Coach Bernd Schuster will also be able to count on Portuguese defender Pepe (a wall with legs) and Guti is back after missing the Recreativo game, but it isn’t all good news for the German coach. He has some very important absentees for this match. Van Nistelrooy is still out through injury and wasn’t able to recuperate on time. Also out is Sergio Ramos through suspension which will be a great blow for Real Madrid. Robben will be unable to play for a month due to an ankle injury he picked up after an awful challenge in the Recreativo game, while Christoph Metzelder, Javier Saviola and Wesley Sneijder all have longer recovery times.

For Roma this game could not really come at a better time. They are still second in the Serie A of the Italian league, and have been able to cut the lead between leaders Inter to six points. The weekend saw them crush Parma by four goals to one at home and now they travel to the Bernabeu stadium with an almost full squad. The only injury is to defender Marco Cassettia, but this could prove costly. I imagine seeing Real Madrid going for all out attack from the first minute before Roma have had time to settle into the game, and with Gago and Diarra in midfield ready to lay off the ball to Guti to pick out either Raul or Robinho, the goals will come.

I’m going for a Real Madrid victory here. With the Bernabeu full to the rafters and the fans playing their part, I doubt if Roma will be able to hold out for the full ninety minutes without conceding at least one goal.

Prediction: Home win (2-0)  

Champions league: Sevilla vs. Fenerbahce

Sevilla play hosts to Fenerbahce on Tuesday evening in this second leg of the Champions League tie. They need to turn around a three goal to two deficit they picked up in the first leg in Turkey, so will have to be on top form here. Morale is high in the Spanish camp though, despite a surprise defeat away to struggling Deportivo de la Coruña at the weekend.

The defeat in Riazor means they missed their chance to end the week in a UEFA cup spot, but this shouldn’t really concern them too much as they are now five points from a Champions League place which is Sevilla’s main aim this season. If you take into account their disastrous start to the season, with the death of one of their most loved players (Antonio Puerta) Sevilla can be quite pleased with themselves.

Fenerbahce will be without the experience of Roberto Carlos in this match due to a leg injury he picked up in the first leg. This could be a deciding factor as Sevilla’s artillery will be set to attack the Turkish goal from the first minute and won’t let up for the ninety minutes. I think goals in this match are a dead cert, but Sevilla will really have to be careful of Fenerbahce’s counterattack. The Brazilian Luis Fabiano is really in form at the moment and is getting most of Sevilla’s goals. He is the current top scorer of La Liga and I would bet on him getting at least one here.

Since the first leg game Fenerbahce have played three matches and have not been able to get a win in any of them. They lost in their domestic cup competition away to Galatasaray, and in the league have lost one game and drawn the other.

I’m going for a Sevilla win here. They only need to score one goal and keep a clean sheet to go through, but I think we’ll see more than one goal here. Sevilla at home are a force to be reckoned with, and if they can go to Turkey and get two, then it should be more than possible for them to get two more at the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.

Prediction: Home win (3-1)

Champions league: Barcelona vs. Celtic Glasgow

This shouldn’t be too big a problem for Barcelona to qualify for the last eight of the present edition of the Champions League. They beat Celtic Glasgow by three goals to two in the first leg at Celtic Park, so the Scottish club has to travel to the Nou Camp and score at least two goals while keeping Ronaldinho, Messi, Henry and Eto’o at bay. No easy task then, for the men from Glasgow.

However, the Scotts will find a bit of hope after having watched Barcelona’s first league defeat in eight games against Atlético Madrid at the weekend. Madrid’s second team went against all the predictions and won it by four goals to two. This was after coming back from behind after Barca’s Brazilian star Ronaldinho put the Catalan club in front with a marvelous scissor-shot. (Look for it on the net as it is well worth it). Normally Atlético would have folded, especially as their form has been well off of late. However, they didn’t fold at all turned the game completely around as Forlan, Maxi Rodriguez and Agüero (twice) all got on the score sheet. Barcelona were able to pull one back through Eto’o but it was too little too late. Barcelona will be kicking themselves for allowing Atlético so much space and time on the ball which is something they mustn’t let Celtic have. They were just two points from leaders and arch rivals Real Madrid before this game, but must now face an uphill task as they are now five points adrift after Real’s win against Recreativo.

For Celtic Glasgow the weekend was quite different. They beat Hibernian by two goals to two away from home and maintain a four point gap between the leaders Rangers. The good news is that Scot Brown will be eligible to play after serving a one match suspension in the first leg.

The last two occasions when Celtic played at the Nou Camp stadium the games ended in draws, and I can see this happening for a third time. Barcelona’s Leo Messi is set to start the game on the bench, first because coach Frank Rijkaard wants to rest him, but also because the Argentinean is one yellow card away from a one match ban.

I’m going for the draw here. Barcelona will want to put this game to bed as soon as possible, but Celtic will come for a fight and make life very difficult for the Spaniards.

Prediction: Draw (1-1)

Champions league: Fenerbahce vs. Sevilla

Turkish multimillionaire Aziz Yildirim has created in Fenerbahce a team worthy of taking the reins from Galatasaray and has made history as this is the first time Fenerbahce have qualified for the knock out stage of the Champions League. Their coach is the legendary Brazilian midfielder Zico, who has been allowed to do things his way and the side is fast becoming one to be feared by their opponents.

Sevilla travel to Turkey hoping to book a place in the last eight of the competition, but they will have to brave a hostile environment and some very good players if they want a good result here. The Spanish side will encounter some familiar faces, too. Roberto Carlos, who played for Real Madrid for ten years, seems to be having a great time of it in Turkey, and ex-Atlético Madrid striker Kezman is also getting minutes. The real star of the team though, is Brazilian Alex. He’s in red hot form and should prove very difficult for Sevilla to stop.

The Spaniards will be without central defender Javi Navarro and also the Uruguayan striker Ernesto Chevantón, who was operated this week. The good news is that both Adriano and Keita are back from their one match suspension and will be available for this clash.

I’m going for a home victory in this first leg. Fenerbahce will be too strong I think for this Sevilla side that is always difficult to tell how they will play. Their terrible away record in the Spanish domestic league got a little better at the weekend with a solid four – two win over Espanyol, although the home side is now struggling to maintain their hold on the European spot. With that win Sevilla went up to sixth in La Liga and are now in a UEFA cup spot, but they will not be content with anything except finishing in the top four.  My money is on Fenerbahce then, but the tie won’t be settled in Turkey but in the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in the return match.

Prediction: Home win (2-1)

Champions league: Celtic vs. Barcelona

Celtic Glasgow have an uphill task if they want to defeat the mighty Barcelona and advance to the next round. Despite getting eight wins form the last eight games, they must be very aware of the fact that they are not the favorites to go through, and aren’t even favorites to take the win on their home soil. The Scottish side is currently second in the league and four points behind leaders and arch rivals Rangers. Manager Gordon Strachan has a young side who are looking for European glory. If they are capable of reproducing their league form in the Champions League they might have the possibility of pulling off an historic victory. Celtic have scored thirteen times in their last three games and if they want to put any goals past in form Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes they will need to be at the top of their game.

Barcelona meanwhile pulled off an important league victory at the weekend to narrow the gap between leaders Real Madrid to five points. Their two – one away win at Zaragoza though was over shadowed by bad refereeing decisions and neither of their goals should have counted. Thierry Henry clearly handled the ball to control it in the first goal and the winner came from an inexistent penalty. The Catalan side have now gone twelve games without losing, though six of those matches ended in draws. They will also be paying a lot of attention to AC Milan’s last match at the Celtic Park stadium, where the Italian giants were dramatically beaten by two goals to one.    

In team news Samuel Eto’o should make a reappearance in this match after his African cup duty. He arrived back in Barcelona with a small injury and coach Frank Rijkaard decided to leave him out of the Zaragoza game. Leo Messi and Yaya Touré need to be careful with the yellow cards as they are both just one short of a suspension, but if this first leg is going well they might try to provoke the referee into giving them one in order to sit out the second game at the Nou Camp.

Celtic’s Scott Brown will definitely miss this clash as he has already seen three yellow cards and he will be an important absentee for the Scottish outfit.

Celtic’s great win over AC Milan was one for the history books and I doubt whether they will be able to pull it off again here. I’m going for a narrow Barcelona win, who will probably do as little as possible, knowing that in the return game in Spain they will have all the advantage.

Prediction: Away win (0-2)

Champions league: Roma vs. Real Madrid

The Champions League makes a welcome return this week and there are some mouth-watering games on offer. Roma play hosts to Real Madrid in a first leg tie that is completely up in the air. Real Madrid are showing signs of weakness when they play away from their Bernabeu stadium and lost by two goals to one at struggling Betis at the weekend. Bernd Schuster’s men only have themselves to blame, though. Drenthe scored the opener after just seven minutes and Madrid’s dominance was total for the first thirty minutes but them seemed to fall sleep, allowing Betis to turn the game around with two goals in four minutes. Madrid still have a five point lead at the top of La Liga, but maybe this is leading them into a false sense of security. They are treating away games with a blatant lack of compromise as they are under the (false) impression that they can resolve everything at home. This may be the case here against Roma as well. Madrid won’t be too upset if they were to lose this match, as long as they get on the score sheet.

Roma meanwhile are doing very well in the Serie A and are in second place, with a huge eleven point gap between leaders Inter. They have only lost three league games all season, but two of those have come in February, including a one nil away defeat at the hands of Juventus at the weekend. More importantly though is the fact that Roma haven’t conceded a goal at their Olímpico stadium since the one – one draw against Manchester United at the beginning of December.

Madrid will be without some key players in this first leg. Central defender Pepe is still side lined with a calf strain, and Robinho, Wesley Sneijder and Marcelo will also be absent. Roma on the other hand have an almost fully fit squad for coach Luciano Spalletti to choose from, with only Juan and Mirko Vučinić on the sidelines, although the latter may be fit enough for this clash.

Real Madrid have never lost in Italy against Roma, but curiously have only won one Champions League away game in nine attempts. I’m going for a narrow one – nil home victory here and I can see Madrid going through to the next round with a good win in the Bernabeu stadium.

Prediction: Home win (1-0)

Champions league: Group E: BARCELONA vs. STUTTGART

Although the outcome of this group E match won’t change the final standings of the teams involved, it will still give the two coaches the opportunity to rest some of the players and at the same time try out new ideas. Barcelona goes into this game having already won the group, and coach Frank Rijkaard will want to give his midfield and forward regulars a break. So I don’t expect to see Leo Messi on the pitch or for that matter Xavi Hernandez or Andres Iniesta. Also out through injury will be Thierry Henry and it is doubtful whether Ivory Coast midfielder Touré Yaya will make the fitness test in time. It is more likely that he will be left out to concentrate on getting 100% for the next league match. Samuel Eto’o and Deco both managed to play some part in the two one home win over Deportivo de la Coruña at the weekend, and will probably be given some minutes in this game too. Their next league match is away to Valencia and then at home to Real Madrid in the classic, so the next two matches could really make or break Barca’s season.

Stuttgart are bottom of the group and can’t even hope for a UEFA cup place. In the Bundesliga they aren’t having much of a season either, being stuck in eighth position and nine points behind leaders Bayern Munich. They will probably be glad to get this match over and done with so they can concentrate on winning a UEFA cup spot in next year’s competition. They also have just one more domestic league match to play before the Bundesliga ends for the winter break, so this might be a good time for coach Armin Veh to try out some new ideas or give some of the players who haven’t figured much a run out.

You really have to fancy Barcelona for this game. Even without the ‘fantastic four’, they will still have enough talent to easily wipe Stuttgart out of the way with another triumph. Rijkaard would be very wise to rest his best players though, as the next two games in Barca’s fixture list are much more important than this one.

Prediction: Home win (3-0)

Champions league: Group C: REAL MADRID vs. LAZIO

Real Madrid are flying at the moment. They come into this final group C match at the Bernabeu stadium as confident La Liga leaders, and at the weekend notched up their eleventh league win in fifteen league games with a very complete performance away to Athletic Bilbao. At home their results have been even more impressive. They have won their last fifteen games in front of their own fans and I can’t see Lazio doing much to change this. The Italian side needs a win and hope the other group match between Olympiacos and Bremen ends in a draw.

I can’t see Madrid throwing away this opportunity to qualify for the next round of the Champions League. They should really have secured passage in the last game away to Bremen, but their away form in the year’s competition has been a bit frustrating where they have only earned two points from a possible nine, including a two-two draw against the Italians. However, I doubt if Lazio have the fear power to win this match, especially when Madrid have Iker Casillas in goal. His form this season has been a key factor in Real Madrid’s return to form, pulling off some breath taking saves and helping maintain the team’s conceded goals to a minimum. But it doesn’t stop with Casillas; practically the whole squad has responded and is in their best moment of form, especially Pepe, Van Nistelroy and the ever present Raul, who is La Liga’s top scorer at the moment.

Lazio are having a scrappy season so far. They are twelfth in the Serie A league and seventeen points from leaders Inter after fourteen games, as well as being bottom of their Champions League group at the moment. I doubt very much whether Lazio has it in them to beat Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. The Spanish club’s home form has been astounding and they should win with ease.

Prediction: Home win (3-1)

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