08.04.2008 10:45
Did you know...
www.fcbarcelona.cat
Barça and Schalke 04 have never played each other before in a European competition. However, the two sides have come face to face on other occasions.
Schalke played in the Joan Gamper Trophy in 1970 and 1977. However, the Gelsenkirchen outfit has
never played an official match at the Camp Nou.
History is on Barça’s side: on 34 occasions they have played the return leg at home
after winning away and have only been knocked out twice, against Cologne in 1980/81 and Metz in
1984/85.
By contrast Schalke 04 had never previously lost the first leg at home in a European
competition.
Barça has faced German opposition 13 times in European knock-out rounds, winning nine and
losing four.
Chelsea’s defeat away at Fenerbahce in the first leg of their quarter final tie (2-1)
means that Barça and Manchester United are the only two unbeaten teams in the Champions League.
It is almost four months since a German side last visited the Camp Nou. On 12 December 2007
Barça beat Stuttgart
3-1
.
Carles Puyol, Gaby Milito, Rafa Márquez, Touré
Yaya and Leo Messi are one yellow card away from being suspended for one game. Five Schalke players
are in the same boat: Kuranyi, Bordon, Rafinha, Grossmüller and Fabian Ernst.
Jermaine Jones is back after missing the first leg through suspension. The German midfielder
has received more yellow cards than any other player in the Champions League at five.
Xavi has played the most games for Barça in the European Cup; if Frank Rijkaard picks him it
will be his 78th. Close behind him comes Puyol who has played only one match fewer.
Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo is now the competition’s top goalscorer
this season ahead of Leo Messi. The Portuguese has netted seven times while the Argentinean has six
to his name.
Barça have made 68 goal attempts so far in this campaign’s Champions League, more than
any other side.