Barcelona - Schalke

Yaya Toure 1-0 ( Download )

Highlights


Barcelona Survived pressure from Schalke

The Ivory Coast midfielder rolled in the winning strike on the night and eased the tension that would have built had the Blaugrana not made the breakthrough.

Schalke arrived looking to score before the break and dominated for long periods in the opening half and certainly had enough chances to draw level on aggregate.

Nerves were on edge at Barça as the home side were not sure what reaction any mistakes would bring from the home crowd, but Frank Rijkaard's call for unity had been heeded and the fans backed their team at the start.

It was juts as well as Schalke showed no signs of being overawed by the occasion and slowly began to look the team more likely to score as they created several very good chances.

Bojan Krkic did have the first chance of the night when he volleyed over, before Gerald Asamoah fired wide at the other end in what proved to be a very attacking game.

Eto'o shot off target at one end before Kevin Kuranyi and Halil Altintop looked to test Víctor Valdés and were frustrated as the Catalan keeper ensured they did not score.

Two of the best chances of the half then came within moments of each other first Andrés Iniesta found Xavi with superb pass and the midfielder looked certain to score after brekaing into the area, but Manuel Neuer denied him from close range.

Then Kuranyi met a cross from the right wing but could only nod wide before clashing heads with Gianluca Zambrotta which left both men dazed and requiring treatment.

Jermaine Jones' low drive went just wide and Asamoah and Kuranyi just failed to connected with a centre the German side reached their prime and still failed to find an opening.

Having failed to convert any of their forward play into goals, the visitors paid the price two minutes before the break as they went behind on the night and fell further behind on aggregate.

Bojan's cross from the right was deflected up and onto the top of his own crossbar by Marcelo Borbon and Touré was in the right place to meet the ball as it came down and roll it under the keeper.

The goal gave Barcelona confidence and the second period was a very different story as the hosts began to show some of the form for which they are known under Rijkaard.

Thierry Henry was the first to spurn a chance as he fired over from Bojan's cut-back, before Neuer did very well to tip Iniesta's low shot wide of the post.

Schalke showed that they were not giving up just yet as Grossmüller and Altintop went close with the first lifting a free-kick over the bar and the latter aiming straight at Valdés.

Barça's passing game was in full flow just after the hour mark when Xavi and Toure both warmed Neuer's gloves in what were the home team's last clear chances of the half.

After Bojan had been taken off with the fans letting their objection to his withdrawal known, Henry received a few whistles from supporters that evidently felt the Frenchman should have made way for Giovani Dos Santos.

The victory should give Barça a lift, but they will have to be at their best in the next round as they will face Manchester United for a place in the final.