Schalke starstruck over Barça tie

Spanish trend
Schalke are making their debut in the last eight of the modern UEFA Champions League, having reached the same stage of the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1958/59, losing 4-1 on aggregate to another Spanish side, Club Atlético de Madrid. The 1992 European champions provide the opposition this time around and Slomka is looking forward to the challenge.

Superstars
"Barcelona is a super draw for the club and for the team," said the coach, whose charges host Barcelona on 1 April before playing the away leg at Camp Nou eight days later. "Of course, it is an excellent match for our fans too because every Barcelona player is a superstar. But with the supporters behind us, we are capable of playing a very good game and getting a result to take to the return in Barcelona."

Dream ticket
The 1996/97 UEFA Cup winners' chief executive Peter Peters is no less enthused, saying: "The first knockout round tie against FC Porto was already a milestone for us, but a showdown with Barcelona is an absolute dream. In terms of image and reputation, for me Barcelona are European football icons – even more so than Real Madrid. The club and our many supporters have always wanted to play against such a top team and now we cannot wait to make this dream a reality."

Past experience
Schalke have played 14 games against Primera División teams in UEFA competition, winning five, drawing four and losing five, with two of those matches coming in this season's group stage – they lost 1-0 at home to Valencia CF then drew 0-0 in Spain. Barcelona have tackled German opponents on 43 occasions, with 23 victories, nine draws and eleven defeats.

Cautious note
However, Barcelona sporting director Aitor 'Txiki' Beguiristain will take no comfort from those statistics. "We have to be careful about people's attitude to this tie," he said. "However, Schalke are possibly one of the teams you would prefer to face at this stage, and the important thing is that we play the return leg at home which is a real positive for us. We have to be serious because only the great teams reach the quarter-finals."

Thuram cautious
Defender Lilian Thuram is also wary of over-confidence, saying: "If Schalke have come this far, it means they are a good side. The easy thing would be to say that Barcelona have done well in the draw. But it is dangerous to say you've been drawn against weaker opposition. We have two matches to get through to the semi-finals and we have to stay really focused."