Round of 32: Barcelona - Schalke Preview
Slomka banking on away goal at Espanyol
FC Schalke 04 take a one-goal lead into their second-leg UEFA Cup tie at Espanyol on Thursday evening (2145 CET). At the pre-match media conference head coach Mirko Slomka analysed the situation ahead of the game and gave an insight into the team he intends to select. A team that, incidentally, will have the support of at least 2,000 travelling fans inside the Olimpico de Montjuic stadium.
In winning 2-1 at Hertha BSC Berlin the Royal Blues showed that they can be very successful away from home. And Slomka is inclined to go with the side that played on Saturday. "I'm assuming nothing will happen in the final training session on Wednesday. So it may well be that the team is similar to the one in Berlin." That would mean a place for Gerald Asamoah. "He's played his way back into the side, having shown great determination and capping a fine performance in Berlin with a goal", said Slomka. "That's how we want him to play tomorrow."
The Catalonians will no doubt prefer to forget the events of the weekend, when they went down 4-0 at Villarreal. "We'll see a very different Espanyol on Thursday, though", said Slomka. "They're a very good Spanish outfit, as they proved at our place." The home side are likely to be without injured star striker Raul Tamudo (hamstring), however, though Ivan de la Pena, who was rested at Villarreal on Saturday, is set to return.
After taking the lead in the first leg Espanyol attempted to knock Schalke off their stride with all manner of antics - such as delaying free-kicks, taking a long time to treat injuries and wasting time - which on occasions led to ructions on the pitch. "I think the game will get off to a quiet start because Espanyol will adopt a cautious approach. But it may well be that they take a tougher line again", said Slomka. Should this be the case, the 38-year-old knows exactly how he wants his players to respond: "We need to concentrate on our own game and make sure we don't get involved in any discussions."
The position going into the game is clear. Schalke's European campaign will be over for another season if they lose 1-0 or by two clear goals. If the score is 2-1 to Espanyol after 90 minutes there will be extra time, and if no further goals are scored the game will go to penalties. The Royal Blues won't want things to go that far. "We're strong enough away from home to score in Barcelona", stressed Slomka. "When Hertha equalised in Berlin the players pushed for a second and got it. So I'm not overly worried about the prospect of playing Espanyol."
It will be Schalke's fourth match in twelve days. And the fifth will follow just 40 hours later, when the Royal Blues take on 1. FC Nürnberg at the VELTINS Arena. Yet Slomka remains relaxed despite the busy schedule. "We're well prepared for it. With the pitches being so heavy in Germany at the moment it's obviously very draining. But here in Barcelona the conditions will be good."
