Barcelona vs Shakhtar Donetsk review

Widely heralded as one of the most gifted footballers on the planet, playing for the "best [team] in the world", FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi could be forgiven for feeling the heat.

Throw in a dry spell by his exceptional standards – four games without a goal – and Messi might have sensed a weight on his shoulders when he addressed the assembled media ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg against FC Shakhtar Donetsk. The Argentina forward, striving to add to his 45 club goals this season – just two shy of Ronaldo's 1996/97 record – was a model of calm, however.

"I don't think we feel under pressure at this stage," he said. "I don't know what result would be good. We want to play a good match and win. The return leg depends on tomorrow's game but the important thing is to win. We never think of drawing matches because we always play to win. The fans are always there for us, especially in the Champions League, so I know they won't fail.

""I am not worried about not scoring recently. I hope I can score tomorrow to help the team and carry on scoring, but it isn't something that worries me". If I can score, fine. If not, it's OK. I'm not worried, but it would be a great record to have if I could overtake Ronaldo".

Convinced that the attacking verve instilled by Josep Guardiola ensures Barça are "well liked everywhere" and equally well set to face Shakhtar, Messi is nevertheless not taking victory for granted. The Azulgrana were, after all, beaten 3-2 at home by Mircea Lucescu's team in the 2008/09 group stage and were five minutes from being taken to penalties by them in the 2009 UEFA Super Cup before Pedro Rodríguez struck.

"They play good football, they have great players and we have faced them several times," Messi added. ""It'll be a very even match as usual against Shakhtar. I hope we can gain an advantage to feel more relaxed over there" [in the second leg]. I know they are strong; they produce good performances like in the Super Cup.

"We know it'll be difficult. They have very good players, lots of Brazilian players who play good football. It's a team that has a nice style. We know how to attack and we don't have a strategy. We know them, but we can't let them play."



INILAH.COM, Jakarta - Barcelona akan menjamu Shaktar Donetsk di leg pertama perempatfinal Liga Champions di Nou Camp, Kamis (7/4/2011) dinihari WIB nanti. Shakhtar bisa menjadi David yang sanggup menumbangkan si Goliath Barcelona.

Setelah menjalani duel sengit melawan Arsenal pada babak 16 besar lalu, kini Barcelona dapat sedikit bernapas lega. Shakhtar Donetsk yang akan menjadi lawan mereka di fase perempatfinal ini tergolong tim underdog.

Terlebih mereka akan berlaga di hadapan suporter fanatiknya yang dipastikan akan memadati seluruh Stadion Nou Camp. Selain karena faktor suporter, pelatih Pep Guardiola juga mendapat kabar gembira seputar pemain andalannya, Lionel Messi.

Menurut laporan terakhir penyerang bertubuh mungil itu telah pulih dari cedera yang sempat menimpanya saat berlatih bersama timnas Argentina menjelang laga ujicoba lalu.

Dengan pulihnya Messi, maka dipastikan Pep akan menurunkan duo mesin golnya Messi-Villa di lini depan.

Meski demikian, Pep patut waspada karena calon lawannya itu tidak dapat dianggap sebelah mata.

Keganasan tim tamu asal Ukraina itu saat menggilas raksasa Italia AS Roma dengan skor agregat 6-2 di babak 16 besar lalu menjadi catatan penting yang perlu diwaspadai La Blaugranna.

Untuk itu Guardiola jangan sampai terbuai dengan predikat favorit juara agar tidak terjerembab di lubang kekalahan seperti yang dialami I Nerazzuri. [nic]


Barcelona Barcelona 20:45 Shakhtar Donetsk Shakhtar Donetsk