Soccer-Shaky Barca need to raise their game for United challenge

By Simon Baskett

BARCELONA, April 10 (Reuters) - Barcelona should be celebrating the prospect of a Champions League semi-final with Manchester United but their performances against Schalke have done little to lift the atmosphere of gloom at the club.

The Catalans had hoped a return to European competition would inspire them to raise their game, but their laboured displays against the Germans provided confirmation they are a mere shadow of the side that won the competition in 2006.

Off the field tension has done little to help the side's cause, with incessant speculation surrounding the future of high-profile players and the names of possible new coaches filling the pages of the local media.

Given the circumstances it was understandable that Barcelona struggled and appropriate that Wednesday's 1-0 win was decided by a bizarre goal coming from the unlikely figure of Yaya Toure.

The Germans had Barca on the ropes in the first half but their victory hopes ended when the Ivory Coast midfielder scuffed the ball in from close range after a Bojan Krkic cross had ballooned off a defender and been headed off the line.

Krkic's performances provided one of the few highlights of the two games and Frank Rijkaard's decision to take off the 17-year-old instead of the anonymous Thierry Henry midway through the second half was greeted with jeers by the Nou Camp faithful.

That reaction reflected the growing opinion amongst Barca fans that many of the club's more experienced players are past their best and that their only hope of defeating United lies in relying on hungry youngsters like Krkic and Lionel Messi.

Under fire club president Joan Laporta did his best to dispel the gloom with an upbeat assessment of his team's prospects.