PREVIEW-Barca call for fans' support ahead of Schalke showdown

By Simon Baskett

MADRID, April 8 (Reuters) - Barcelona are calling for their supporters to rally round the team for their Champions League quarter-final decider at home to Schalke 04 on Wednesday following weekend protests at their recent performances.

Barca won the first leg 1-0 in Germany last week with a Bojan Krkic goal but they have won just one of their last six league games.

They were given the white handkerchief treatment at the end of Sunday's 0-0 draw at home to Getafe, while several hundred fans staged a demonstration to voice their discontent with the president, players and coach Frank Rijkaard.

"This team needs support if it is to pick itself up," Rijkaard said after the game. "I've never got carried away when things are going well and I don't like seeing everything as being negative either.

"The protests are disappointing and they hurt, but the team have to be congratulated because they always try hard. We need everyone to back them because they are the heart of this club."

The draw against Getafe provided yet another blow to Barca's title aspirations and the Catalans remain seven points adrift of leaders Real Madrid with seven games left to play.

But striker Samuel Eto'o remains upbeat about Barca's chances of ending the season with some silverware.

"We've failed to take a lot of opportunities to close on Real but I still believe we can win the league and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League," he said.