Champions League: Schubert relishing Barcelona challenge

Schubert, who took charge of the Foals just over a year ago, penned a new deal that runs until 2019 on Tuesday. He's taken 65 points from his 34 Bundesliga games in charge but the 45-year-old acknowledged that few of those will have had anywhere near the significance of  the matchday 2 clash against the five-time European champions.

"With all the media hype surrounding it, you can tell this is a really special game," Schubert said shortly after the ink had dried on his new contract.

Schubert doesn't want his players to change their game despite the threat of their illustrious visitors and the groin injury that has ruled out Barcelona's 29-year-old talisman.

"The fact that Messi isn't playing won't change our tactical approach," he said. "We need to play to our strengths and try to limit our opponents. We have to play with confidence. We want to stay true to our style and be tactically clever."

The Argentinian's absence didn't hinder Barca too dramatically at the weekend. The Spanish champions hammered Sporting Gijon 5-0 with Luis Suarez and Neymar (2) both scoring. The 2015 Champions League winners were even able to rest Javier Mascherano, Jordi Alba, Ivan Rakitic and Andres Iniesta ahead of Wednesday's game.

Gladbach also warmed up with a weekend win, a comfortable 2-0 victory over Ingolstadt, but were themselves dispatched by Manchester City on matchday 1 in Group C, which Barcelona top after their 7-0 demolition of Celtic.

 One man who probably doesn't need to be told too much about his opponents is Barca goalkeeper Marc Andre ter Stegen. The German international started his career with the Foals before joining Barcelona in 2014.

"Borussia is my first love and that will always be the case. My farewell really was overwhelming," the 24-year-old said earlier this week.

"My return to Gladbach has definitely come sooner than expected, and I absolutely cannot wait for it."

While he had words of praise for his own goalkeeper, Yann Sommer, Schubert rates ter Stegen highly.

"Without a doubt, he's one of the best goalkeepers in the world right now," he said.

The German is expected to start for Luis Enrique's visitors, with Arda Turan likely to deputize for Messi. For the hosts, Tobias Strobl (thigh) and Alvaro Dominguez (back) will be absent but Schubert has no fresh injury concerns.

(AFP/AP)