Barcelona vs Guangzhou Evergrande – FIFA Club World Cup – Preview

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Sreya

FC Barcelona have travelled to Japan to face Guangzhou Evergrande in the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup, a competition contested by the premier football clubs of each continent and the national champion of the host country.

Guangzhou, who are unbeaten in 28 games, are managed by ex-Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari and boast of quality international players like Robinho and Paulinho in their squad.

Neymar, who missed Barcelona’s last two matches with a groin injury, is unlikely to feature in the matchday squad, although the Brazilian has travelled to Japan.

“That time we won, everything looked unrepeatable. We weren’t sure if we’d get close to it again. And here we are. Now what’s left for us to do is end the year in the best possible way and make it unforgettable.

It’s one of my favourite competitions. It gives you the opportunity to round off the year in the best possible way. These titles are an indelible legacy in the history of the club. It’s something very important.”

– Lionel Messi, FC Barcelona.

River Plate, the champions of South America, who have come all the way from Argentina, meet Sanfrecce Hiroshima, champions of host nation Japan, in the other semi-final in Osaka on Wednesday. The final is set to be played on 20th December in Yokohama.

These two sides have never been head-2-head before and the nature of the competition promises intriguing premises during the match.

Although FC Barcelona are the favorites for the tie, Scolari’s tactics and the quality in the Guangzhou squad could make an interesting match-up between the champions of Europe and Asia.

“I have to dream and make the players believe that they can do it. Why not dream, why not believe we can beat Barcelona?”

– Luiz Felipe Scolari, Guangzhou Evergrande