Wednesday, December 14, 2011

| by

0

15.12. (Thu) 11:30 Al Sadd - Barcelona

Clasico : Real Madrid - Barcelona
Clasico : Real Madrid - Barcelona

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

AL SADD

 Saqr
Nabeel, Koni, Lee Jung-Soo, Belhadj
Al-Bloushi, Rizik, Alyazidi
Al Khalfan, Niang, Keita
  BARCELONA
 
Valdes
Alves, Mascherano, Pique, Maxwell
Iniesta, Keita, Thiago
Cuenca, Villa, Pedro



The Qatar club will be glad star striker Mamadou Niang came through the 2-1 victory over Esperance unscathed after being a doubt for the game with an infection.

Al Sadd are able to field a full-strength squad against Pep Guardiola's men and are likely to line-up with Kader Keita and Khalfan Al Khalfan in support of Niang.

Barcelona are expected to rotate their starting line-up from the side that defeated Real Madrid 3-1 at the weekend. Javier Mascherano appears a certainty to come into the defence with Carles Puyol likely to be rested.

Seydou Keita and Thiago are in contention to start in midfield while David Villa and Pedro will be hoping to earn some valuable game-time in attack where Isaac Cuenca could come in for Lionel Messi.


DID YOU KNOW?
  • Al Sadd qualified for the Club World Cup by defeating Jeonbuk Motors in the 2011 AFC Champions League final in a penalty shoot-out in November.
  • The club are the most successful side in Qatar, winning a record 12 league titles, with the first coming in the 1971-72 season.
  • The Qatari giants have never met the Catalan club and will be looking to shock the European champions.
  • Barcelona won the competition in 2009, defeating Estudiantes 2-1 in the final, with Lionel Messi grabbing an extra-time winner.
  • Pedro netted twice in the 2009 edition which helped him to become the first player to score in six different competitions in one season.
  • The winner of the game will face either Santos or Kashiwa Reysol in Yokohama in the final on Sunday.
Prediction
Barcelona will be high in confidence after their Clasico victory at the weekend and it is difficult to see anything other than a convincing win for Pep Guardiola's men against the 2011 AFC Champions League winners.
Editor's Prediction
Al Sadd 0-3 Barcelona