Spanish champions Barcelona remain arguably the best footballing team on the planet and are once again favourites to win every competition in 2010-11, but the Blaugrana may well have to suffer a big disappointment at the start of the new season.
Last week coach Pep Guardiola fielded a young and pretty much second-string team against Sevilla in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup and Barca lost the match 3-1 in Seville. The former European champions were without the likes of David Villa, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Carlos Puyol and Victor Valdes but still took the lead in the 20th minute through Zlatan Ibrahimovic and were the better side in the first half. However, Sevilla scored thrice in the second session, with Frederic Kanoute coming off the bench to net a brace.
Barca are very strong at home and the away goal will give them hope and optimism. However, several of their players have only just started training and although a 2-0 win is the least the Blaugrana actually need to win the Super Cup for the second year in a row, they will have to be careful of the fact that in Kanoute, Luis Fabiano and Alvaro Negredo, the Rojiblancos have a very potent forward line that is ably supported by Diego Perotti and Jesus Navas on the wings.
Mixed Week
Sevilla lost the first half of the first leg meekly last week but were by far the superior team in the second 45 minutes. A 3-1 lead does put them in a very advantageous position but they cannot take anything for granted given that several of Barcelona's first string players will be back for the second leg.
Moreover, Antonio Alvarez's side suffered a 1-0 defeat to Portuguese side Braga in the Champions League play-off round first leg match away from home and will have an eye on the return leg at home in midweek. It's been a mixed week for the former UEFA Cup winners and the coming four or five days could be very crucial for them in 2010-11.
However, with the quality of players Sevilla have at their disposal they should be confident. Last season they knocked Barca out of the Copa del Rey, becoming the first team to send them out of a competition since 2008, and they have the means to deny the Catalan club their first silverware of the new season.
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Barcelona
Coach Pep Guardiola is likely to recall his main players for this fixture as they need two or more goals. Lionel Messi will be unleashed upon Sevilla from the beginning and David Villa should make his debut for his new club. Xavi and Andres Iniesta are also set to start on Saturday evening.
Probable Line-up (4-3-3): Valdes, Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Ibrahimovic, Villa
Sevilla
Coach Antonio Alvarez could field a one-man strike force given that they are away from home. Luis Fabiano could be given the nod ahead of Kanoute, but given that the Mali international scored twice last weekend he may well be given a starting berth, although he is partaking in Ramadan.
Probable Line-up (4-5-1): Palop, Konko, Fazio, Escude, Dabo; Navas, Zokora, Romaric, Renato, Perotti; Kanoute
Prediction
Sevilla will count themselves as favourites in the second-leg but they must be wary of conceding an early first goal to Barcelona. Moreover, the Blanquirrojos will also be looking ahead to their midweek fixture against Braga in the Champions League qualifier and could be distracted. However, Sevilla do have it in themselves to score a goal and it is unlikely that they will concede four.
Barcelona 2-1 Sevilla 
