Hassan Chamas


Who are they? Futbol Club Barcelona
Where are they from? Barcelona, Spain
How did they qualify? As 2008/09 UEFA Champions League Winners

A team that needs really no introduction, Spanish giants Barcelona have been, and still are, the most powerful football club in the world at the moment.

Fresh with a new inexperienced coach, Barcelona managed to take the spotlight from their perennial foes Real Madrid and embarked on a stunning silverware-clinching campaign, winning the 2008/09 La Liga trophy, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. This season the Spanish Super Cup, and European Super Cup have already been won. Now, the Blaugrana will be looking to make it a record seven trophies in less than seven months when they travel to the United Arab Emirates for the Club World Cup.

Expectations

In fantastic form of late, and with memories of winning the first Clasico against Real Madrid in their minds, Barcelona will be keen to live up to expectations in the Middle East. Anything other than winning the tournament would surely be classed as a failure for Josep Guardiola’s men. The team prides itself on being the absolute best, so returning home empty handed is not an option for La Liga giants.

Key players

Lionel Messi – Forward: The newly crowned Ballon d’Or winner will provide the Catalan side’s spark. Messi was named the best in the world after three years of stunning performances for the Blaugrana and will scare any side in the tournament. Indeed, this seems the perfect stage for the Argentine to celebrate his Ballon d’Or victory.

Carles Puyol – Defender: Puyol is the very symbol of the club and his never say die attitude shines like a beacon. The captain will be keen to bag yet more silverware and represent Catalunya on the world stage. Barcelona’s stalwart was recently exceptional in the Clasico against Real Madrid and seems in top form.

Xavi Hernandez – Midfielder: The man who makes Barcelona tick. Xavi is the stopwatch who controls play for the European Champions and was unlucky not to win the Ballon d’Or himself. Now Xavi has another opportunity to show the world just how crucial he is to the Camp Nou giants.

Coach

Josep Guardiola: Words cannot describe what the 38-year-old has done to his boyhood club since he took over from Frank Rijkaard. Formerly the coach of Barcelona’s B side, “Pep” went on to win five trophies in his first season at the Camp Nou. After just a year at helm, he is quickly growing into a Bill Shankly figure in Catalunya. The Club World Cup will be a tournament he will take seriously, fully aware that it represents another chance to add yet more silverware to the trophy cabinet and act as further vindication of his work.

Prediction

Who would want to bet against the Blaugrana going into this tournament? Morale at the Camp Nou is sky-high after defeating Real Madrid and having another Golden Ball winner amongst them. They are the clear favorites to return home with the Club World Cup and the title of World Champions. Whilst the La Liga side will be wary of perhaps Estudiantes or Atlante, perhaps their biggest enemy will be complacency. Barcelona will need to perform, they cannot simply turn up and win.

Club World Cup Coverage: