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Reigning European champions Barcelona will look to wrap-up their short Japanese tour by fulfilling the objective with which they’ve come, which is to bag the Club World Cup trophy, as the Catalans prepare to face River plate in the finals on Sunday.
Following some tizzy moments early into the game, the Blaugrana clinically dispatched Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande with 3 Luis Suarez goals in the semi-finals, and are 90 minutes away from lifting another piece of silverware in what has been a glorious 2015 for Luis Enrique and co.
Standing in their way are South-American champions River Plate, who beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima of Japan 1-0 in the last four to live their dream of sharing a pitch with an opposition of the magnitude of Barcelona. The Argentine outfit have been transmogrified into a dominant force by coach and former Argentina international Marcelo Gallardo, under whom they’ve lifted four international trophies, including the continental cup Copa Libertadores of 2015.
Los Millionarios play their maiden Club World Cup final, but will have to swim against the tide when they are up against the might of the Catalans. With that and much more to follow, here's your guide to the highly-anticipated 2015 Club World Cup final.
Kickoff and Live Telecast
Date and Time: 20th December 2015 – 16:00 PM (IST)
Channel: Neo Prime
Venue: International stadium, Yokohama, Japan
Team News
Barcelona are still fretting over the fitness of the stellar attacking duo Lionel Messi and Neymar, both of whom missed the semi-finals. While the Brazilian starlet sustained a groin injury during a training session before the game against Guangzhou and may return to the fold for the finals, Messi sat out with renal colic and remains a major doubt even for the finals.
River Plate have no injury concerns, but Uruguayan midfielder Camilo Mayada is likely to start on the left side of the midfield after making a substitute appearance in their last outing.
Possible starting line-up:
Barcelona (4-3-3): Bravo; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Munir, Sandro, Suarez.
River Plate (4-4-2): Barovero; Mercado, Maidana, Balanta, Vangioni; Sanchez, Kranevitter, Ponzio, Mayada; Mora, Alario.
Team form
Barcelona were on a great run in the league and in Europe this season, until a slight dip in form saw them draw three times in a week before heading for their Club World Cup commitments. A pair of 1-1 draws to Valencia in the league and Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League was followed by a stunning 2-2 stalemate to a lowly Deportivo at home, but that had minimal impact in their Club World Cup campaign as they comfortably saw off Guangzhou with 3 unanswered goals in the semis.
Their unbeaten run now stands at 15 games, and are most likely to go one better by the time they return to Spain.
Last 5 matches: W-D-D-D-W (Last result: Barcelona 3-0 Guangzhou Evergrande)
River Plate ended their 3 game winless streak when they beat Hiroshima here in the Club World Cup in the semi-finals, and are not in an inspiring form going into this tie. La Banda have scored only thrice in their last 5 competitive games, and have registered only two clean-sheets in the last 10 games.
Last 5 matches: W-D-L-L-W (Last result: Sanfrecce Hiroshima 0-1 River Plate)
Key stats
- The two sides meet for the very first time.
- Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano started his senior career with River Plate, and it will be his first appearance against his former club since leaving for Corinthians in 2005.
- The Catalans have reached the finals of the Club World Cup four times prior to this year – 1992, 2006, 2009 and 2011. They’ve lost twice (1992 and 2006) and won twice (2009 and 2011).
- Luis Suarez is just one goal short of equalling Lionel Messi’s all-time record of 4 goals in the competition.
Prediction
The best in Europe collides with the best in South America in what promises to be a thrilling finale. Both sides have a rich history and have enjoyed continental dominance in recent years.
In their first ever competitve clash, Barcelona are widely touted to stravaig about the tie. Although River Plate will try to take inspiration from their Argentine counterparts Estudiantes, who pushed the Blaugrana to extra-time in the 2009 finals, that still won’t be enough for them to nick this one.
Barcelona ought to swimmingly collect their fourth trophy of the year.
Predicted score: Barcelona 3-0 River Plate
Betting Odds (bet365)
Barcelona – 1/7
Draw - 13/2
River Plate – 18
