Club World Cup 2015 : Barcelona vs Guangzhou Evergrande : Preview, Live Stream & TV Channel Info, Team News, Prediction, Betting Odds

The Catalans last won the Club World Cup trophy in 2011

Reigning European champions Barcelona will take a shot at the last major trophy in store for the calendar year when they kick off their Club World Cup campaign in Japan against Chinese outfit Guangzhou Evergrande. The Catalan club romped to a historic treble earlier this year, lifting the Spanish La Liga, Copa Del Rey and the Champions League, before adding the European Supercup title to their cabinet a few weeks later.

Now, Messi and Co. will look to end their glorious year on a high by lifting the Club World Cup title for a record third time. The Blaugrana first won it in 2009 and followed suit 2 years later in 2011. Before they are crowned the world champions again this year, standing in their way are AFC Champions League winners Guangzhou, led by former Brazil manager Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Following a disastrous World Cup campaign on home soil with the Seleccao, ‘Big Phil’ stepped down from the post and shifted to East Asia to take over the mantle of the Southern China Tigers, guiding them to only their second participation in the competition.

His toughest test since embarking on the Chinese sojourn will be the historic meeting with Barcelona, when the sides meet in the semi-finals tomorrow. The Asian champions have some known faces in Paulinho and Robinho, both of whom plied their trade in Europe for sometime before moving to China. Their pedigree should serve as an armour against the might of the Catalonians, but will it be enough to halt the most potent strike force in the world ?

KickOff and Live Telecast

Date and Time: 17th December 2015 – 16:30 PM (IST)

Channel: Neo Prime

Venue: International Stadium, Yokohama, Japan.

Team News

Barcelona are likely to be without their fleet-footed pitbull Neymar, who is currently nursing a groin injury. Fellow Brazilian Rafinha remains the only other notable long-term absentee.

Guangzhou have no injury concerns and Scolari has a full-fledged squad at his disposal.

Team Form

Barcelona enter the competition on the back of three successive draws, 1-1 to Valencia and Bayer Leverkusen in La Liga and in the Champions League, before blowing a 2-0 lead to Deportivo La Coruna in the league to be held 2-2. But the Catalans won’t care two hoots as they are on a 14 match unbeaten run in all competitions, and haven’t lost in the Club World Cup since losing the finals in 2006.

Last 5 games (All competitions): W-W-D-D-D (Last match: Barcelona 2-2 Deportivo La Coruna)

If Barcelona are unbeaten in 14 games, then the Chinese champions are unbeaten in 28, one of the longest unbeaten runs by an Asian team. Guangzhou have been a hard nut to crack under Scolari, and are well poised to retain their Asian Champions League crown, in addition to the Chinese Super League.

Overcoming the Mexican side Club America 2-1 in the quarter-finals, Guangzhou are all charged up for their next assignment and will hope to extend their unbeaten run to 29.

Last 5 games (All competitions): D-W-D-W-W (Last match: Club America 1-2 Guangzhou Evergrande)

Possible starting line-up:

Barcelona (4-3-3): Ter Stegan; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Roberto.

Guangzhou Evergrande (4-2-3-1): Shuai; Linpeng, Xiaoting, Kim, Zheng; Paulinho, Zhi; Bowen, Goulart, Robinho; Elkeson.

Key Stats

1. This will be first meeting between the two sides.
2. Barcelona have played in the Club World Cup thrice, and have reached the finals on all the occasions.
3. Guangzhou Evergrande were beaten in the semi-finals when they last appeared in the Club World Cup – a 3-0 loss to eventual winners Bayern Munich in 2013.
4. Barcelona won their last Club World Cup trophy in 2011 in Yokohama, the same venue where they’ll play the Chinese outfit.

Prediction

Although the men from China are unbeaten in 28 games, their record will be severely put through the wringer against a much superior Barcelona side, who are very much expected to shrug them off without breaking a sweat. The likes of Paulinho and Robinho have the experience of playing against the cream of Europe, but that won’t be enough to steer their side past this juggernaut.

One of these teams will see their record smashed, and no prizes on guessing whose one that will be.

Predicted score: Barcelona 3-0 Guangzhou Evergrande

Betting Odds (bet365)

Barcelona – 1/10

Draw – 8

Guangzhou Evergrande – 20