Match Preview: Tuesday 22/08/2006 22:00 (GMT +2): 41st Joan Gamper Trophy
FC BARCELONA - FC BAYERN MUNICH

Camp Nou, Barcelona – Capacity: 99.000


FC Barcelona: Valdés, Jorquera, Iniesta, Belletti, Van Bronckhorst, Puyol, Gudjohnsen, Eto'o, Xavi, Motta, Ronaldinho, Márquez, Messi, Zambrotta, Deco, Thuram, Ezquerro, Van Bommel, Sylvinho, Oleguer, Edmilson, Giuly.


FC Bayern Munich: Kahn, Rensing, Podolski, Van Buyten, Julio Dos Santos, Fürstner, Lahm, Sagnol, Santa Cruz, Makaay, Schweinsteiger, Demichelis, Karimi, Scholl, Salihamidzic, Ottl, Hummels.





Match Preview:


FC Barcelona will meet German Champions and Cup winners FC Bayern Munich in the 41st Joan Gamper Trophy tonight. The Bayern team will arrive with all their stars including several members of the German World Cup team that finished third in the summer. Lucio and Hargreaves will not play due to fever and stayed home.


Bayern Munich have a proud history winning plenty of trophies in Germany and Europe: 20 Bundesliga Championships,, 4 European Cups, 13 German Cups and 2 Intercontinental. The last time they won the European title was in 2001, when they beat FC Valencia on penalties.


Bayern Munich has made a few changes to the squad ahead of the new season, including young striker Lukas Podolski. 20-year old Podolski was voted best young player of the World Cup. Further Munich added Belgian defender Daniel Van Buyten from Hamburg SV, Paraguayan midfielder Julio Dos Santos as well as promoted young talents Christian Lell and Stephan Fürstner to the first team squad. On the other hand experienced players left the squad: Bixente Lizarazu, Jens Jeremies, Ze Roberto, Paolo Guerrero and german star and influential playmaker Michael Ballack, who has signed for English Premiership Club Chelsea FC. The core Bayern team consist of well-known international players such as Oliver Kahn, Philipp Lahm, Willy Sagnol, Lucio, Roque Santa Cruz, Roy Makaay, Owen Hargreaves and young Bastian "Schweini" Schweinsteiger, one of the German stars at the World Cup. Schweinsteiger scored two goals and set up the other in Germany's third place play off triumph over Portugal.


Bayern made 4 appearances in the Joan Gamper trophy so far but could never win the prestigious title:


1967-68, Bayern lost 2-1 to FC Barcelona in the semi-finals
1971-72, Bayern lost 2-0 to Chacarita Juniors 2-0 in the semi-finals 1984-85, Bayern lost 3-1 to FC Barcelona in the final

1987-88, Bayern lost 2-0 to FC Porto in the final


Sure, it will be an interesting match and a good test to see, were Barca stands at international level. The German champions Bayern Munich will not come on a holiday trip to Barcelona and after losing on the first 4 occassions, they will be keen to win it this time.
Munich is well-known for their general strong defense, while the midfield, after the loss of Ze Roberto, Ballack and Jeremies could lack of some experience. As we all know, from his time at Depotivo La Coruna, Roy Maakey is a top goal scorer and will form a dangerous attack together with Peruvian striker Claudio Pizzara or Roque santa Cruz.


Barca seems to be in top form but Bayern is a different category than Espanyol. The German outfit will not surrender easily and their strong mentality will prove that this is more than a friendly match. Bayern can be considered as one of the challengers for the European Cup this year and therefore it is a fantastic opportunity to test the team where it stands on international level.


Prediction:

This is a tough one and Barca will give the new signings and some of the unused players so far a chance to show the home crowd what they are capable of. Bayern has an experienced defense and is known for their less attractive but controlling game. I do not believe that we see as many goals as last Sunday.
FC Barcelona - FC Bayern Munich 1-0



Visca el Barca!