Match Preview: Friday 25/08/2006 20:45 (GMT +2): European Super Cup Final
FC BARCELONA - SEVILLA FC

Stade Louis II, Monaco – Attendance: 18.000
Referee: Stefano Farina


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdés - Zambrotta, Márquez, Puyol, Sylvinho - Xavi, Motta, Deco - Messi, Eto'o, Ronaldinho.


FC Sevilla (4-4-2): Palop - Hinkel, Navarro, Escudé, Ruiz - Alves, Poulsen, Maresca, Renato - Chevanton, Kanouté

Match Preview:
The 2006 UEFA Super Cup, the traditional start into the new European season, will be an all Spanish affair and some of the world's greatest names like Ronaldinho Gaucho, Deco and Eto´o, just to name a few, will appear in the Final at Stade Louis II, when Champions League winners FC Barcelona clash with UEFA Cup holders Sevilla FC. Monaco experiences the first time that two clubs from the same country play the final in the principality.


Barcelona enters the final as Champions League winner, Europe's top team, after a 2-1 victory against Arsenal FC in the UEFA Champions League final in Paris on 17 May.

Sevilla participate as UEFA Cup holders having won the final in Eindhoven 4-0 against Middlesbrough FC a week before.


Both teams have met only once before in one of the UEFA competitions, in the 1995/96 UEFA Cup third round. Barca advanced 4-2 on aggregate.


In the Spanish Championship, the encouter between catalan giants FC Barcelona and Andalucian side Sevilla has got a long history. The two clubs have met 124 times with Barcelona winning 63 and Sevilla 34, with 27 matches ending in a draw. Each team won at home in last season's La Liga gamese (2-1 in Barcelona and 3-2 in Sevilla).


Sevilla are making the first appearance in the UEFA Super Cup, while two-time European champions Barcelona have been six times in the final and are seeking to win it for the third time tonight. If FC Barcelona should win the trophy tonight, they would level the three wins of Liverpool FC and would only be one trophy short of AC Milan, who are recordholder with 4 wins.


The UEFA Super Cup has been chosen as a one-off final in an annually event held in Monaco since the 1998-99 season, when Chelsea FC beat Real Madrid 1-0 on 28 August 1998.


Barça is, without doubt, in fantastic form. Frank Rijkaard's team have already won one trophy so far, the Spanish Super Cup against Espanyol. The performance in both matches against Spanish Cup Winner Espanyol (Thursday/Sunday) and also the 4-0 thrashing of German back-to-back Champions and Cup Winners Bayern Munich during this week, are evidence enough to expect some more outstanding, entertaining display. Still, Barca has to be fully prepared, focused and to go with the necessary respect into the one-off final. Sevilla has got an excellent team and a dangerous attacking line with Chevanton, Luis Fabiano and Kanouté.


Prediction:
Currently Barca plays football from a different planet and therefore, under given circumstances, there can only be one winner at the end of the game. But a one-off final is something special and has got its own rules. It's obviously difficult to come up against another Spanish team, like Sevilla that know Barca very well.

It will be a very interesting game, but Barca should have the confidence and class to overcome a strong Sevilla side. Barca is clear favourites and the best team currently in Europe. The stage is set for a fantastic and exciting match between two top teams. Barca will win at the end.
FC Barcelona vs. Sevilla CF 2-1


Visca el Barca!