Match Preview: Saturday 17/03/2007 22:00 (GMT +1): La Liga, Match Day 27
RECREATIVO DE HUELVA - FC BARCELONA

Nuevo Colombino, Huelva – Capacity: 21.000
Referee: Havier Turienzo Alvarez


Recreativo (4-4-2): López Vallejo - Merino, Beto, Mario, Dani Bautista - Juanma, Jesús Vázquez, Rafa Barber, Aitor - Pongolle, Uche - Manager: Marcelino Garcia Toral


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes - Zambrotta (Belletti), Thuram, Puyol, Sylvinho (Gio) - Iniesta (Edmilson), Xavi, Deco - Messi, Eto´o, Ronaldinho - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Match Preview:

On Saturday evening (20:00) Recreativo (7th position/41 points) will meet La Liga leaders FC Barcelona (1st position/50 points) at the Nuevo Colombino in Huelva.


FC Barcelona have visited Recreativo de Huelve only on two occasions, both when Recreativo were in the Primera Division. The first encounter was in the season 1978-79 and ended 0-0. The second match was just 4 years ago and Barca won 3-1 away (goals: Saviola, Kluivert and Riquelme).


FC Barcelona has arrived at the final stage of the season as leader but 4 teams are still seriously in the race for the Championship: FC Barcelona, Sevilla, Valencia and Real Madrid. The importance to win away against difficult opponents like Recreativo is now out of question, if the team wants to bag the third consecutive La Liga title.


All 4 challengers for the title have an inconsistent period and is dropping unexpected points but the Blaugrana appear to be well positioned to defend their title. In the remaining 12 matches of the season, Barca do not have to meet any of the challengers Sevilla, Valencia or Real Madrid, having played the trio both home and away already this season. On the other hand, all 3 teams have to meet each other in recent weeks:
Real Madrid will face Valencia and Sevilla in the Bernabeu Stadium, while Valencia will host Sevilla in Mestalla.


The only positive fact about FC Barcelona´s Champions League exit is that the Blaugrana will be free from high pressure midweek European matches, while rivals Valencia and Sevilla will be distracted and focusing on their European midweek matches against Chelsea and Tottenham respectively.


This weekend, FC Barcelona face a difficult trip to inform Recreativo.

Coming from Segunda A, the Andalucian outfit has impressed in La Liga and this not only by beating Real Madrid 3-0 at Bernabeu. Recreativo is pushing for a place in Europe. Huelva have been strong at home, winning 7 home matches from 12 encounters and are unbeaten at Nuevo Colombino in 2007.


Recreativo will be without Javi Guerrero and Santi Cazorla due to injury, while Florent Sinama-Pongolle has been given the green light by the medical staff to return. Sinama-Pongolle and will partner Nigerian striker Ikechuckwu Uche in attack. The other change from last weekend's draw at Getafe is Romanian Under-21 international Rosu.


FC Barcelona´s coach Frank Rijkaard will return to the more familiar 4-3-3 system having included 4 full backs into the team. The midfield will probably mastered by Deco, Xavi, Iniesta trying to impliment a more attacking style and restoring the fast flowing passing game.
Zambrotta is back after his red card suspension and will probably start for Belletti. If Belletti starts on the right full back position, Zambrotta might move to the left. Gio has also been recalled and he or Sylvinho could start on the left full back position, if Zambrotta is starting on the right. No doubt about, who starts in attack: Messi, Eto´o and Ronaldinho.


My Prediction:

The rivals have (on paper) easier matches to play than Barca, all playing at home against sides in the bottom half of the table. Therefore Barca are hoping to take all 3 points from the Nuevo Colombino and to remain at the top of La Liga, regardless what their competitors are achieving. Barca have been without an away La Liga win since beating Mallorca 1-4 but have shown in recent weeks their ability to beat top class oppositions away in their stadium (Zaragoza in the Copa del Rey and Liverpool in the Champions League)


It's a difficult match because Recreativo have an excellent season and have dangerous players with pace.


The first time for long, Barca had a "clean" week without any midweek matches and this should be doing all of them very good. The splendid form of young Messi against Real Madrid with a fantastic hat-trick and the return of Eto´o gives the team a lift.


Rijkaard will definetely return to 4-3-3 otherwise the call up of 4 fullbacks would make no sense, but I still believe Barca has the quality to play a 3-4-3. But I suggest that Rijkaard will not play with an anchor in midfield (if yes, the anchor will be Edmilson) because he left Marquez and Motta at home, but will field a more offensive midfield with Deco, Iniesta and Xavi, who should ingnite the engine room on this evening.


If Barca will advance their lines to put more pressure on the opponent, especially their defencive line, I am sure the team will be successful and come home with a positive result. With Eto´o the man who has the speed to chase defenders and put them consistantly under pressure, I am sure the whole team will benefit of his work and efforts. And then we have still Ronaldinho and Mesi who can decide a game on their own.


We will win!


Recreativo - FC Barcelona 0:1 or 1:2


Visca el Barca!