Barcelona vs. Porto – European Super Cup – Match Review (Part 1)
The Champions League winning side Barcelona faced the Europa League winners Porto in the European Super Cup. Many had predicted that the game is going to be interesting while Barcelona are going to find it hard to score goals against the Portuguese Champions. However, the Spaniards totally controlled the game and won 2-0.
The Argentinean star Lionel Messi was the best player of the match yet again. The best player in the world keeps proving to the world time and time again that there is no player better than him at the moment. First, he was the difference between Barcelona and Real Madrid during the Spanish Super Cup and he was now the difference between Porto and Barcelona after scoring a goal and assisting the other, which was slotted home by Cesc Fabregas.
The match took place in Monaco at the Stade Louis II. The referee in charge was B. Kuipers. Not a lot people attended the match as the attendance was reportedly just a little more than 18 thousand.
Josep Guardiola did not have all the first team players available; therefore, he decided to field the best possible team available to him. The Catalan coach was without Gerard Pique, who is out for three weeks after picking up a calf injury; and Carles Puyol, who was missing out on the fixture because of a knee injury which he is recovering from for the past few months.
Josep Guardiola still fielded a strong team. With Victor Valdes standing in between the two posts, he was aided by four defenders.
The Brazilian full back http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Adriano-c3773 was replacing Eric Abidal in the left back position.
Eric Abidal was given the centre back role and he partnered up with the Argentinean captain http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Carles-Puyol-c8331 for the second time this season. They also partnered up in the same way during the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup.
Josep Guardiola decided to give a rest to his favourite holding midfield player, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Seydou-Keita-c33177 was the one who replaced Busquets in the holding midfield position.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 played in their favourite 4-3-3 system with Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta forming a partnership in the centre of the midfield. While Xavi Hernandez played as a right centre midfielder, Andres Iniesta played as a left centre midfielder but had a more attacking approach in the game.
The Spanish star http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lionel-Messi-c22296 was the one who featured in his favourite “False 9” role.
Messi has been playing in the “False 9” position since facing Real Madrid at the Nou Camp last season, where he didn’t score any goals but still managed to set up two for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-Villa-c10629 and helped his side win the game 5-0.
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