Meet the Club World Cup teams: Barcelona

The Catalans won the tournament in 2009 to make history as they claimed a sixth trophy out of six. And a potentially-fascinating final meeting with Santos awaits this time around

8 Dec 2011 11:10:00

More On :  Barcelona
Leo Messi - Barcelona (Getty Images)
Getty Images
PROFILE
By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Editor

The 2011 Club World Cup is fast approaching, and those taking part are keen to begin their run in the competition, with an eye on the ultimate prize.

The tournament, which runs from December 8 to 18 in Japan, sees the top clubs from all the world's football confederations battle it out for glory.

Don't Miss

In the lead up to the tournament, Goal.com will present all seven teams that will be taking part in this highly anticipated competition. Here, we profile Barcelona.

SHORT HISTORY
Barcelona were founded in 1899 and although the Catalans have experienced success throughout their history, world domination was a long time coming.

The Blaugrana have claimed La Liga on 21 occasions and won the Copa del Rey a record 25 times, but their first European Cup didn't arrive until 1992, with current coach Pep Guardiola in the side coached by Johan Cruyff.

Another Champions League followed in 2006, but the Club World Cup remained elusive until 2009, when Guardiola led his beloved Barca to six trophies in the space of just over a year. Now he has 12 titles from 15 and is the club's most successful coach ever, while the Catalans can boast two Champions League crowns in the last three seasons - and now look set to rule the roost on a world level once again, too.

Few teams can claim their present day to be better than even their greatest glories from the past. But Barcelona can.
TACTICS & PLAYING STYLE
Under Guardiola, Barcelona have remained true to their traditional 4-3-3, although the Catalan coach has recently experimented with a Dream Team-inspired three-man defence and also revolutionised his attack by deploying Lionel Messi as a false No. 9.

Essentially, it's all about possession play, pressing, and passing for Guardiola's great side, as Messi drops deep to join Xavi and Andres Iniesta in the centre of the park, Dani Alves surges forward on the flank from the right-back position and Cesc Fabregas specialises in late runs into the box. Danger comes from all over the pitch.
THE STAR | Lionel Messi

Who else? The astonishing Argentine has been at his brilliant best again this season, destroying defences at will for Barcelona. The 24-year-old was the hero two years ago as the Catalans claimed the coveted Club World Cup trophy for the very first time in their history, as he bagged the decider in extra time to end Estudiantes' hopes of an upset.

And having scored in four out of four competitions so far this season, he will be out to complete the set and match the record established by team-mate Pedro - who became the only player ever to net in six major tournaments in one year - in 2009.
THE SYMBOL | Carles Puyol
Club captain, Catalan, courageous and as committed as they come, Carles Puyol is the undoubted symbol of this Barcelona team. The 33-year-old missed large chunks of last season with a serious knee injury and all of the side's five defeats in 2010-11 came when he was missing.

Barca's defensive displays this term haven't always convinced, but Puyol brings an added security to the Blaugrana backline - and he lifts the level of those around him. With a tricky final appearance against Santos the most likely scenario in Japan, Guardiola's men will hope their seasoned skipper is fit to lead from the back as they look to seal their second Club World Cup win in three years.
THE YOUNGSTER | Isaac Cuenca
A few months ago, few football fans had heard of Isaac Cuenca. Even the press in Spain seemed more interested in the progress of fellow La Masia student Gerard Deulofeu. The latter looks a wonderful prospect on the wing, but Cuenca is a little older, has stepped up sooner and been a revelation recently for the Catalan club.

Against BATE Borisov on Tuesday, the winger set up two, scored another and won the penalty converted by Pedro for the fourth of the night. It was hugely impressive, and he's still only 20. Already he is being talked about as a starter for Spain at Euro 2012. Guardiola says people are getting ahead of themselves. But they aren't; he really is that good.
THREE FUN FACTS

  • Barcelona coach Guardiola played the full 90 minutes as the Catalans lost 2-1 to Tele Santana's Sao Paulo side in the 1992 Intercontinental Cup, which was later given a new format and became the Club World Cup. In 2006, Barca lost out to another Brazilian side, Internacional, and had to wait until 2009 to claim the trophy, with Guardiola as coach. Having won an unprecedented six tophies from six, the Barca boss broke down in tears.
  • Barca's fixture against Real Madrid at the weekend was almost rescheduled due to the Catalans' Club World Cup participation. In the end, however, it was moved to the Saturday and gives Guardiola's men enough time to travel out to Japan.
  • South America and Europe are tied on 25 titles each counting both the Intercontinental and Club World Cups, with four straight victories for European teams closing the gap in recent years.

PROBABLE STARTING XI

Guardiola could decide to choose a three-man defence, as he has done lately, but should he deploy the side's traditional 4-3-3 formation, the below line-up is about as strong as it gets in world football. Fabregas, Thiago, David Villa and Javier Mascherano will all be in contention for starting places, too, however. Ibrahim Afellay is the only current casualty.

Valdes
Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal
Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta
Cuenca, Messi, Alexis

Follow Goal.com on Twitter

Follow Goal.com on Facebook
 
play pause open close
Live!
England 1-0 Belgium, Netherlands 2-0 Northern Ireland - follow all the international action LIVE! ahead of Euro 2012
With countries across the continent gearing up for their final warm-up games ahead of Euro 2012, join us for all the action from Saturday's friendlies. Get in touch with us via Twitter with your reaction.

Hosted by Joe Doyle
19:38 BST
Here's Roy Hodgson's reaction to the result and some injury chat: "I'm very pleased, it's been a hard week and we've used a lot of players. There was a lot of disruption in the second-half with substitutions – some forced upon us, some we wanted to do. But it's still a very good end to the week playing against a good Belgian team here. Arguably even stronger than the Norwegian team we played last week and I've got to be more than happy that we've come out with another victory."

"[Gary] Cahill I suppose is slightly more of a concern for me because it is a jaw injury. We're desperately hoping the CT scan doesn't show any fracture and it's just going to be a bruising situation, which will be bad enough, but won't stop him taking part in the tournament. As far as John's [Terry] concerned he felt his hamstring a little bit. Again it wasn't a major thing when he came off but we still need to scan it just to be 100 per cent sure."

Suffice to say, if Cahill has broken his jaw, he won't play any part in the tournament.
19:35 BST
And another point from today: Eden Hazard wasn't great. Don't think you can judge him on one performance though. What do you think? Is it just a case of too much hype around the Chelsea-bound Belgian?
19:32 BST
We're getting plenty of people saying it was boring. PLENTY. But Spain scored seven goals in eight games at the World Cup and I didn't hear too many of their fans complaining. Or as Fran Stinchcombe points out on Twitter: "If we had lost but played free flowing attacking football would these people still have moaned?"
19:24 BST
No, no, no. I'll have none of that Emile Heskey shouting anymore! Hello, it's me, it's me, it's that D-O-Y-L-E. Yes, I'm Joe Doyle, and I'll be here for all the reaction to that England game. First things first, how did everyone see that game? Good performance? A touch boring? Let me know on Twitter.
19:17 BST
Right, that’s me, Danny Hart, done. Joe Doyle is itching to retain his LIVE! crown for the evening. England reaction, Netherlands-Northern Ireland updates and much, much more - Doyle will be across it all. England are gonna win the Euros! And remember: EMILE HESKEY. Cheerio!
Inside Goal.Com
  1. The five players Rodgers could sign to kick-start revolution The five players Rodgers could sign to kick-start revolution

    The new Reds boss was unveiled to the press on Friday and must immediately begin work on revitalising a thin squad with some additions in the transfer market

  2. Cartoon: Hodgson takes a cautious approach after injury pile-up Cartoon: Hodgson takes a cautious approach after injury pile-up

    Goal.com cartoonist Omar Momani gives us his unique take on the football news of the day

  3. Managerial merry-go-round keeps spinning as Lambert takes Villa job Managerial merry-go-round keeps spinning as Lambert takes Villa job

    The Scot officially left Norwich City on Saturday to become the second new boss in June, following the appointment of Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool on Friday

  4. Rodgers ushers in new Anfield era on his own terms Rodgers ushers in new Anfield era on his own terms

    The Northern Irishman inevitably expressed his delight at landing the Reds job but evidenced plenty of the steely resolve which could see him become a success at Anfield

  5. The definitive timeline of FSG's hunt for new manager The definitive timeline of FSG's hunt for new manager

    Kenny Dalglish's sacking at the end of the season sparked a massive hunt for the next Anfield boss, and the former Swansea man has been chosen after several turned the job down