Spanish Super Cup 17/08

[PIPMEL]

The stars are out tonight ...........



...... when Espanol host neighbours Barcelona, in the Spanish Super Cup first leg.

Victory for the European champions will give them their 7th Super Cup and tie them with Real Madrid, their greatest rivals. They appear to be taking the game very seriously and were prepared to re schedule the tie, if their key players were not released from international duty, in midweek.

Coach, Frank Rijkaard has named a star studded squad .......
Valdés, Jorquera, Iniesta, Oleguer, Giuly, Gio, Puyol, Zambrotta, Deco, Thuram,Gudjohnsen, Eto'o, Xavi, Sylvinho, Motta, Ronaldinho, Márquez, Messi .

New signings Thuram, Zambrotta and Gudjohnsen, are all expected to play some part.

Barca are prepared for a much bigger challenge from Real Madrid this season and will view this as an early chance to assert their authority. Think they will go for the win and a few goals. They hit form early in preseason, scoring freely on a tour of Mexico and the USA, Eto'o, Gudjohnsen and Messi all found the net, Ronaldinho scored four times.

The Espanol squad will be of a similar level to last season, new coach Ernesto Valverde, will hope to avoid another long relegation battle, which was their fate last season. Problems were at the back, only bottom club Malaga, had a worse goal difference.

They showed their better side in the Copa del Rey, winning some silverware, with a 4-1 final win over Zaragoza. Meetings between the two Catalan clubs have a history of goals, that may well be the case tonight, but I can only see one winner.

4 points Barcelona 1.69 betfair.

www.ubet2win.blogspot.com

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Espanyol vs Barcelona (Super Copa - 1st Leg)

I have some concerns over Barcelona tonight. Yes they have a superb H2H record against Espanyol but this is still pre season. Also, this game is over 2 legs so I'm not convinced that Barcelona will be going all out for the win and would be happy enough with a draw to take back to the Camp Nou. Thats not to say that Barcelona arent capable of winning at Espanyol, of course they are, I just dont feel comfortable betting on an away team in the first leg of a pre season game where they would be unlikely to risk defeat by pushing for a winner if the scores are level late in the match. Another thing to take into consideration is Barcelona's scheldule. Another completing a grueling 11 day tour of Mexico and USA they have returned to face Espanyol away tonight, then again at home on Sunday Aug 20, followed by a prestigous friendly at home to Bayern Munich on Tueday Aug 22, a European Super Cup game on Friday Aug 25 and finally the first game of the La Liga season away to Celta Vigo on Monday Aug 28. Many Barcelona players are already complaining of being fatigued which is another reason that I dont think Barca will spend to much energy on this game and even Frank Rijkaard has admitted that Espanyol are in better physical shape than his own team. All in all, its always risky betting against Barcelona but for this game I'm prepared to give it a go on low stakes. Therefore, my bet is:

My Bet:
Espanyol +1.25 AH 1.50 Bet365 4/10

[jaimegarci15]

Posible line ups:

Espanyol: Iraizoz, Zabaleta, Lacruz, Jarque, David García, Costa, De la Peña o Fredson, Rufete, Riera, Luis García y Tamudo.

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés, Oleguer, Puyol, Márquez, Sylvinho, Deco, Motta, Giuly, Iniesta, Ronaldinho y Etoo.

[darklights]

going for BARCA -1 tonite, picking them because they are playing with their full team and their player will show their best performance to win a place in the first 11 when the league start
may the best team win

[Inup]

Barça won 0-1

[fgee]

Any thought on tonights game??Team newS??

[jaimegarci15]

Nice win.