Barcelona vs Sporting Gijon Preview

Barcelona vs Sporting Gijon
Monday 31 August 2009,
Camp Nou
Kick-Off: 21:00

Barcelona

Barcelona enter Monday night’s match with Sporting Gijon on only three days rest. The Catalan club defeated Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 after extra time in the UEFA Super Cup match on Friday evening, and will head home to take on Sporting Gijon on Monday.

Pep Guardiola’s side have the depth to deal with the short rest and expect him to rotate at least a few players in order to keep his team fresh at the start of the 2009/10 season.

Expect to see new signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic trying to make his mark on the game after a generally disappointing debut, whilst Barcelona's sole goalscorer in the UEFA Super Cup, Pedro, may be given a major role after his impressive performance as a substitute on Friday.

Barcelona players were heavily decorated for their efforts in the 2008/09 Champions League on Thursday as Xabi Hernandez won the prize of Champions League midfielder of the year and Lionel Messi was named forward of the year.

Messi was also named as the UEFA Champions League player of the year. Late news in, however, is that Messi will miss Barcelona's opening game of the La Liga season after being given permission by the Catalan club to fly to his native Argentina for an early preparation for their all-important World Cup qualifier against Brazil on September 5th.

Sporting Gijon
Sporting Gijon did well to avoid relegation from La Liga in their first season in the highest division after a 10-year absence. Manuel Preciado has Gijon on a steady incline since his arrival in 2006 and will be looking to build on a fine 14th place finish from a season ago.

Sporting Gijon do not possess the financial capabilities that Barcelona have as evident in Preciado’s almost entirely Spanish squad. Only Gregory and Mate Bilic are of a nationality other than Spanish.

Bilic, who scored twelve goals for Sporting in the 2008/09, will be called on again to produce the lion’s share of the goals.

Midfielder Michel has been linked with a move to Birmingham after the preseason friendly between the clubs, but so far nothing has been arranged. The loss of his presence in midfield would certainly be a setback.

Prediction
Barcelona won both matches between the clubs last season by the astonishing combined total of 9-2!

They have also won the past six meetings between the clubs at the Nou Camp, and in spite of Messi's absence for the game, it would be hard to believe Sporting Gijon could come away from this match with anything other than a good workout.

Barcelona vs Sporting Gijon Prediction: Barcelona 3 - Gijon 0

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