...... 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.
Good Luck.
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