The 2011 edition of the super cup pitches Barcelona (UCL winners) against FC Porto (Europa League champions) at the Stade Louis II in Monaco, France. It is the 36th super cup duel in European. football and it promises to be an exciting affair between two teams that believe in entertaining football.
The Portuguese club, Porto lost their manager, Andre Villas Boas, a month ago to Chelsea FC of England. Chairman, Pinto Da Costa immediately handed over managerial duties to AVB's assistant, Vitor Manuel De Oliveira Lopes Pereira--simply known as Vitor Pereira. The 43 year old took over the reigns and has won one trophy already. The Portuguese Super cup. The 10-11 quadruple winners also lost the predatory instincts of Radamel Falcao Garcia, who was sold to Spanish club, Atletico Madrid in a 40 million euro deal. The Columbian attacker scored 72 goals in 87 games in 2 seasons at the club, including a record breaking 17 European goals in their all conquering Europa League campaign last season. He broke the long time record of 15 goals set by Germany Legend and current USMNT (United States men's national team) coach, JURGEN KLINSMANN. He will be sorely missed, but Porto can rely on the likes of Freddy Guarin and the powerful Giovanildo Vieira de Souza (Hulk) to provide the ammunition in his absence.
Vitor Pereira faces a daunting task tonight. He is attempting to beat the best team on earth by a mile and possibly the best team in History. It is true that no team is unbeatable, but the benchmark that the Catalans have set in the past 3 years is just frightening. Pep Guardiola has re-written the record books in his 3 seasons as manager, winning 11 trophies including 2 UCL crowns, 3 consecutive La Liga tourneys, one UEFA super cup, one FIFA world club cup, etc. The blaugrana are fresh from winning the Spanish Super cup just a little more than a week ago against arch-enemies, Real Madrid, and have added Csec Fabregas and flying speedster, Alexis Sanchez to their squad of champions. In Messi, they have the newly crowned UEFA PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2011, thus making him the 1st winner of the inaugural award. Not only that, the diminutive Argentine is also the reigning FIFA-BALON D'OR winner and on course to retain it for the 3rd consecutive year. He has also scored 13 clasico goals in 15 appearances v REAL MADRID and Barcelona have only lost in 2 of the 124 games in which he has found the net. The Spanish champions also have the two best midfielders in World football, Xavi and Iniesta in their ranks.
Today's game represents the second time in 3 years that Barcelona will appear in a match of this magnitude. In 2009, they needed extra-time to defeat Europa League winners at that time, Shakhtar Donestk. Pedro Rodriguez was on hand to deliver the sucker punch five minutes to the end of the game.
Porto will attempt to be third time lucky this time around after losing back to back Super Cup games in 03-04...... AC MILAN AND VALENCIA respectively.
The Stade Louis II has hosted the Super Cup for many years now and today's affair will be too close to call, despite Barcelona's INVINCIBILITY.
Sit back and enjoy the game.
Ohireime P. Eboreime
follow me on twitter @ohiskaka1990
