Managers Pep Guardiola and Vítor Pereira are predicting an exciting game between Barcelona and Porto in the Uefa Super Cup at Stade Louis II on Friday.

Barça have set a Super Cup record by reaching the Monaco showpiece for an eighth time – and Guardiola has promised an enthralling clash between two of Europe’s most prestigious clubs.

“Finals are meaningful when you play against clubs with a great history – it was an honour to play against Manchester United and it’s an honour to play against one of the strongest teams in the world now in Porto,” said Guardiola on Thursday.

“Mathematically their figures are impeccable and when you watch them play you can see they do things very well. I think it will be an excellent final, just like the Champions League was.”

It will be the eighth occasion the two sides have met in European competition, with Barça holding the superior record after having secured victory over their Portuguese opponents on four previous occasions.

Guardiola will be without defender Gerard Piqué, who tore his calf in training last Tuesday, while Carles Puyol is unavailable after undergoing surgery to repair damaged cartilage in his left knee in June.

Meanwhile, Porto are making their fourth appearance in the Super Cup – they triumphed in 1987 before losing both previous trips to Monaco in 2003 and 2004.

As in 1987 and 2004, the Europa League winners approach the final with a different coach from the one that won their qualifying competition – Pereira replaced André Villas-Boas as Porto manager this summer and his first test in Europe will be for his side to contain the newly-crowned Best Player in Europe, Lionel Messi.

“You can’t stop Messi with any special tactic,” said Pereira. “You stop him with a strong team performance, by concentrating defensively, covering each other and anticipating intentions. You will see our own game plan and identity; you don’t adapt to your opponent.”

Although Pereira admits Barça are the best team he had seen in his lifetime, the Porto boss promised his side would put on a show against the Champions League holders.

“We’re here on our own merit following a great season,” Pereira said. “We know Barcelona are a great team, but we’re not here to see them play. We came here to win this game so we have the ingredients for a great spectacle.”

Porto have faced Spanish opposition in the Super Cup before – the Portuguese side suffered a 2-1 defeat by Valencia in 2004 and it is the only occasion in which a Spanish and a Portuguese team have faced each other in Monaco.


Match

So, Fabregas might win another trophy just like that?, hmnnn

Fear of Catalans again!

"So, Fabregas might win another trophy just like that?, hmnnn"

yes ohh, d guy na thief, i'm not an arsenal fan but i'm pissed about what he did!

abeg make una shut up yah mouth 4 dia. Na person talk say make arsenal no get hunger 4 trophy. Barca na sure banker 4 trophy. Mascherano join 4 trophy & him don dey rake am, fabregas play 1 match (10mins) collect trophy, 2nd match him score 1 out of 5, 3rd match another trophy abeg make van persie drop captain band go join man u.

well, this might sound wierd, but to me football isn't all about trophies alone, there are many other things involved.

A MISMATCH RIGHT FROM THE WORD'GO'

barca all d way

Another trophy for barcelona. Trophy number 3 for fabregas less than 2 weeks. Awesome.

Just gonna sit on ma sofa and watch the game with some Silver colored bottles. . . .!!!

jaz:

abeg make una shut up yah mouth 4 dia. Na person talk say make arsenal no get hunger 4 trophy. Barca na sure banker 4 trophy. Mascherano join 4 trophy & him don dey rake am, fabregas play 1 match (10mins) collect trophy, 2nd match him score 1 out of 5, 3rd match another trophy abeg make van persie drop captain band go join man u.

jaz:

abeg make una shut up yah mouth 4 dia. Na person talk say make arsenal no get hunger 4 trophy. Barca na sure banker 4 trophy. Mascherano join 4 trophy & him don dey rake am, fabregas play 1 match (10mins) collect trophy, 2nd match him score 1 out of 5, 3rd match another trophy abeg make van persie drop captain band go join man u.

jaz u funni ooooo
but na thru talk b dat sha

jaz:

abeg make una shut up yah mouth 4 dia. Na person talk say make arsenal no get hunger 4 trophy. Barca na sure banker 4 trophy. Mascherano join 4 trophy & him don dey rake am, fabregas play 1 match (10mins) collect trophy, 2nd match him score 1 out of 5, 3rd match another trophy abeg make van persie drop captain band go join man u.

jaz u funni ooooo
but na thru talk b dat sha

Fc Barca all the way.

Another trophy on the shelf Barca all the way.

Please is hulk still at porto?

do they have leg breaking players?

^^^
Hulk is still there,but no pepe in porto.they are an attacking side,i hope they will not alter their style of play just to win a trophy like Arsenal.

lets do it again one more time
Pep,messi,iniesta,xavi,pique,valdes,villa,afella,puyol,sergio,pinto,and company
we trust in you folks

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jose mourinho should be looking at replacing di maria with hulk.
hulk has improved so much. . . .he's beasting this barca defence.

coogar:

jose mourinho should be looking at replacing di maria with hulk.
hulk has improved so much. . . .he's beasting this barca defence.

Haba!!! Barca defense that has Abidal and Mascherano? He's just playing normal jare. . . . Buh he's sure a very good player

allboyz:

Haba!!! Barca defense that has Abidal and Mascherano? He's just playing normal jare. . . . Buh he's sure a very good player

hulk is playing normal in this first 20 mins? are you watching the same game as me?
hulk has been the best player so far. . . .i am sure he has touched the ball more than any other player.

coogar:

hulk is playing normal in this first 20 mins? are you watching the same game as me?
hulk has been the best player so far. . . .i am sure he has touched the ball more than any other player.

I fink he has come into the game a bit more in the last few minutes tho. . .

allboyz:

I fink he has come into the game a bit more in the last few minutes tho. . .

i guess you are watching from a stream then. . . .your stream has a delay of about 25 mins.
i'm in the 31st min now. . . .where are you?

coogar:

i guess you are watching from a stream then. . . .your stream has a delay of about 25 mins.
i'm in the 31st min now. . . .where are you?

i dey watch am live oo 32' mins now

balanced game i must say? Messi don change boot (Juju)

messi strikes. . . .

porto player gives messi a backpass. . . .
of all the players guarin could have gifted a backpass. . . .

or stevie gerrard plays for porto now?

coogar:

messi strikes. . . .

porto defender gives messi a backpass. . . .
of all the players a defender could gifting a backpass. . . .

where's messi from? has 1,0000% confidence to kill the keeper - i wud have resigned if i were helton!

Thats the kind of goal an opportunist scores