Argentine club Estudiantes
is the last team standing between Barcelona and a sixth major trophy
of 2009.
The Copa Libertadores champions will face their European
counterparts on Saturday in the Club World Cup final at the Zayed
Sports City stadium.
"It's going to be a matchup between titans," said Barcelona
coach Pep Guardiola, whose team beat Manchester United, Athletic
Bilbao and Shakhtar Donetsk in cup finals in 2009.
Estudiantes captain Juan Sebastian Veron called it the biggest
match of his career.
"Obviously this is not just like winning any trophy," Veron
said. "It won't be just another day. It'll be the day."
Barcelona will have Golden Ball winner Lionel Messi available
again after recovering from an ankle injury, but fellow FIFA Player
of the Year finalist Andres Iniesta is out with a leg injury.
"It's a final so there are no favorites," said Messi, who
scored the winning goal against Atlante in the semifinals. "(But)
we need to win to close out the year with another title not only for
the historical importance to the club but to world football also."
Iniesta's absence is one of the few advantages that Estudiantes -
led by Argentina playmaker Veron - has.
"There are a lot of factors in play. We've got a huge challenge
tomorrow and we have to give our maximum," coach Alejandro Sabella
said. "It doesn't bother me that they're favorites. We have a team
with a lot of spirit."
Estudiantes, which beat Asian champion Pohang Steelers of South
Korea 2-1 in the semifinals, won the competition once in 1968, when
it was known as the Intercontinental Cup. It played a physical game
then and Barcelona was ready for a physical game now.
"We have two Argentines in our team and we know how they act and
what they like," Guardiola said Friday. "They do have other
qualities that are not aggressive. It's up to the referee to control
things."
Veron's father Juan Ramon was on the team that beat Manchester
United 1-0 in 1968. However, both Veron and Sabella objected to the
"animals" nickname that squad earned for its physical play, a
reputation that has followed the club.
"We always go onto the field with 11 players and we always aim
to leave with 11," Sabella said.
Barcelona is making its third final appearance after losses in
1992 and 2006, the last setting off a season and a half to forget.
The Catalan club lost two straight league titles to Madrid, and
Ronaldinho was better remembered for off-field problems than his
dribbles on it.
"We don't have to make up for anything," Guardiola said of the
final in Japan, when Barcelona lost to Brazilian club Internacional
1-0. "Up to now I haven't told them anything. They already know the
task in front of us. We have a fantastic opportunity to crown the
season."
Estudiantes can capitalize on one element - Barcelona's tired
legs.
The Spanish club's condensed December schedule has taken its toll
on the roster of internationals, who showed little flair and trailed
Atlante 1-0 early.
"We have to get over (the fatigue)," said Guardiola, who is in
his second year as coach. "We have holidays coming up. If we have
the desire to do something very important, then we can't stop now."
Also Saturday, Atlante plays Steelers for third-place.
