Nine players from the Catalan club could all feature in the Confederations Cup final, while the Blaugrana's latest signing leads local hopes of a win at the Maracana on Sunday.
Barcelona should sell Lionel Messi. So said Johan Cruyff earlier this week, claiming the Catalan club cannot accommodate both the Argentine and summer signing Neymar in the same side next season. Back in the real world, however, Barca fans need not worry: selling Messi is as far from anyone's mind at CampNou as changing the club colours to all white.
Cruyff's opinions seems strange: his own Barcelona side was filled with superstars such as HristoStoichkov, Romario and Michael Laudrup and, although problems did arise, this was usually in conflict with the coach himself. And that team - the Dream Team - went on to achieve great things, becoming the firstBarca side to clinch a European Cup (in 1992) and winning four straight Liga titles (between 1991 and 1994) following a prolonged period of dominance by Real Madrid.
On Sunday, with Messi missing, Barcelona fans will be given a glimpse of their latest Dream Team as new man Neymar and Dani Alves of Brazil square up to Spain's nine Blaugrana representatives (Victor Valdes, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Cesc Fabregas, Pedro and David Villa) in the final of the Confederations Cup.
Valdes looks likely to be left out following Iker Casillas' impressive performance against Italy in the semi-finals, although coach Vicente del Bosque did rotate his goalkeepers in the group games and the Catalans produced a commanding display in la Roja's 3-0 win over Nigeria.
Jordi Alba scored twice in that match and, alongside Iniesta, has been Spain's shining light in Brazil. The former Valencia left-back has coped with the hot and humid conditions better than any of his team-mates and attacked with boundless energy down his side of the pitch. He and Alves (along with Madrid's Marcelo - who will also play on Sunday) are now perhaps the two most spectacular full-backs in the modern game, even if they can struggle defensively at times.
In central defence, Gerard Pique has continued his brilliant partnership with Sergio Ramos, leading someBarca fans to call for the Catalan club to snap up the Sevilla-born defender from Real Madrid. That won't happen, of course, and Barca continue their search for a top-class centre-back as a long-term replacement for captain Carles Puyol. Their top target, incidentally, is Brazil skipper Thiago Silva.
Barcelona should sell Lionel Messi. So said Johan Cruyff earlier this week, claiming the Catalan club cannot accommodate both the Argentine and summer signing Neymar in the same side next season. Back in the real world, however, Barca fans need not worry: selling Messi is as far from anyone's mind at CampNou as changing the club colours to all white.
Cruyff's opinions seems strange: his own Barcelona side was filled with superstars such as HristoStoichkov, Romario and Michael Laudrup and, although problems did arise, this was usually in conflict with the coach himself. And that team - the Dream Team - went on to achieve great things, becoming the firstBarca side to clinch a European Cup (in 1992) and winning four straight Liga titles (between 1991 and 1994) following a prolonged period of dominance by Real Madrid.
On Sunday, with Messi missing, Barcelona fans will be given a glimpse of their latest Dream Team as new man Neymar and Dani Alves of Brazil square up to Spain's nine Blaugrana representatives (Victor Valdes, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Cesc Fabregas, Pedro and David Villa) in the final of the Confederations Cup.
Valdes looks likely to be left out following Iker Casillas' impressive performance against Italy in the semi-finals, although coach Vicente del Bosque did rotate his goalkeepers in the group games and the Catalans produced a commanding display in la Roja's 3-0 win over Nigeria.
Jordi Alba scored twice in that match and, alongside Iniesta, has been Spain's shining light in Brazil. The former Valencia left-back has coped with the hot and humid conditions better than any of his team-mates and attacked with boundless energy down his side of the pitch. He and Alves (along with Madrid's Marcelo - who will also play on Sunday) are now perhaps the two most spectacular full-backs in the modern game, even if they can struggle defensively at times.
In central defence, Gerard Pique has continued his brilliant partnership with Sergio Ramos, leading someBarca fans to call for the Catalan club to snap up the Sevilla-born defender from Real Madrid. That won't happen, of course, and Barca continue their search for a top-class centre-back as a long-term replacement for captain Carles Puyol. Their top target, incidentally, is Brazil skipper Thiago Silva.
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