How Significant is Barca's Super Cup Victories?

FC Barcelona has added two more silverware with the victories at domestic and European super cup. Some claim this as two more trophies to an already silverware packed last season, whereas some sees this as two more trophies to a bright looking this season; It all depends on how you view it. Last season FC Barcelona comfortably won the Champions League, La Liga and Copa Del Rey title. That made the possibility of competing for six trophies this season. Already we have grabbed two out of the six, but the significance of these two has to be questioned. I have earlier written in a post that a Super Cup victory will not be hailed as a great result but definitely a lose would have asked questioned about the squad and the club. No one in the press or footballing fraternity is going to go over-board with Barca's triump at Spanish Super Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

Barca's season will never be termed as a success if they failed to add to these two trophies. Technically this season we have already won trophies but alone they have no value. If we manage to get hold of a couple of trophies then these triumphs will be hailed as great ones otherwise it will remain as a futile testimony of how well we began this season. And that is precisely it is. These two Super Cups triumphs were essential for Barca to start the season at the right note. The victory against Shaktar showed Europe and Spain that the squad has not lost the grit which took them trough last season. This will be a definitive adavantage for Barca especially after the mega purchases made by Real Madrid. The pressure will be heavily on Real Madrid who has to start their campaign in the right note. So in the final look, these two triumphs has no significance when stood alone but with some more triumphs this will greatly emphasise our season's success.

FC Barcelona Wins UEFA Super Cup

FC Bracelona - 1, Shaktar Donetsk - 0

FC Barcelona won the UEFA Super cup for the third time in history with a 1-0 victory over Shaktar at the Louis II stadium in Monaco. A late Pedro Rodriguez strike in the second half o the extra time was the difference between the two sides. FC Barcelona went with a line-up as I predicted to the build up of the match. Valdes, Alves, Puyol, Pique and Abidal formed the defense; Xavi, Toure and Keita were present in midfield; Henry, Ibra and Messi formed the attacking troika. From the beginning it was clear that Shaktar was taking an ultra defensive approach. Barca started the match very slowly and there was no pace in the build up. This suited Shaktar well and they held firm without creating much of chances. Throughout the first half and upto half way in the second half, the match was very boring. It was so boring that you can confidently take a nap without missing any action, as there were none. In that time there were only three shots on target from both sides.

Once the Half way mark was over in the second half the match started to liven up. Messi was the first one to test Shaktar goal keeper after some fancy footwork and then Henry tested him with a shot from outside the box. Pedro was brought in the second half but never created any special moments. Once Bojan came in there were some nice moments when he paired with Messi. In the extra time, it was evident that the defense of both the sides were tired. Valdes had to intervene twice to cut out danger and there were some desperate defending from Puyol. But still Barca looked the only side capable of scoring on the night. Then in the 116th minute of the game Pedro scored the winner with a great finish after some great build up with Messi. Pedro squared the ball to Messi and moved in; Messi place the ball into the centre of box inviting Pedro through the defenders legs and Pedro obliged with a great finish. Many may argue the best Barca player was Messi; but for me the best Barca player on the pitch was our Captain Carlos Puyol. He had a great time in defense winning tackles after tackles and cutting of every Shaktar chances.

UEFA Super Cup Preview

UEFA Champions League winner FC Barcelona will face UEFA Cup Winner Shaktar Donetsk at the Louis II stadium in Monaco to decide the winner of this year's super cup. This will officialyy flag the start of this year's Champions League season. For FC Barcelona this will be a great oppurtunity to start the season in the right not. They have already won the Spanish Super Cup, and will be looking forward to bag their second official silverware of this season. Pep Guardiola has taken all his available player to Monaco. He has also included four youth players in the squad - Jeffren Suárez, Andreu Fontàs, Marc Muniesa and Jonathan Dos Santos. Andres Iniesta and Marquez has been included in the squad but niether has got green light from the medical staff. This would be an epic match for Chygrynskiy as he will be making his switch to Barca after this match.

Shaktar Donetsk was a very difficult opponent last season. We struggled to win away from home and a weak Barca side went down at home. Barca's recent experience with UEFA super cup was a dreadful one - losing to Sevilla 3-0 in 2006. This time we can hope them to make ammends for the same. Shaktar will play a very physical style of game, a style which Barca is least comfortable with. But still we can count on our team to win this one. Valdes should start at goal. The defense ideally will be made up of Alves, Puyol, Pique and Abidal. The midfield should have Keita, Xavi and Toure. The forward line-up is a very easy prediction - Henry, Ibra and Messi.

My Prediction : Barca - 3, Shaktar - 1