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Barcelona vs Porto: UEFA Super Cup the next trophy for Guardiola

| 26.08.2011

Although there is every possibility that Porto will score in the UEFA Super Cup against Barcelona, it is hard to predict against Pep Guardiola winning a 12th trophy since taking over the Catalan giants in 2008.

Barcelona are likely to name a strong side at the Stade Louis II in Monaco, particularly as Guardiola will be looking to boost the fitness of his players after the delayed start to the La Liga season.

Lionel Messi is among those that will start and has certainly shown no signs of a lack of fitness thanks to five goals in his last three games.

These included goals in both legs of Barcelona’s Spanish Super Cup success over arch rivals Real Madrid and a double in a 5-0 hammering of Champions League-bound Napoli.

Barcelona’s odds are 2/5 to beat Napoli, while Messi can be backed at 11/4 to score first and 14/1 to help himself to a hat-trick.

Porto’s chances will not be helped by the summer departure of Radomel Falcao to Atletico Madrid, as the Colombian striker scored 38 goals in all competitions.

However, they have managed to keep hold of Hulk, who certainly possesses the combination of speed and power to pose a substantial threat to a Barcelona defence that will be without an injured Gerard Pique.

Porto are 7/1 to beat Barcelona, but have lost on their last two appearances in the UEFA Super Cup in 2003 and 2004.

What may be a better bet is the 8/13 on offer that Porto score inside the 90 minutes, which is something they have managed in each of their last 22 games in all competitions.

In terms of a correct scoreline, the two prices that particularly stand out in the market are the 11/1 that Barcelona win 3-1 and the 16/1 that Guardiola’s team triumph 4-1.

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Author

Craig Kemp

Craig has written for Ladbrokes since the 2010 World Cup, having previously gained a Media & Sports Journalism degree and contributed to publications including the Racing Post. His main areas of interest are horse racing and UFC, but he is also an avid X Factor gambler and likes nothing more than indulging in a spot of Hip Hop Karaoke.