adminTokyo — Lionel Messi and Neymar will spearhead Barcelona’s attempt to win a third Club World Cup title when the European champions arrive in Japan next week.
Luis Enrique’s squad will play its first game on December 17 in Yokohama, just five days after hosting Deportivo La Coruna in the Spanish league.
The tournament begins on Thursday in Yokohama. Barcelona and Copa Libertadores winners River Plate are favourites to reach the December 20 final. Barcelona won the tournament in 2009 and 2011 and the Spanish league leaders will be clear favourites to continue Europe’s domination.
The tournament, which features the top clubs from Fifa’s six continental confederations plus champions of the host country, returns to Japan for the first time since 2012.
It was hosted in Morocco in the previous two years. — AP.
Online Reporter