Barclays Premier League: Man City vs. Swansea

Argentina striker Carlos Tevez will sit out Manchester City's opening game of the Premier League season. The Blues skipper only returned to training this week and, with his future still uncertain, manager Roberto Mancini does not feel it is worth pushing the 27-year-old into the Eastlands fray. Tevez's international colleague Sergio Aguero may be involved for the first time since his club-record £38million move from Atletico Madrid, although Mancini reckons he could contribute only 45 minutes at best.

Captain Garry Monk is a major doubt for Swansea. The defender, who signed a new three-year contract earlier this week, is struggling with a foot injury and may have to wait for the home clash with Wigan to make his first appearance of the campaign. Goalkeeper Michel Vorm comes straight into the squad after completing his move from FC Utrecht and will battle fellow new signing Jose Moreira for the starting berth. Danny Graham, Leroy Lita, Wayne Routledge and Steven Caulker are also in line to make their debuts at Etihad Stadium.

Man City (from): Hart, Pantilimon, Taylor, Richards, Zabaleta, Savic, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Kolarov, Boyata, Johnson, Barry, De Jong, Milner, Silva, Toure, Weiss, Wright-Phillips, Balotelli, Dzeko, Aguero.

Swansea (from): Vorm, Williams, Taylor, Caulker, Tate, Bodde, Britton, Orlandi, Beattie, Graham, Sinclair, Dyer, Cornell, Dobbie, Routledge, Monk, Cotterill, Lita, Moore, MacDonald, Moreira, Rangel, Harley, Agustien, Butler.

Betting Recommendation

Manchester City has been made one of the favourites to win the Premier League this season. However, they must win their English Premier League season opener against Swansea City if they are to be considered genuine title threats. Despite losing the Community Cup after going two goals ahead during half-time, Man City looks odds on to beat newcomers Swansea in the opening game. Man City to win this match easily with probable score of 2-0 or 3-0.

Barclays Premier League: Wigan vs Norwich

Premier League survivors Wigan host top flight new-boys Norwich in an intriguing season opener at the DW Stadium.

Both sides go into the game on a high, the Latics after their last day survival at Stoke and the Canaries after securing back-to-back promotions.

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez will be looking to get off to a flier this term after the Latics were hammered 4-0 by Blackpool in the opener at the DW last term and spent the rest of the season struggling.

A good start is equally important to Paul Lambert as the Canaries aim to do better than the last time they were in the top flight in 2004/05, when they suffered a heart-breaking final day relegation.

Both sides have undergone changes in the summer - Wigan have lost talisman Charles N'Zogbia to Aston Villa and Tom Cleverley has returned to Manchester United, while Norwich have brought in seven new signings and six have exited Carrow Road.

Wigan look set to be without midfielder James McCarthy for Saturday's opener.

The Republic of Ireland international twisted his ankle in last week's pre-season friendly against Villarreal and Latics boss Martinez has given him only a 10 per cent chance of being involved.

Striker Hugo Rodallega is available after returning late to pre-season training following his involvement with Colombia in the Copa America but defender Antolin Alcaraz, who reached the final with Paraguay, will be given more time to regain full fitness.

Norwich are hopeful Wales midfielder Andrew Crofts (ankle) and full-back Russell Martin (calf) will be fit for the clash.

Striker James Vaughan, signed from Everton, and centre-back Elliott Ward are sidelined after picking up minor knee injuries during pre-season training in Germany.

Anthony Pilkington could be included in the squad as the former Huddersfield winger continues his rehabilitation from a serious ankle injury.

Possible starting XIs

Wigan: Al Habsi, Caldwell, Boyce, Figueroa, Gohouri, Watson, Moses, Diame, McArthur, Rodallega, Sammon.

Norwich: Ruddy, Naughton, Whitbread, De Laet, Tierney, Bennett, Johnson, Hoolahan, Surman, Holt, Morison.

Betting Recommendation

Wigan has been made favourites this term to be relegated to the Championship next season. Wigan narrowly escapes the drop last term, eluding the relegation zone by just three points. Meanwhile, doubts remain over whether Antolin Alcaraz and Hugo Rodallega will start for the Latics or not, with the pair having only recently returned to the first-team fold following their extended post-Copa America break. James McCarthy, who missed three months of action last season, is extremely doubtful after picking up an ankle knock against Villarreal last Sunday.

Norwich is also one of the favourites to go down next season. Last season, in the Championship, Norwich is one of the most interesting team to watch, scoring the most goals, with 83 goals, at the same time conceding 58 goals. Norwich were hit by knee injuries to James Vaughan and Elliot Ward during their pre-season training camp in Germany back in July and the pair have no chance of making it at the DW Stadium. Steve Morison arrived at the club from Millwall in the summer but is likely to start on the bench as Paul Lambert sticks to trusted striking duo Grant Holt and Simeon Jackson.

The game between Wigan and Norwich can already be considered a six pointer, as both teams battle to avoid relegation from the English Premier League against one another at the DW Stadium on Saturday. Wigan's form in season openers is nothing short of atrocious, having lost five of six in their past curtain raisers in the top flight. Their pre-season form, however, has been quite the opposite - the Latics have won four of five encounters, drawing the other - meaning Martinez's men may be poised to reverse their opening day fortunes. Expect a win for Wigan, beating Norwich by 2-0 or 2-1 scoreline. Elmander has left for Galatasaray while Lee Chung-Yong suffered a broken leg during its pre-season friendly game.

QPR will be looking forward for their first Premier League home game after being absent from the top flight for 15 years. However, I believe Bolton will have the resilient to hold QPR to a draw.

Barclays Premier League: QPR vs Bolton

Queens Park Rangers will welcome Bolton for their first Premier League game at Loftus Road in 15 years.

The West London club claimed the Championship title last season and will have survival as their ultimate target this year.

Neil Warnock has not been provided with lavish funds to reshape his squad ahead of an arduous and long campaign, despite the vast wealth of his multi-millionaire owners.

Jay Bothroyd, Danny Gabbidon, Kieron Dyer and goalkeeper Brian Murphy have all been signed on free transfers, while DJ Campbell was snapped up for £1.25million from Blackpool.

Debuts

All the outfield players will be handed their Premier League debuts on Saturday as Warnock looks to harness their top-flight experience.

Talisman Adel Taraabt will be a key figure for Warnock this campaign and if the Yorkshirman can find a way to cajole his Moroccan genius, he will be a problem for most teams in the division.

Owen Coyle has been busy this summer at the Reebok Stadium and has swelled his ranks with new signings.

Midfielders Darren Pratley and Nigel Reo-Coker arrived on free transfers from Swansea and Aston Villa, respectively.

Tyrone Mears and Chris Eagles arrived from Burnley for a combined fee of £3million, while Turkey international Tuncay comes in from Wolfsburg on a season long deal.

Tuncay is set to miss the game as he has yet to be granted a work permit, while Reo-Coker and Eagles are expected to make their Premier League bows for the Trotters.

Coyle, though, will definitely be without Mears and Lee Chung-yong, who both sustained broken legs during the pre-season.

Bolton endured a terrible end to the last campaign - losing five of their last six games - and they will want to begin this one by erasing that memory.

Probable starting XIs

QPR: Cerny, Orr, Gabbidon, Shittu, Hill, Dyer, Derry, Taraabt, Faurlin, Bothroyd, Campbell.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen; Steinsson, Knight, Cahill, Robinson, Eagles, Muamba, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Davies, Klasnic.

Betting Recommendation

QPR have retained the services of two main architects of its success in winning the Championship last season, experienced manager Warnock and mercurial captain Adel Taarabt. This partnership also appears to be its best hope to remain in the Premier League. In addition, Warnock has recruited strikers Jay Bothroyd and DJ Campbell from Cardiff and Blackpool respectively, as well as defender Danny Gabbidon and injury-plagued winger Kieron Dyer.

Bolton Wanderers last season have improved, not in the position in the standings, but rather in its style of play. They are playing with a mixture of free flowing attacking football, compared to a direct style used in the previous seasons. These improvements are mainly provided by Korean midfielder, Lee Chung-Yong and their Swedish striker, Johan Elmander. However, both players will be missing in the game against QPR for a very different reason. Elmander has left for Galatasaray while Lee Chung-Yong suffered a broken leg during its pre-season friendly game.

QPR will be looking forward for their first Premier League home game after being absent from the top flight for 15 years. However, I believe Bolton will have the resilient to hold QPR to a draw.

Barclays Premier League: Fulham vs. Aston Villa

Bobby Zamora will lead the Fulham attack against Aston Villa despite having a broken hand.

The England striker suffered the injury playing at NK Split in the Europa League two weeks ago, but played the return leg while wearing a protective cast and will do the same on Saturday. John Arne Riise is likely to make his Premier League debut for the Cottagers but his brother Bjorn Helge is out with a minor hamstring problem and Simon Davies (knee) is also unavailable. Jol had worried that this weekend's clash in London would be called off due to the unrest in the capital.

With the game now being given the go-ahead, Jol is relishing his return to the English top flight after spending the last six weeks playing Europa League qualifiers against sub-standard opposition. "We are very happy that the game is on," Jol said. "The main thing was that we wanted to play football.”I don't see there is a lot of difference in playing friendlies (or playing in the Europa League qualifiers). It wasn't as if we were playing Inter Milan or Ajax. It was Crusaders and Split. "Hopefully it will have given us enough preparation for the season." Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish has virtually a full squad to pick from.

Striker Darren Bent and central defender James Collins have recovered from shoulder and back injuries respectively which prevented their involvement with England and Wales this week. Charles N'Zogbia and Shay Given are poised for their league debuts following their summer arrivals with Rangers target Carlos Cuellar (knee) the only player unavailable for selection. McLeish has called for patience from Aston Villa fans accustomed to demanding success as he sets his sights on a season of "steady progress." In an ideal world, McLeish would like to surpass the 2010-11 achievement of finishing ninth and challenge for a European spot. But he is also realistic after losing several experienced players this summer, including Stewart Downing and Ashley Young, and having to reduce a sizeable wage bill.

McLeish is looking for some of the club's promising youngsters, such as Fabian Delph, to make their mark plus players out in the cold under Gerard Houllier in Stephen Warnock and Stephen Ireland. The Scot said: "We've lost some very experienced players, don't forget, and we are looking for young players to make the breakthrough.”That might not happen so people may have to be patient in terms of where we finish in the league. We finished very healthily in ninth position after the first half of last season was difficult. "If we can maintain a steady progress throughout the season, that would be heading in the right direction.”Would a top 10 finish would be okay? I think that would terrific. I think that would be an achievement for the players but we will try and aim higher than that."

Betting Recommendation

Fulham’s new boss Martin Jol had the opportunity to gather a few competitive games thanks to the Europa League qualifying albeit against weaker sides. Fulham have beaten Crusaders from the Northern Ireland and Split of Croatia to qualify for the next playoff round. Thus, Martin Jol’s men should be match fit and more settled ahead of the clash with Aston Villa.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa, also with new manager, Alex McLeish, who made the controversial switch from relegated Birmingham City to cross-city rivals Villa in the off-season, have suffered from the lost of key men in Ashley Young and Stewart Downing. With both starting wingers leaving the club, McLeish will most likely field Marc Albrighton and his newly acquired winger from Wigan Athletic, Charles N’Zogbia, alongside with Stilian Petrov and Barry Bannan in the middle.

The lost of the key men in Downing and Young, in my opinion, has weakened the midfield area for Aston Villa. N’Zogbia prefers to take players on rather than putting crosses in for the always dangerous Darren Bent. Fulham to beat Aston Villa will be my choice for this game together with a small wager on Fulham winning to nil.

Community Shield: Manchester City vs Manchester United

Manchester City's record signing Sergio Aguero is set to be on the bench for Sunday's Community Shield against Manchester United at Wembley.

The Argentina striker has had blistered feet since his move from Atletico Madrid but is now training as normal.

Fellow new signings Stefan Savic and Gael Clichy will also feature.

United midfielder Michael Carrick is set to miss out after picking up an Achilles problem in Edwin van der Sar's testimonial on Wednesday.

Fellow midfielder Darren Fletcher and full-back Rafael are all back in training for the Red Devils following knocks in pre-season, but Sunday's game could come too soon for them.

Winger Antonio Valencia has also returned to training after recovering from the ankle injury he suffered while playing for Ecuador at the Copa America and could play a part at Wembley.

However, Javier Hernandez will miss the game and the start of the season after he suffered a concussion last month.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "Chicharito [Hernandez] won't be involved for maybe another two or three weeks.

"He had a concussion some years ago and we are just playing safe with that but he should be back by the end of August."

Ferguson must decide who to start in goal on Sunday, with summer signing David de Gea competing with Anders Lindegaard for the role.

City will be without last season's captain and top scorer Carlos Tevez, who is still on leave after the Copa America and is not expected to report back to the club until Monday.

It was initially thought Tevez would be back at the club's Carrington training base on Thursday but City manager Roberto Mancini says the striker had always been allotted 21 days' holiday following his international exertions.

With Tevez absent and his fellow Argentine Aguero set to start on the bench, Mancini could therefore pair £24m Mario Balotelli with £27m Edin Dzeko up front against United.

On the subject of Aguero, Mancini said: "Sergio is OK. He had a problem, but on Thursday he did 20 minutes training.

"I don't think he's 100% ready but he is fit to be on the bench."

Sunday's season curtain-raiser is a repeat of last season's FA Cup semi-final, which City won 1-0 thanks to Yaya Toure's 52nd-minute goal.

City went on to beat Stoke 1-0 in the final - with Toure again scoring the only goal - to lift their first piece of silverware in 35 years.

United made up for the Cup loss to City by going on to secure a record 19th Premier League title.

The teams have met once before in the Community Shield - then the Charity Shield - with United emerging 1-0 victors thanks to a goal from Dennis Viollet. The match was held at City's then ground, Maine Road.

The Community shield is often a mild-mannered affair, but the Manchester rivalry certainly gives this one an edge. Neither team will want to lose and even though it is arguably the least important match of the season, they will be going into the game with one intention only – winning.

Betting Recommendation:

Looking at United, the reigning Premier League champion has been doing well in their pre-season friendly matches with strings of impressive results that include a 2-1 win over Barcelona recently. Furthermore, Sir Alex Ferguson has managed to bring in new reinforcements such as Phil Jones, Ashley Young and David de Gea to replace the retired Paul Scholes and Edwin van der Sar. At the same time, he knows that this match will provide an early opportunity to avenge last season's FA Cup semi-final defeat against Roberto Mancini's side, which opened up the path towards ending the mega-rich club's 35-year trophy drought.

Glazing across the blue side of Manchester, City has been active in the transfer market as well, with the summer acquisition of Sergio Aguero, Gael Clichy and Stefan Savic. Similarly, Mancini’s men have also been performing during their pre-season friendly matches, as exhibited by the recent victory in the Dublin Super Cup by defeating Inter Milan. Apart from Aguero who should start from the bench and Tevez who only returns on Monday, Mancini still has a pool of players to choose from to lead the attack on Sunday, with quality names such as Edin Dzeko and David Silva, not to forget Mario Bolatelli.

Overall, this curtain raiser for the new Premier League season should be a fascinating encounter. However, after a pre-season during which every match has been won (if you count a penalty shoot-out victory over LA Galaxy), Roberto Mancini will be telling his side they can start the season by beating their fiercest rivals who just happen to be the league champions. Thus, a small wager on City beating United for the Shield sounds attractive, given the fact that Ferguson will be resting several key players after their hectic pre-season matches.

World Football Challenge: Barcelona vs America

The heat will be turned up in Texas this weekend and not just because of the heat wave that’s hitting the state.

FC Barcelona need a convincing victory in the worst way in their final preseason match as they face Mexican power Club América at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the final match of the 2011 Herbalife World Football Challenge.

The Catalan side fell in their opening two WFC matches against Manchester United and Chivas de Guadalajara, with the latter a 4-1 loss representing the most lopsided result of the Pep Guardiola era and one that Andrés Iniesta called “a warning.” América, who have yet to score in their two WFC defeats, are under similar pressure after dropping a 2-1 midweek home match against lowly Estudiantes Tecos in Mexican league action on Wednesday.

Saturday’s match will mark the third all-time encounter between the two sides. The first one was a memorable 4-4 tie at a sold out Reliant Stadium in Houston back in 2006. Barcelona put another four past América in the semifinals of the FIFA Club World Cup later that same year.

FC BARCELONA

The injuries and absences persist for FC Barcelona but Guardiola has stated that he still expects the players he fields, whether reserves or youth players, to have enough game smarts to churn out a result.

Recovering injured players like Carles Puyol (knee surgery), Ibrahim Afellay (torn hamstring), Maxwell (abdomen) and Marc Muniesa (torn hamstring) join Lionel Messi, Alexis Sánchez, Javier Mascherano and Dani Alves, who return from their vacations on Monday. Also, Gabriel Milito and Jeffren Suárez departed this week to join new clubs.

Guardiola is yet to send a true best XI on the field to start a match, rotating his players for a mix of veterans and youth players during this year’s US tour. But facing a highly anticipated, week-long lead-up to the first official match of the season against Real Madrid on August 14 in the first leg of the Spanish Supercopa, the manager may be more open to fielding as many starters as possible to get his team back on track.

CLUB AMÉRICA

América are further ahead in their preparations by comparison, already playing three matches in the Mexican Priméra División's Apertura season (1-1-1). However, it’s their latest match — a 2-1 loss to Estudiantes Tecos at the Estadio Azteca — that has fans in a tizzy.

The attack has not exactly taken off back in Mexico, with the team coached by Carlos Reinoso scoring just four times, including two own goals after three fixtures. Ecuadorean forward Christian “Chucho” Benítez will hope to redeem himself after failing to convert a penalty kick which would have equalized the league match against Tecos.

There will be even added pressure on América because of the fact that it was eternal rivals Chivas Guadalajara who handed Barcelona a heavy 4-1 defeat on Wednesday night in Miami. The team refused to acknowledge the Chivas win and their supposed need to match their result.

Las Águilas will feature the likes of US national team call-up Edgar Castillo, who has played left back and left midfield for his club side, and right back Paul Aguilar, who was called up by Mexico manager José Manuel “Chepo” de la Torre and will face Castillo on August 10 in Philadelphia.

KEY PLAYERS

David Villa – As the most experienced member of the Barcelona front line, the 2010 World Cup champion will need to help stake his team out to a comfortable lead if los Culés aim to have a comfortable afternoon. Villa missed lob shot that could have made it 2-0 for Barcelona against Chivas on Wednesday, leaving the window open for the Mexicans to make a second-half comeback.

Armando Navarrete – With Guillermo Ochoa’s move to French soccer, Navarrete is under the microscope after being given the starting job for the first time in his seven seasons for the Mexico City club. Some question his ability to match Ochoa’s quality and an error by the 30-year-old that gifted Juventus their lone goal in a 1-0 WFC loss on July 26 has added fuel to those arguments.

Italian Super Cup Preview: AC Milan vs Inter Milan

Serie A champions AC Milan and crosstown rivals Inter Milan clash in Beijing on Saturday for the Italian Super Cup in the first official game of the season.

Chinese fans gave both sides a warm welcome this week and look forward to filling the Bird's nest stadium, which hosted the game in 2009 as well when Lazio beat Inter 2-1.

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri still upbeat after winning the scudetto on his first season with the Rossoneri, ending a five-title run by Inter, who won the Italian Cup.

'I have no worries,' he said. 'We are at the start of the season. This is our third game (after two friendlies) and our form cannot be the best.

'But the game is very important, both for the trophy and because it is a derby. We have worked well in the past two weeks, but it will be important to have the right concentration.

'It will be very hot, with much humidity, therefore, beside the legs, we will also need our head.'

Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic appears to be already in good form and is again set to be Allegri's mainstay up front, wile Brazilians Pato and Robinho are gradually recovering from Copa America duties in July.

Also back from the tournament won by Uruguay is Inter veteran captain Javier Zanetti, who will have to fill in for the injured Japanese midfielder Yuto Nagatomo.

New coach Gian Piero Gasperini had originally planned a slow-paced summer camp for the Argentine, but is now forced to rely on his experience.

Zanetti, who turns 38 next week, has played more than 750 games with Inter since his arrival in 1995.

'Obviously, faced by necessity, you change the programs and we did it without problems,' Zanetti said.

Giampaolo Pazzini and Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o are geared for their second season together, but the game could be the last with the Nerazzurri for Dutch midfield mainstay Wesley Sneijder, who seems set to leave for Manchester United.

'I have no crystal ball, but we are here to try to win,' Gasperini said. 'Inter want to take home (from Beijing) that cup they failed to win two years ago. Then, playing with Milan is an added reason of prestige.'

Inter and Milan are level as top winners, each having lifted the Super Cup five times.

Bundesliga Preview: Dortmund vs Hamburg

As reigning German champions Dortmund have the honour of kicking off the 49th Bundesliga season on Friday evening. Dortmund will play at home, and in front of an exuberant home- crowd this game should hopefully be an absolute cracker. Hamburg will bring a sizeable contingent of fans too, 6500 fans from the Hanseatic town are expected at the Westfalenstadion.

For the second time in a row, the opponent for the champion will be Hamburg. But this season’s HSV has very little to do with the Hamburg from last season. Almost all older, experienced players were sold or let go during the transfer period, instead Hamburg seems to be following the model established by other Bundesliga clubs in bringing in youth players to Hamburg (including four Chelsea reserve players, HSV sporting director Frank Arnesen be thanked).

However, this great changeover in personnel means that it is difficult to predict exactly how they will do this coming season. Apparently Hamburg had a mixed pre- season, with some good games during the LIGA TOTAL! Cup but also some disappointing friendlies, like yesterday, where they lost 2-1 to Valencia and looked pretty ordinary.

Coming to Dortmund, first off, the bad news. It seems that the injury that Lucas Barrios sustained during the Copa America is worse then expected. At first there was talk about him missing just two to three weeks, now the official Dortmund website says that they expect him to be out for at least five to six weeks! Dortmund officials are not happy with the Paraguayan FA, saying that they tried to downplay the seriousness of Barrios injury, and only a MRT scan back in Germany showed the extent of the damage caused.

Anyway, no use crying over spilled milk now, Barrios injury means that Robert Lewandowski should be the certain starter for the opening match. He scored two goals during the DFB Pokal, so he should be in good form.

Apart from that, the only other first-teamer that will be missing is Marcel Schmelzer, though his recovery is going well, and there are hopes that he’ll be fit for the game against Hoffenheim. Chris Löwe will in all probability be the one to replace him. The other big question concerning the starting line- up is between Kehl and Bender. Bender is fit again, and since it seems that Gündogan will start as the more attacking defensive midfielder, meaning that one of Bender and Kehl will have to sit on the bench. Apart from that I think that the team is pretty fixed, Weidenfeller in goal, Subotic, Hummels, Piszczek and Löwe in defense. The offensive midfield should be made up of Götze, Kagawa and one of Großkreutz/Perisic. Lewandowski will be the lone striker.

WFC Preview: Barcelona Meet Chivas In Record Match

A meeting of two giant clubs from Spain and Mexico will set a new attendance record for South Florida soccer on Wednesday in the 2011 Herbalife World Football Challenge match between FC Barcelona and CD Guadalajara from Sun Life Stadium.

More than 60,000 fans will be on hand for a match-up of two similarly dynamic, possession-oriented, attack-minded teams that play a wide-open style and trust in their younger academy products to carry through that same system of play.

While both teams enter the match winless thus far in the World Football Challenge, Guadalajara should enjoy the fitness edge as they plays their third Mexican league match this Saturday against Pumas UNAM. FC Barcelona face Real Madrid in their first competitive match of the season on Aug. 14.

This will mark the third time the two clubs have faced each other in the last four years. Back in 2008, FC Barcelona beat Chivas 5-2 at Soldier Field in a match which saw Javier “Chicharito” Hernández net a goal. One year later, the two sides tied 1-1 in San Francisco with the now departed Bojan Krkic canceling out a goal by former Chivas legend Ramón Morales.

Another one of the storylines of the match involves the two managers. Barcelona’s Josep “Pep” Guardiola closed out his career in Mexico with Dorados of Sinaloa in the 2005-2006, when current Chivas manager José Luis Real was the sporting director for the club.

FC BARCELONA

The 2-1 loss to Manchester United in their World Football Challenge debut last weekend did not create much alarm in Barça’s camp, especially since the defeat came early in the Spanish champions’ preseason (1-1-2 in four matches). However, as they continue to build up their fitness, the Blaugrana will hope to generate better scoring opportunities against Chivas on Wednesday.

Although the team will be missing injured forward Ibrahim Afellay, Sporting Clube de Portugal transfer target Jeffren Suárez, recovering defenders Carles Puyol and Maxwell, in addition to five members of its South American contingent still on vacation (Lionel Messi, Gabriel Milito, Javier Mascherano, Dani Alves and Alexis Sánchez), manager Pep Guardiola can count on reinforcements in his club’s first-ever match in Miami.

Brazilian fullback Adriano has rejoined the team a week early and defender Sergi Gómez and forward Gerard Deulofeu took to the field for practice on Tuesday night after helping Spain win the Under-19 European championship in Romania against the Czech Republic. Star players Xavi Hernández and Gerard Piqué will also see their first minutes of the preseason on Wednesday after starting off slowly to safeguard Achilles and calf injuries, respectively.

CD GUADALAJARA

This young all-Mexican side led by Real is off to a strong start in league play, with two victories against Atlante and Jaguares that offset Chivas’ two World Football Challenge losses to Real Madrid and Juventus. The confidence gained during league play will be put to the test against the European champions.

Real has been upfront in his plans to start his regular lineup against FC Barcelona. While likely to lose defender Jonny Magallón to a muscle strain, Guadalajara will gain a veteran defender as Héctor Reynoso rejoins the fold, claiming he now feels 100 percent after injuring an adductor against Real Madrid in the club’s first 2011 World Football Challenge appearance.

While forward Omar Arellano leads the team with two of the club’s four goals in league play, the club will be missing five of its top young players, including Erick “Cubo” Torres, due to their participation in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup with Mexico.

KEY PLAYERS

FC Barcelona: Thiago Alcántara

The midfielder continued his magical run with his fourth goal in the last three preseason matches for Barcelona. He’s quick, extremely technical and showed against Manchester United he can strike from distance. Will his coming out party rage on?

CD Guadalajara: Marco Fabián

The 22-year-old, who already has a goal to his credit in league play, has the talent to take over matches and his form will determine how well Chivas can threaten Barcelona’s back line, if at all.

2011 Copa America Final: Uruguay vs Paraguay Match Preview

It may not have been the final that was widely anticipated, but it was natural that after knocking out hosts Argentina and Brazil respectively, Uruguay and Paraguay find themselves in the 2011 Copa America final, hosted in the famous El Monumental stadium, home to fallen giants River Plate. On level terms with Argentina with regard to Copa America honours, Uruguay now has the chance to lead alone.

Against Venezuela, Oscar Tabarez’s side dominated much of the proceedings, eventually toppling their adversaries by two goals signed by Luis Suarez, a player the coach greatly boasted in his post-match declaration: “He is an elite player in world football. We talked about having more presence up top. That is how we got the first goal. [Diego] Forlan and Suarez appeared. After that, Peru kept attacking, but we had it under control."

Uruguay might be slight favourites, but a team that has knocked out Brazil certainly will not run and hide. Uruguay will have to be extra careful not to leave gaps at the back for the Paraguayan attack however, as Roque Santa Cruz and Nelson Valdez could potentially shoot down the Uruguayans’ dreams.

Emotions were high in the air at the Estadio Alvinas Argentinas in Mendoza, as a goalless draw after ninety minutes meant that Paraguay were on their way to their second consecutive penalty shoot-out. Luckily for La Albirroja, they managed to tackle Venezuela, booking their place in the final stage for the first time since 1979, back when they won their second and last Copa America accolade.

The Paraguayan team managed to hold its own against Venezuela, with goalkeeper Justo Villar proving to be the hero once again as he denied several Venezuelan attempts, notably a solid effort from Jose Salomon Rondon. The new Estudiantes goalkeeper was again the penalty-kick hero as he denied Franklin Lucena from the spot. Should he continue on the same path, then there is a good chance that the Player of the Tournament award is his.

Paraguay might have had their luck so far, but they will have to be at their best should they want to dispatch Uruguay, whose forward Luis Suarez cannot certainly be counted out. Diego Forlan will be dangerous too as he looks to kick-start his tournament following torrid times.

RECENT FORM

Uruguay:

Uruguay 1-0 Mexico (12/07; Copa America)

Argentina 1-1 Uruguay; 5-4 pens to Uruguay (16/07; Copa America)

Peru 0-2 Uruguay (19/07; Copa America)

Paraguay:

Paraguay 3-3 Venezuela (13/07; Copa America)

Brazil 0-0 Paraguay; 2-0 pens to Paraguay (17/07; Copa America)

Paraguay 0-0 Venezuela; 5-3 pens to Paraguay (20/07; Copa America)

KEY PLAYERS

Uruguay – Luis Suarez: The hero on the night against Venezuela will go up against Paraguay’s keeper in a battle of two of the best players in the tournament so far. Their personal contest does not summarise the match, but it will certainly be expected.

Paraguay – Justo Villar: Paraguay’s man of the tournament will definitely have all eyes watching him as he prepares to guide La Albirroja to their first major trophy in 32 years. While questions have surfaced over his abilities at 34 years old, Villar has hit back at his detractors with fine displays.

PREDICTION

Uruguay is favourites going into this match, but at such a stage, anything can happen. Paraguay has shown that they can compete with any team so far, but could ultimately fall against Tabarez and his side. Expect Uruguay to lift the title at the end.