Porto v Barca: First match at the Estadio do Dragao

[MarcoCanada]

Finally, Portugal's most beautiful and important stadium is complete and ready to have the nations finest footballing institution grace its fields. The opponent; FC Barcelona. Spain's "forgotton" side.

Rijkaard has his hands tied for the match, and could only call upon six regulars for the match. Xavi, Luis Enrique, Gabri, Luis Garcia, Marquez and Fernando Navarro. He completed his callup by summoning on 10 players from Barca's youth setup (Barca B: Oscar López, Albert Jorquera (guarda-redes), Ramón Ros, Sergio Santamaría, Oleguer Preses, Manuel Expósito & Tiago Calvano Barca Juniors: Xavier Ginard (GK), Lionel Messi, Jordi Gómez & Oriel Riera).

Lionel Messi is without a doubt the big inclusion in the squad. Messi, a full back, has been tipped as a future star and will be making his senior team debut today.

Rijkaard is expected to lineup with the following team:

Jorquera; Gabri, Oleguer, Tiago, Fernando Navarro; Xavi, Márquez; Santamaría, Messi, Luis García; Luis Enrique

 

[Goo Goo boy]

Just look at this beauty:chick:

 

[::shinji::]

wow, what a difference between the new stad and the old Das Antas! I gotta admit, it's pretty stunning!

 

[K3nzo]

It surely rocks! i dont know much yet but it's known as the most technologically advanced, and one of the 1st environmental "friend" stadiums of the world!

 

[MarcoCanada]

and its all private money!!!!

 

[::shinji::]

Originally posted by MarcoCanada
and its all private money!!!!

shhh

anyone know Porto's line-up yet?

 

[MarcoCanada]

im guessing:

Vitor Baliza-Secretario-Ricardo Baresi-Bicho-Nuno Valente-Marco Ferreira-Pedro Mendes-Maniche-Ricardo Fernandes-Derlei-Jankauskas

**Deco & Costinha national team duty
**Aleni national team duty
**Paulo Ferreira's father died yesterday, so Im not sure if he'll play.

 

[Hugo-45-Viana]

Vitor Baliza?? pffft...

I hope he makes a handful of frangos just because of that comment.

Sad thing about Ferreira's father, are they going to have a moment of silence before the game or something similar to that?

Anyways, depending on which players Barca is bringing(probably mosytly reserves), Porto should win 3-0.

Barca are coming without Kluivert, Quaresma, Overmars, Rustu, a lot of others due to international/u-21 games...

 

[Gilista]

I cant wait both squads are fileding alot of yougsters but the real show will be the stadium opening! Today is a great day since the morning I been taping the celebrations on RTPi 3 tapes ready to be filled just of old and new FCP memories.

http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/dragao/index.php

I say Porto wins 2-0!!

 

[Hugo-45-Viana]

FC PORTO – Vítor Baía; Secretário, Jorge Costa, Ricardo Carvalho e Evaldo; Pedro Mendes, Tiago, Maniche e Ricardo Fernandes; Bruno Moraes e Derlei.

Suplentes: Nuno, Pedro Emanuel, Mário Silva, Pedro Ribeiro, Hélder Barbosa, Paulo Machado, Vieirinha, Hugo Almeida e Jankauskas.

BARCELONA – Jorquera; Oscar, Oleguer, Rafael e Marquez; Fernando, Xavi, Santamaria, Luís Enrique, Luis Garcia e Gabri.

Suplentes: Ginard, Tiago, Messi, Jordi, Exposito e Riera.

Vieirinha is on the subs list hope he plays, this guy could be the next striker of the main squad, he's amazing!

 

[Dream Team]

Fernando Navarro will play 11 months later cause 2 serious injuries. Good match for the young Barça players. Beautiful stadium.

 

[Hang0ne]

whats the score right now?

 

[Hugo-45-Viana]

0-0

 

[Punkt]

boring game

 

[Hugo-45-Viana]

Pedro Mendes is playing very well.

Hope to see Vieirinha on soon!

 

[Dream Team]

Are they playing?

there is not information in spanish press... and there is elections of catalunya

 

[MarcoCanada]

Originally posted by Dream Team
Fernando Navarro will play 11 months later cause 2 serious injuries. Good match for the young Barça players. Beautiful stadium.

It's the most beautiful stadium in Portugal

Built largely with private money

 

[Punkt]

Look at this pic of the new Leipzig stadium for the World Cup 2006: Zentralstadion

Dragão have a twin

 

[Hugo-45-Viana]

LOL

Porto's looks bigger though...

 

[Avalanche]

Can't wait for Vierinha to come on in the 2nd half, if Mourinho follows traditional friendly match tactics and makes wholesale changes. Also, can't believe that the match kicked off so late, because the opening ceremony took so damn long. This evening is taking longer than the Academy Awards!

As for the match, it has bored me almost to the point where I decide to turn on my Playstation and play GTA Vice City. That's what I did for most of the 2nd half of Portugal x Greece. Yes, I know its an old game, but like crack cocaine, its so addictive!