FCBARCELONA.CAT

16.11.2009 13:38

A thrilling month

Sandra Sarmiento

Before the end of the year Barça will have to play nine matches with a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League and the World Club Cup both at stake. And in the league, Barça will welcome Real Madrid and Espanyol to the Camp Nou.

The international break has meant an enforced pause but from now on until the end of 2009 there’s a hectic programme of matches for the FC Barcelona first team. Nine matches in a month. The Champions League, two classics of the Spanish league against Real Madrid and Espanyol. The World Club Cup.

A second visit to Bilbao

It all starts in San Mamés. The “cathedral” of Spanish football will witness yet another duel between the finalists of the Spanish Cup and the Spanish Super Cup. Pedro will go back to the stadium where he scored his first senior Barça goal and the team will be looking to continue their run of three unbeaten visits to Bilbao. However, the home side have made a good start to the season and are in fine form.

A big week

Next up after Bilbao comes one of the most exciting weeks of the season. Barça receive Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan – now featuring Samuel Eto'o – in a match that may determine the outcome of their CL group. Five days later Barça and Real Madrid go head to head in their first meeting since last season’s unforgettable 2-6 in the Bernabéu.

Three trips in seven days

After Inter Milan and Real Madrid, Barça then have to play three consecutive away games against Jerez, Deportivo de la Coruña and Dynamo Kiev. This last match in Ukraine could well determine Barça’s European fate.

Local derby and World Club Cup

Before flying off to Abu Dhabi, Barça have a passionate local derby against Espanyol in the Camp Nou.

And then it’s the turn of the World Club Cup, the only competition of note that Barça has never won.