Fuente : UEFA (English)
http://www.uefa.com/

Football Europe: Betis braced for Barça visit

/noticias.info/ The first title of the 2005/06 Spanish season is up for grabs this weekend as Copa del Rey holders Real Betis Balompié entertain Primera División champions FC Barcelona in the first leg of the Super Cup in Seville on Saturday.

New experience
For Betis, reaching the final is a first in itself. Although the southern side were Copa del Rey winners in 1977, the Super Cup as we know it today was inaugurated five years later.

Past masters
Barça, meanwhile, are past masters, not just during the 23 years of the competition's existence but also in its previous incarnations – the Copa de Campeones, Copa de Oro Argentina and Copa Eva Duarte Perón. In all, the Catalan team have emerged victorious nine times, last lifting the trophy in 1996.

Oliveira returns
The chance of silverware is not the only motivation for Betis coach Llorenc Serra Ferrer, who comes face-to-face with the club he managed for one ill-starred season in 2000/01. The 52-year-old is doubtless relieved to see the return of striker Ricardo Oliveira, who missed Tuesday's 1-0 UEFA Champions League win against AS Monaco FC with a knee complaint. Oliveira will replace Daniel Martín in attack but Betis should be otherwise unchanged.

Rijkaard reshuffles
Visiting coach Frank Rijkaard is without groin strain victim Santiago Ezquerro and midfielder Thiago Motta, recovering from toe surgery. Giovanni van Bronckhorst is doubtful with a pulled hamstring, while Oleguer Presas is expected to cover for Rafael Márquez who is on international duty with Mexico.

'No problem'
As far as Barça forward Ronaldinho is concerned, only one result will do. "If we play like we know how, then beating Betis should not be too much of a problem," he said. "We have only one thing on our mind – to win the game."

Edu warning
Betis's Brazilian Edu, who scored the last-gasp winner against Monaco, warned: "This game will be much tougher than Tuesday – Barça are league champions and the best team in Spain. They have shown they are a great side, they won the title with authority." notas_de_prensa_archivo