Barcelona take on Guangzhou in Club World Cup semifinal
Barcelona take on Guangzhou in Club World Cup semifinal
Injured striker Neymar sat out training for a second straight day Tuesday as Barcelona prepared for its Club World Cup semifinal.
Neymar now looks unlikely to play for the European champion, which is seeking a third Club World Cup crown, against Asian champion Guangzhou Evergrande of China.
He sustained a groin injury in training last week ahead of the Champions League match with Bayer Leverkusen.Neymar also skipped Monday’s practice, which took place only hours after the team arrived in Yokohama following an overnight flight.
Guangzhou Evergrande, coached by Neymar’s Brazilian compatriot Luiz Felipe Scolari, is on a 28-match unbeaten run and beat Club America of Mexico in the previous round.
But European champion Barcelona is only just getting to know about its Chinese rival.“Between today and tomorrow, we will know more about the team — our manager, Luis Enrique, will inform us about their team, and our tactics,” said Barcelona’s left-sided player Jordi Alba said.
“But it will be a very difficult and complicated game, and difficult to reach the final. We will have to play very well,” he added.
Guangzhou Evergrande last lost in May, just before Scolari, who led Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002, became coach.
The Barcelona squad watched from Japan when the draw was made for the Champions League last 16 on Monday night European time.
