Barca duly wrapped up the 2011 Club World Cup in Yokohama on Sunday with a one-sided 4-0 win over South American champions Santos in front of a full house of 68,166 fans.
The team from Sao Paulo in Brazil had looked likely to provide stiffer opposition than they eventually offered after their impressive 3-1 win over J-League champions Kashiwa Reysol in the semi-final on Wednesday at Toyota Stadium.
In the final Barcelona quickly imposed their Togel Singapore possession and hard-pressing game on their beleaguered opponents and racked up possession statistics of around 75% which is the team’s average in La Liga.
The match was basically over by half time as Messi, Xavi and Fabregas all scored in a dominant first 45 minutes. Santos came more into the match in the second period but the individual talents of Neymar, Ganso and Elano were left chasing elusive shadows as the Catalans took the sting out of the game and Messi added a fourth late on to seal Barcelona’s second Club World Cup in three years.
In the 3rd/4th place play off Al Sadd made history by beating Kashiwa 5-3 on penalties after the teams had played out a goalless draw.
George’s Premiership Predictions December 17 2011
Last time out George got 5 results right and no perfect scores in last weekend’s games and will be hoping to fill your Xmas stocking with some great betting predictions for this week’s premiership matches.
Saturday 17th December 2011
Blackburn 2 v West Brom 2
Everton 2 v Norwich 1
Fulham 2 v Bolton 0
Newcastle 3 v Swansea 2
Wolverhampton 1 v Stoke 1
Wigan 1 v Chelsea 3
Sunday 18th December 2011
QPR 0 v Man Utd 1
Aston Villa 1 v Liverpool 1
Tottenham 3 v Sunderland 1
Man City 1 v Arsenal 0
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Neymar Magic Inspires Santos To Win Over Reysol
Santos overcame J-League champions Kashiwa Reysol at Toyota Stadium in the first semi-final of the 2011 Club World Cup.
19-year-old superstar-in-waiting Neymar opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a superb looping left foot shot. The genuinely two-footed player was sensational in the opening half, linking well with his team-mates and showing some amazing dribbling skills. Reysol resorted to crude fouling to try and contain the young tyro.
Five minutes later Borges rifled home a great second goal for Santos from just outside the area and it looked as if Kashiwa would be overwhelmed. To their credit, the Japanese side regrouped in the second half and got back in the match with a headed goal by Hiroki Sakai from a corner by Wagner.
Santos’ third was another spectacular strike, this time from a free kick by Danilo, that he expertly bent around the wall. Danilo, who can play in defence or midfield will be joining Porto after the tournament and should make a big impression in Europe.
The team in yellow refused to buckle, however, and came close to a reply from Masakatsu Saka, who spurned two great chances created down the left of Santos’ defence.
The 30,000 strong crowd, who braved a cold evening in Nagoya, left happily after witnessing a fine match full of attacking play by both sides.
Santos go on to the final in Yokohama on Sunday where they will expect to face European Champions and holders Barcelona.
