Sporting - Barcelona: Meeting old friends

(Baonghean.vn) - French defender Mathieu will be the center of attention in the Sporting - Barcelona match taking place at Jose De Alvalade Stadium.

In the first match of Group D, while Barcelona crushed the reigning runner-up Juventus 3-0, the Portuguese representative also won all 3 points on the Greek soil of the home team Olympiacos with a narrow 3-2 victory.

Although they are sharing the top two positions, the clash at Jose De Alvalade Stadium has not received much attention from fans. The difference in class between the two teams is too obvious.

Apart from the home advantage, Sporting’s other factors cannot compare to the “Catalan giant”. Barcelona is on a 7-match winning streak in all competitions, scoring 23 goals and conceding only 2.

In terms of strength, of course Messi and his teammates are also rated much higher than their counterparts on the other side of the battle line. In terms of head-to-head record, Barcelona also won all 2 recent meetings (Champions League 2008/2009).

Barcelona players celebrate their goal against Juventus. Photo: Internet

That doesn't mean the Sporting vs Barcelona match isn't worth watching. Before the match between the two teams, defender Mathieu spoke very frankly about his former team - Barcelona.

The Frenchman said: “If I score against Barca, I will celebrate in front of Bartomeu and Robert Fernandez. I love Barca very much, but they have treated me badly. They always blame me after defeats and do not mention Pique at all.”

During his 3 seasons playing for Barcelona (2014 - 2017), Mathieu did not prove much as he was constantly plagued by injuries and made serious mistakes.

Titles are something the former Valencia player has not lacked at Camp Nou (1 Champions League, 2 La Liga, 3 Copa del Rey, 1 European Super Cup, 2 Spanish Super Cups and 1 FIFA Club World Cup), but happiness is something Mathieu has never felt. It is the media, specifically the newspaper SPORT (pro-Barcelona) and the club leaders (President Bartomeu, Secretary Fernandez)... who have treated him so unfairly.

Center back Mathieu when he played for Barcelona. Photo: Internet

Now facing his old team again, Mathieu will do everything to make Barcelona regret. Don't forget, the central defender born in 1983 is a player with excellent aerial ability. During his time playing for Valencia, Mathieu scored many goals for his team with his powerful headers.

That is the basis for coach Luis Enrique asking Barcelona's board of directors to spend 20 million euros to bring him to Camp Nou. Mathieu's experience and understanding of his old team will help Sporting have more hope for the goal of gaining points against Barcelona.

Who knows, coach Valverde and his team may have to receive the first shock after a series of dream matches, from a former player who was just "kicked" out of Camp Nou a few months ago. In football, nothing is impossible. Especially, Mathieu's strength is the "Achilles heel" of the "Catalan giant"./.

Thanh Hung