La Liga - Ibrahimovic to make debut against City

Eurosport - Tue, 18 Aug 15:47:00 2009

Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to make his Barcelona debut in a friendly against Manchester City after recovering from a hand fracture.

FOOTBALL 2009 Barcelona Zlatan Ibrahimovic Thierry Henry - 0

"He's in good shape and we are planning on him (Ibrahimovic) playing a part," coach Pep Guardiola said.

Ibrahimovic joined from Inter Milan last month in a swap deal with Samuel Eto'o but has been sidelined following surgery to the injury he sustained while on tour in the United States with the Italian champions.

Forward Lionel Messi, who had a thigh muscle strain, has also been given the all-clear to play in the Joan Gamper Trophy match, the club's traditional pre-season curtain raiser at the Nou Camp.

French pair Thierry Henry and Eric Abidal were unable to complete a full training session after they picked up minor injuries in Sunday's Spanish Super Cup first-leg win over Athletic Bilbao, the club said.

Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta and Mexico defender Rafael Marquez joined the rest of the squad for the start of the session as they near the end of their recovery from injury, they added on their website.

However, Guardiola said he probably would not be able to count on them for the European Super Cup match against Shakhtar Donetsk in Monaco on August 28.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 13 of 13

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  1. gamper or what EVER
    its friendly so who cares

    From Stand, on Wed 19 Aug 9:44PM

  2. To Comment 2. The Point is, to keep the team at Match­ level, given the game against Everton being postponed­ due to Everton's game in Europe. Plus it is part­ of the build program, Gives certain players the­ experience of playing the Euro Champs, playing in a­ great stadium, builds up match fitness etc etc. The­ result although secondary could become big kudos if­ they get the result and if not so what, nobody gives us­ a chance anyway and therefore everything about this­ trip as far as City is concerned is a plus. Oh! nearly­ forgot they have warm weather, Manchester doesn't. ­ Ha Ha!!

    From tonyjoe79, on Wed 19 Aug 1:54PM

  3. City to win 2-0

    From Bob, on Wed 19 Aug 10:01AM

  4. post#2....they are playing simply because their­ opponents in the EPL have fixtures in champion's­ league/europa league so they have to play and keep­ their players match-fit for next match...check next­ time b4 u post a stupid comment!

    From Abby, on Wed 19 Aug 9:53AM

  5. While we look forward to ibra lets see what he will­ give us today but i hope inesta recovered quickly barca­ for life

    From Kikunmi, on Wed 19 Aug 8:31AM

  6. y everyone doesnt think barca will win this game?i mean­ according to the votes below..they won treble last­ year! u know treble? yes treble! it s treble!­ league,cup,europe..what else do u want? football match­ between planets? they can still have a string of­ winning games with their youngsters, jeffren suarez,­ bojan krkic, pedro, what else do u want? lol..

    From Fazreen A, on Wed 19 Aug 8:15AM

  7. welcome Ibrahimovic to the new Barca world.Now you are­ in the position to show Ronaldo and others players in­ Real who is the best(after Messi).i can't wait 29­ November when we play and we will destroid Real.VIVA­ Barca VIVA Kosova

    From Albanian L, on Tue 18 Aug 9:20PM

  8. welcome To Barca Ibrahimovic, cant wait for u to start­ scoring goals, GOOD LUCK

    From mike.sabbah, on Tue 18 Aug 7:57PM

  9. lol now watch man c beat a full barca team...and i dont­ even like man c..but the idiots are writing them off­ already...

    From Donna, on Tue 18 Aug 2:54PM

  10. love to see ibrahimovic playing along side­ henry,messi,inester,xavi and the rest of the team mate.

    From Muhammad, on Tue 18 Aug 2:48PM

  11. mancity be carefull u will just go their and­ diiiiiiissgrees ur selves

    From Muhammad, on Tue 18 Aug 2:41PM

  12. I'm not sure what the point of City playing in this­ friendly part way through the season is. They'll­ be playing their reserves, and will be thrashed by the­ Barca 1st team.

    From haz_r_1980, on Tue 18 Aug 2:36PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Well this fixture will sort the men from the boys as­ far as top european clubs are concerned. 5-0 barcalona

    From I am top gear stig, on Tue 18 Aug 2:18PM
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