Barça have closed the Club World Cup group stage in style. After defeating Andes Talleres de Mendoza (9-1) and Olimpia Patín Club (4-3), they have now seen off Sporting CP (3-1) to secure top spot in their group and will face Group B runners-up Centro Valenciano, the Argentine champions, in Saturday’s semi-final (02:30am CEST).

After receiving a tribute from his former club yesterday, Pablo Álvarez was again in the spotlight today for a different reason after being hit in the face by the ball and having to drop out of the game. Conscious throughout, he walked off unaided and was taken to hospital for precautionary tests, accompanied by the club’s medical staff. A further update will follow once results are known.

Barça dominated from start to finish, solid in defence and sharp in attack. The opener came just after Pablito’s exit, when Ferran Font finished off a fine team move (0–1, min 8). Soon after, Sergi Llorca converted a quick counter to double the lead (0–2, min 9).

Sporting responded when Nolito Romero beat Sergi Fernández from a direct free after Sergi Aragonès saw a blue card (1–2, min 18). Before the break, Verona missed a penalty that could have levelled the score thanks to a superb save from Fernández.

In the second half, Barça controlled the tempo and pushed on. Marc Grau extended the lead early (1–3, min 30), and although Xavi Barroso’s penalty was stopped by Xano Edo, the result was never in doubt. Late on, another blue card—this time for Grau—gave Sporting a final chance, but Fernández again denied Romero’s direct shot.

The other semi will be all-Portuguese clash between OC Barcelos and Sporting CP.

MATCH STATS

SPORTING CP, 1
BARÇA, 3

Sporting CP: Xano Edo, Diogo Barata, Alessandro Verona, Facundo Navarro, Nolito Romero, Rafa Bessa, Santiago Honório, Henrique Magalhaes, Zé Diogo

Barça: Sergi Fernández, Ignacio Alabart, Ferran Font, Sergi Aragonès, Marc Grau, Pablo Álvarez, Sergi Llorca, Eloi Cervera, Xavi Barroso, Carles Grau. 

Referees: Paulo Giraudo & Francisco Carrera

Força Barça