Barcelona to go all out for elusive title in Fifa Club World Cup

Abu Dhabi: Going by the current form, ‘hurricane Barcelona' may simply blow away Atlante's challenge in Wednesday's second semifinal of the Fifa Club World Cup.

Unfortunately for the Mexicans, Barcelona are taking this event very seriously with an eye on an unprecedented sixth Cup win for the year, and with star Lionel Messi likely to play, the Catalan giants may live up to their favourites' tag.

The Zayed Sports City Stadium is likely to see the biggest crowd thus far in this Club World Cup and with a star-filled side, Barcelona will be going all out to win the only trophy in club history that has not been part of their glittering collection.

Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front, Andres Iniesta and Xavi in midfield, the inspirational Carlos Puyol in central defence and Victor Valdes in goal are names who need no introduction while complementing them are an equally skilled and talented lot.

Despite playing their third match in eight days, Pep Guardiola's come into this match having equalled their club record of 15 unbeaten games in the tough Spanish League.

That form coupled with the hunger for this elusive trophy which they missed out in 2006 — perhaps due to their over-confidence-could end up in a dominating display against their rivals from Mexico.

Fans here will however get to see a battle between teams that more or less play similar, attacking and short passing football except that one is full of superstars while the Mexicans are lesser-knowns.

Their 3-0 win over Auckland City FC did reveal a lot of skill and a style that their Argentine pro and former Real Madrid star Santiago Solari said was their own.

Solari told Barca TV that the match will depend much on the way the favourites perform.

Commenting on Atlante and their style, Solari said, "There are some very young players. In general the squad is very young. We're not very strong physically, in fact we're rather small, but we try and play football, create and keep the ball on the ground."

"It's the kind of football that Barca fans or fans of Spanish football will be used to. Of course, as long as Barca let us play our game. That's how we always play and we're not going to change" he said.