Sevilla to host Barcelona in Supercup 1st leg

Madrid: Barcelona's top players will try to shake off the exertions of the World Cup and midweek international action when they play Sevilla in the first leg of the Spanish Supercup on Saturday.

League champion Barcelona seeks to retain the cup, which pits the league winner against the Copa del Rey champion in Spain's biggest preseason clash.

Eight Barcelona players were part of Spain's World Cup-winning team. The national side also made a draining trip to Mexico for a friendly that ended 1-1 on Wednesday.

World Cup hero David Villa, who moved to Barcelona from Valencia in the summer, admitted he was tired ahead of the Supercup first leg, which will be in Sevilla's Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.

"I had hoped my first training session would be in different circumstances," the striker said. "We arrived a bit tired from the journey, but I'm keen and happy to get started."

With so many key players fighting off the fatigue, coach Pep Guardiola is expected to dip into Barcelona's famed youth academy for the game.

One of the beneficiaries could be goalkeeper Ruben Mino, to replace Victor Valdes.

With the transfer window still open, both Barcelona and Sevilla could yet see personnel changes before the first league action of the season on Aug. 28-29. Media reports have linked Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic with a move to Manchester City, while Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano is reportedly mulling a move to the Spanish champions.

For Sevilla, forward Luis Fabiano is in advanced talks with Marseille.

Meanwhile, for Barcelona utility player Adriano Correia, Saturday's game will be a return to the stadium he left at the end of last season.

"I'm delighted about the time I spent at (Sevilla) and now I'm really excited to go back," said Correia, who played in defense and midfield for the Andalusian side. The Brazilian said he was not sure what position he will play if he starts Saturday's game, but he was certain his former team will play hard.

"Sevilla won't hold back. They are interested in this game against Barcelona because it's a final, it's a chance to win a title."

A win for Barca in the two-leg encounter would give its historians something to celebrate going into the league season, as it would hand the club a record nine Spanish Supercup title, one more than archrival Real Madrid.

The return game will be played in Barcelona on Aug. 21.