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Club World Cup | Semi-Finals
Dec 17, 2015 at 10.30am UK
 

3-0

Suarez (39', 50', 68')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Player Ratings: Barcelona 3-0 Guangzhou Evergrande

Sports Mole takes a closer look at how each player performed during Barcelona's 3-0 win over Guangzhou Evergrande in the Club World Cup semi-final.

Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick as Barcelona beat Luiz Felipe Scolari's Guangzhou Evergrande 3-0 in the Club World Cup semi-finals in Japan.

Suarez, who has now scored 19 times in his last 17 appearances for his Spanish club, struck once in the first period and twice in the second to ensure that Luis Enrique's team made the final.

Argentine outfit River Plate will be waiting for Barcelona in the final of the competition on Sunday.

Here, Sports Mole has taken a closer look at how each player performed in Japan.


Barcelona's Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring the 1-2 during the UEFA Champions League Final football match between Juventus and FC Barcelona at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on June 6, 2015© Getty Images

BARCELONA

Goal

Claudio Bravo: Did not have an awful lot to do for long spells, but was alert to make a super save from Elkeson in the first period. Surprisingly given the nod over Marc-Andre ter Stegen for this game. (7/10)

Defence

Dani Alves: Somewhat surprisingly not as involved as he could have been going forward, but the Brazilian used the ball intelligently and put in a mature performance on the right of the defence. (7/10)

Gerard Pique: Not exactly the toughest test that the centre-back will face this season, but he used all of his experience to bail his team out of a couple of potentially dangerous situations late on. (7/10)

Javier Mascherano: There were times when Guangzhou's legs threatened to cause problems on the counter, but the Argentine's reading of the match was simply excellent throughout the contest. (7/10)

Jordi Alba: In truth, did not need to do too much defensive work, but the Spaniard was always a threat going forward and linked up with Roberto down the left. Another accomplished performance. (7/10)

Midfield

Ivan Rakitic: It was the Croatian's stinging strike that brought Barcelona's opening goal and he was always involved in the final third. Enjoyed playing slightly further forward for the Catalan side. (7/10)

Sergio Busquets: Perhaps still does not get the praise that he deserves, but Barcelona are not the same team when the Spaniard does not feature. Once again excellent in midfield. (7/10)

Andres Iniesta: Midfield masterclass from the Spaniard. Set up Suarez's second with a beautiful pass and controlled the tempo from the middle of the park. New hair-cut, but the same old Iniesta. (8/10)

Attack

Munir El-Haddadi: Had two super chances in the first period, but his finishing was disappointing on both occasions. End product needs work, but his movement caused a lot of problems. (7/10)

Luis Suarez: Once again the star of the show for Barcelona. Scored a brilliant hat-trick - two close-range finishes and a second-half penalty to ensure that the Spaniards advanced to the final. (9/10)

Sergi Roberto: Deployed as part of Barcelona's front three and the in-form midfielder proved a busy presence in the final third. Picked up intelligent positions before being replaced late on. (7/10)

Substitutes

Sandro Ramirez: Looked keen to get on the scoresheet after entering for the final 20 minutes, but the Spaniard could not find the back of the net despite a couple of curling efforts late on. (6/10)

Adriano: Was not introduced until the 76th minute, but the Brazilian was full of beans down the left and set up a couple of excellent chances late on with some brilliant delivery from a wide area. (7/10)

Sergi Samper: Looks set to play a part in Barcelona's first-team in the second half of the season and the 20-year-old looked calm and confident during his 10-minute cameo in Yokohama. (6/10)


GUANGZHOU

Goal

Li Shuai: Should have done better with Rakitic's strike that brought the opener, but could not do much about the second or third. Made some decent stops, but needed more protection. (6/10)

Defence

Zou Zheng: Did a good job of keeping Barcelona's attackers quiet in the first period, but he picked up an injury 10 minutes before the interval and was replaced by Li Xuepeng. (6/10)

Young-Gwon Kim: Without question the toughest test of the 25-year-old's career and the centre-back will surely learn from facing one of the best strikers in world football in Suarez. (6/10)

Feng Xiaoting: Picked up a booking for a poor challenge on Suarez in the first period and was understandably wary of making tackles from that point forward. Had a tough game. (5/10)

Zhang Linpeng: Despite being just 26, already has close to 50 Chinese caps to his name. Munir's movement, however, caused the full-back problems for long spells of the contest. (6/10)

Midfield

Zheng Zhi: The Chinese legend tried a number of long-range passes throughout the match, but it did not really happen for the 35-year-old. Barcelona's midfield ultimately controlled the match. (6/10)

Paulinho: Certainly one of his team's better performers in Japan. Was always involved going forward and prepared to help out down the other end. Stuck out for Guangzhou in terms of quality. (6/10)

Huang Bowen: Extremely unfortunate to concede a penalty in the second period after making little contact with Munir. Found it difficult to make his mark in the middle of the midfield. (6/10)

Attack

Ricardo Goulart: One of three Brazilians in Guangzhou's XI, the attacker could not add to his excellent scoring form for the Chinese team. Was starved of possession for long spells of the match. (6/10)

Elkeson: Was a willing runner and came close with a header late in the first period. Always threatening to cause problems, but faded in the second period and was replaced in the 67th minute. (6/10)

Zheng Long: Did his best to make things happen in the final third and managed to play a couple of passes behind the Barcelona defence, but the number 27 was replaced before the hour. (6/10)

Substitutes

Li Xuepeng: Would not have been easy coming into the match in the latter stages of the first period, but under the circumstances, the 27-year-old put in a decent performance at full-back. (6/10)

Yu Hanchao: Was introduced just before the hour, with the Chinese side 2-0 behind. Looked dangerous when he had the chance to carry the ball, but did not have a chance of note. (6/10)

Gao Lin: Another that has an excellent scoring record for Guangzhou, but another that struggled to make his mark due to the quality of the opposition. Not much of note in the final 20 minutes. (6/10)


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