Barca start busy fortnight with Super Cup derby

MADRID, Aug 16 (Reuters) Spanish and European champions Barcelona will have to hit the ground running in a frantic start to the season kicking off with a local derby against Espanyol in the Spanish Super Cup tomorrow.

The traditional curtain raiser to the season against the King's Cup winners is the first of five high-profile matches awaiting Barca in the space of 12 days.

They host Espanyol in the return leg at the Nou Camp on Sunday, meet German champions Bayern Munich in the annual Hans Gamper trophy on Tuesday and then face UEFA Cup winners Sevilla in the European Super Cup in Monaco the following Friday.

Three days later they begin their title defence away to Celta Vigo.

Barca have just returned from a draining two-week promotional tour of Mexico and the United States, but coach Frank Rijkaard has said there is no danger of his players holding back in tomorrow's match.

''We are very optimistic about the Super Cup and winning it is one of our objectives this season,'' the Dutchman said earlier this week. ''It is an important trophy for both the players and the club.'' The majority of Barca's players have been released from international duty to prepare for the game and Rijkaard's only selection worries centre on Carles Puyol, Xavi and Juliano Belletti who all have minor injury niggles.

NEW SIGNINGS Tomorrow's game at Montjuic will give new signings Eidur Gudjohnsen, Gianluca Zambrotta and Lilian Thuram a chance to play their first competitive matches for the Catalans, while Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi will be raring to go after their disappointing performances at the World Cup.

''It is going to be a real pleasure to play alongside Messi, (Samuel) Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Deco,'' Zambrotta said earlier this week. ''The level technical skill and spirit of the team are really impressive.'' Espanyol are essentially the same outfit as the one which avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth last season, but they are experts at upsetting the form book as evidenced by their 4-1 demolition of favourites Real Zaragoza in the final of last season's King's Cup.

''There is no doubt that Barca are the favourites,'' Espanyol coach Ernesto Valverde said on Monday. ''They are the league and European champions and play the second leg at home.

''But we are in good shape and nowhere is it written that the favourites always win.'' REUTERS PDS PM0737