Former Manchester City forward Robinho is on the Chinese bench. No sign of him coming on but that could change very soon.

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Loads of possession...but only one goal to show for it. Will Barcelona step up another gear? We're back under way in Yokohama.

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Will Lionel Messi play at the Club World Cup? He was due to start before injury ruled the Argentine international out. It is certainly a competition he enjoys.

When Barca won the Club World Cup in 2011 the 'Little Magician' scored two goals in a 4-0 win over Santos in the final, while Messi also scored in the winner in the 2009 final against Aregentina's Estudiantes. 

The 28-year-old features on the front page of Thursday's Spansh daily sports newspaper Mundo Deportivo, external.

Image source, Reuters

Andres Iniesta looks to have had a drastic haircut for the tournament. It's certainly not hindering him. The midfielder was one of Barcelona's most influential players in the first half.

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The winners of today's game will face South American champions River Plate - and their fanatical support -  in Sunday's final.

Around 15,000 River Plate fans have travelled to Japan from Argentina in the hope of seeing their side get a pop at Barcelona and countryman Lionel Messi, 

"We just had to get to the final, there was no other way," said River Plate boss Marcelo Gallardo after his side's 1-0 win over Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Wednesday's first semi-final, Lucas Alario with the winner.

"All these people came with this dream and we had to carry this responsibility, and this put us under enormous pressure. It is a liberation to get to the final that we wanted and now we can enjoy the moment." 

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Barcelona are far from their best but they have the lead. They're half way to the 2015 Fifa Club World Cup final.

Terrific response by Guangzhou after falling behind. Elkeson almost equalises but Claudio Bravo makes an excellent save low to his right.

No one can say Barcelona did not deserve that goal. They might not be at their fluent best but they have bossed possession and created the better chances.

Trouble for Guangzhou. Defender Zou Zheng is hurt in a challenge and cannot continue. In fact he has to be carried off on a stretcher and is clearly in pain. Guangzhou's former Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari is very animated on the bench as Li Xuepeng comes on.

More magic from the boots of Andres Iniesta and another chance for Barcelona...this time Munir El Haddadi heads a chance wide following a fine cross by the captain.

Frustration creeping into Barcelona's play. Almost half an hour gone and it's still goalless. Andres Iniesta, who has been at the centre of Barca's best moves, shrugs his shoulders and waves his arms in the air as another move breaks down. Who said Barcelona weren't taking this seriously?

He's conquered Europe and La Liga. Barcelona boss Luis Enrique is dressed as though he is now ready to conquer Everest. Yes, it really is very cold.

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Barcelona are moving up a gear...or three. A defence-splitting pass presents Munir El Haddadi with a chance to open the scoring but Li Shuai reads the danger and is off his line quick as a flash to save the day. Great goalkeeping.

Image source, @FCBarcelona

Barcelona's players are used to attention wherever they go yet the vast crowds that have greeted the European champions since they touched down in Japan at the start of the week has taken Luis Enrique's team by surprise.

"Brimming with passion, Barça's Japanese fans have welcomed the team to their homeland with unbridled joy," an article on Barcelona's website, external reads.

"No lid is strong enough to cap this amount of excitement. From the moment FC Barcelona's airplane touched down in Yokohama at dawn on Monday morning, Japan has been bubbling with blaugrana passion."

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Where's Lionel Messi when you need him? Ivan Rakitic's free-kick is easily blocked.

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Fair to say Barcelona have not got out of second gear. Lots of sideways passing but the Chinese defence have yet to be seriously troubled. Is that about to change? Luis Suarez is brought down just outside the area by Xiaoting Feng which results in a booking.