Writer: Tactful Sheik 
Date:Thursday July 26 2007
Time: 11:00AM
What happens if Barcelona win on Thursday night?
Does winning an exhibition match at Tannadice, equal Dundee United`s record of 4 wins out of 4 in competitive matches?
Probably not, but I`m sure the media will go on about the result as if it is.
Newspapers, like the Sun, will probably refer to Barca's victory as if they've won the European Cup, as if they have erased the history books of all their past humilations by Dundee United.
Personally, I`d rather win 2 legs of a UEFA Cup Quarter-Final, then a hastily arranged friendly - which was only organised to take advantage of Barcelona`s golfing holiday.
Dundee United supporters would love to make it 5 out of 5, but what are the realistic chances of Darren Dods and Lee Wilkie preventing the likes of Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry hitting the back of the net?
It`s very unlikely that Dundee United will actually win, especially if Frank Rijkaard`s side approach this match in a professional manner and listening to some of the players being interviewed, they do sound determined to win.
Scotland`s First Minister, Alex Salmond, doesn`t like Dundee United`s chances, because he told Arabzone the other day - "The way Rijkaard was talking they are here to even up the score a bit - you better watch out."
Although, he still managed to make a joke about the final results of both the Dundee United and Hearts friendlies against Barcelona.
"Maybe United and Hearts can catch them at the right moment, so who knows. United might make it 110% against Barcelona and Hearts might even scrape our first win," admitted Hearts fan Salmond.
Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard is under a little bit of pressure, but then a club the size of Barca are ALWAYS expected to win, against any opposition.
Last month Rijkaard openly admitted he wasn`t taking the match too seriously, he told the Scotsman - "It's a game, that is all."
"It's about getting back into the rhythm again, and for that you need games. To be honest, I am not really thinking about winning or losing."
It`s Craig Levein I feel sorry for, because he`s got the unenviable task of keeping the United players` feet on the ground ahead of the first match of the season against Aberdeen next week.
However, he doesn`t feel any pressure over the match and has admitted he also sees the game as just another friendly.
"I don't feel under pressure. If we win it will be five out of five, but if we don't then it will be just a friendly," Levein told the BBC this week.
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Signing delights McNamara (Sunday May 19 2013)
Skipper heads off to Rangers (Sunday May 19 2013)
Tangerines close with defeat (Sunday May 19 2013)
Stats: Dundee United v Celtic (Sunday May 19 2013)
Striker joins United (Sunday May 19 2013)
Tangerines take on champions (Friday May 17 2013)
United warned over target (Thursday May 16 2013)
United make offer to teenager (Wednesday May 15 2013)
Skipper set for Rangers (Wednesday May 15 2013)
| Latest Results | ||||
| Dundee United | 0 | - | 4 | Celtic |
| Inverness | 1 | - | 2 | Dundee United |
| Dundee United | 0 | - | 1 | St. Johnstone |
| Ross County | 1 | - | 0 | Dundee United |
| Dundee United | 1 | - | 3 | Motherwell |
| Dundee United | 1 | - | 0 | Aberdeen |
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 5. Ross County | 38 | 13 | 14 | 11 | -1 | 53 |
| 6. Hibernian | 38 | 13 | 12 | 13 | -3 | 51 |
| 7. Aberdeen | 38 | 11 | 15 | 12 | -2 | 48 |
| 8. Dundee United | 38 | 11 | 14 | 13 | -11 | 47 |
| 9. Kilmarnock | 38 | 11 | 12 | 15 | -1 | 45 |
| 10. Hearts | 38 | 11 | 11 | 16 | -9 | 44 |
| 11. St. Mirren | 38 | 9 | 14 | 15 | -13 | 41 |
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