Rivaldo tips Barca to triumph

Rivaldo believes that Barcelona are the best team in the world and will beat Chelsea.

Rivaldo believes that Barcelona are the best team in the world and will defeat Chelsea when the two sides meet in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League tie.

The former Camp Nou favourite will return to his old club to watch the high-profile encounter and tips Barca to win because he thinks that they are more of a team than The Blues.

After winning the Spanish championship last term, the first time since Rivaldo helped them to the title in 1999, the Brazilian is currently playing for Olympiakos, but is still a fan of the Blaugrana.

"They are the best team in the world," he told Sport. "It is difficult to analyse in the middle of a season. The trophies will say one way or the other. In the Champions League, they have done very well and in the league they are only at 60 percent of their capability.

"I hope that Barcelona win. They are more of a team than Chelsea because they have played together for three seasons. As they showed in London, where Chelsea did not do anything. They must respect Jose Mourinho's team, but Barca are better.

"When Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Leo Messi have played together in attack they have always scored at least two goals because they are so good."

After working under Mourinho when the current Chelsea coach was Louis van Gaal's number two, Rivaldo is a fan of the Portuguese manager.

"I am not in contact with him now, but Jose was the assistant coach under Louis van Gaal and was always very good towards me," he continued.

"I think that he is a good man, but now he is with another team."

Rivaldo is also delighted to see another Brazilian superstar following in his footsteps at Camp Nou in Ronaldinho and claims that he always tipped the former Gremio playmaker to be successful in La Liga.

"I knew that he was very good," Rivaldo stated. "I have always said that I thought he would be a great player. I thought that he would be a success in Spain and maybe some of my words helped him to believe that too."