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Barcelona vs. River Plate: Mascherano ice-cold ahead of Club World Cup final

Barcelona play River Plate in the Club World Cup final, but Javier Mascherano says facing his old club will not prove a distraction.

Javier Mascherano says facing former club River Plate in Sunday's Club World Cup final will not distract him from making history with Barcelona.

A Luis Suarez hat trick saw the European champion past Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao to set up a meeting with River, which edged past Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the last four.

Mascherano began his career with the Copa Libertadores holder and the 31-year-old admitted before the tournament that he would rather not have to face his boyhood club.