Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes thinks that Sunday's FIFA Club World Cup final against Brazilian side Santos will be a 'thrilling' match.

GettyImagesVictor Valdes is expecting big things from Lionel Messi

• Kelly: Santos' cautious optimism

Barca beat Asian champions Al Saad 4-0 on Thursday - although the victory was tarnished by an injury to striker David Villa who broke his leg and will be out for five months - and will face Santos, who won their semi-final encounter against Kashiwa Reysol 3-1.

The build-up has focused on the battle between Barca's Lionel Messi and Santos' Neymar and Valdes is sure it will be an entertaining affair.

"It is the final everybody expected," Valdes told Barca's official website. "[Both] teams have very similar qualities, and styles as well. It will be a thrilling final, with lots of goalscoring chances for both teams.

"He [Neymar] is an important player. He has so much talent, so it will be important to analyse him and be careful with their attacking moves."

After Sunday's final, Barcelona are next in action on December 22 in the second leg of their Copa del Rey tie against L'Hospitalet, their final match before the winter break.