Josep Guardiola can become the most decorated coach in Barcelona’s history when the European champions take on Porto in today’s UEFA Super Cup showpiece in Monaco (kick-off: 20.45).

Guardiola, 40, has needed just three years in charge of the club he represented with such distinction as a player to equal Johann Cruyff’s record tally of 11 titles at the Camp Nou.

It is a remarkable statistic, and such is the Catalans’ dominance right now that it would be a huge surprise if Guardiola was not celebrating title number 12 at the Stade Louis II come tonight.

Of course, Barca have already won silverware this season, beating Real Madrid 5-4 on aggregate after two pulsating legs to claim the Spanish Super Cup.

The Spanish domestic season was due to begin last weekend until a strike by the players’ union put paid to the entire opening round of fixtures, but Barca were in fine fettle on Monday, hammering Napoli 5-0 in the annual Joan Gamper Trophy at the Camp Nou.

Now they head to the principality looking for a repeat of their Super Cup triumph in 2009, when Pedro scored the only goal in extra-time to beat Shakhtar Donetsk.

Barca are also hoping to win the trophy for Spain for the third year running, after Atletico Madrid saw off Inter 2-0 last year.

Porto also enjoyed a memorable 2010-11 campaign, in which they beat domestic rivals Braga to win the Europa League in Dublin, and completed a league and cup double at home.

Since then, coach Andre Villas-Boas has been lured away to England’s Chelsea, while influential Colombian striker Radamel Falcao has been sold to Atletico Madrid along with midfielder Ruben Micael for a combined fee that could reach an astonishing €52 million.

New coach Vitor Pereira, 43, was Villas-Boas’s assistant last season, but this is his first season as a coach at the top level.