UEFA Champions League Final Preview: Manchester United Vs Barcelona
Manchester United take on Barcelona at Wembley on Saturday, in a match to decide Europe’s best club team.
This is in fact a revenge game for United who were beaten 2-0, in the Champions League final, by the same rivals, it Rome, in 2009.
(To find out how much the winners will get, click here)
Hardly anybody is giving Manchester United any chance of beaten Barcelona who are being promoted as the greatest ever football eleven assembled on earth. Barcelona are effectively the Spanish national side that did duty at the FIFA World Cup last year, with Messi replacing Torres. Barca have steamrolled all their rivals en route to the final, including Real Madrid and Arsenal, while scoring 27 goals, during the journey. The only blip came in the first leg of their semi-final against Arsenal, a match Pep Guardiola’s wards lost 2-1, after taking the lead.
Barca are clearly the technically superior team and ominously for United, they have all their players fit and running, including skipper Puyol, who is a vital cog in their defence. They have won and lost three Champions League finals in the past and if they won on Saturday, they would become only the sixth team to win four CL titles. Messi, with 11 goals under his belt, this season, will be key to Barca’s fortunes on Saturday night, at Wembley. If it were any consolation, Barca have strangely performed below par in England, recently, and United should grab that straw for what it’s worth.
There’s no pressure of expectation on Sir Alex Ferguson’s charges and that should be some consolation ahead of a game featuring the strongest rivals they are likely to face this year. The Old Trafford squad will seek to emulate the 1968 side that triumphed over Benfica, then considered the best, with a reputation rivaling Barca’s today.
United enjoy a 1-1 head to head record in the Champions League against Barca whom they beat in the semi-finals, in 2008, when they prevailed 1-0. Current form favours Barca, who have had 2 wins and 3 draws in their last five matches, while in their last five games, United have had a loss to Arsenal followed by three wins and a draw.
Barca’s probable starting eleven should have: Valdes, Puyol, Pique, Abidal, Alves, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Pedro and Villa.
United’s probable eleven: Van der Sar, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Fabio, Carrick, Giggs, Park, Valencia, Rooney and Hernandez.
(To find out how much the winners will get, click here)
About the Author (Author Profile)
Jinxatious is the Chief Editor of SportingAttitude.com
An avid writer, on an eclectic range of subjects, he brings to bear editorial experience garnered with a national newspaper in South-East Asia. He also has sportscasting experience, as a cricket commentator, and his passion for sport extends beyond Cricket, to Football, Tennis, and Olympic Sports.
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