Manchester United vs Barcelona: Champions League Final Preview

Manchester United vs Barcelona

Wednesday 27 May 2009,

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Kickoff: 19:45

Manchester United

Manchester United come into the Champions League final having extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to fourteen with a 1-0 win against Hull on Sunday.

Man Utd are undefeated during this year’s Champions League campaign, booking their place in the final with a comprehensive 4-1 aggregate victory over fellow English side Arsenal. In fact, Man U haven’t lost a Champions League game since May 2007.

Manchester United will miss Darren Fletcher for the final through suspension after his red card against Arsenal, while long-term injuries to Ben Foster and and Owen Hargreaves rule them out of contention.

Sir Alex Ferguson has indicated that he expects Rio Ferdinand to be fit to start on Wednesday, and Man Utd have no other last-minute injury concerns.

Barcelona

Barcelona were undefeated in seventeen matches before suffering a hangover from their La Liga celebrations to lose their last two domestic games.

Barca have lost just once during their run to the Champions League final, scoring more goals than any other side in the competition. Their place in Rome was secured by a controversial away goals victory over Chelsea.

Rookie Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola has some selection issues going into the final. Usual full-backs Dani Alves and Eric Abidal are both suspended, while centre-back Rafael Marquez will definitely miss out through injury.

In addition, Andres Iniesta and Thierry Henry are still considered doubts, although both completed a training session for Barca on Monday and so are expected to be in the squad.

Prediction

Barcelona’s selection problems have handed the advantage to Manchester United, who have the attacking players capable of taking advantage of the makeshift back four Guardiola will be forced to select.

Alves has been one of the pillars of Barca’s success this season, and without his maundering runs forward from right-back they are sure to lose some of their attacking prowess.

Keeping the ball will be key for the Catalans if they wish to limit the damage Man United are able to inflict upon them, and to this end it is vital that Iniesta recovers sufficiently to start Wednesday’s game. He and Xavi have been mesmerising for much of the season, and along with Lionel Messi, perhaps offer the greatest threat to the holders.

Manchester United are likely to start the game with three central midfielders in a bid to prevent Barcelona dictating the rhythm. Fletcher’s suspension is clearly a blow, but with the likes of Scholes, Giggs, Anderson and Carrick to choose from, there is no reason to believe that Ferguson will be unduly worried.

The likely attacking triumvirate of Rooney, Ronaldo and Park offers power, pace and persistence in equal measure, and could prove too difficult to handle for a Barcelona defence likely to include at least one player unfamiliar with his position on the night.

Barça clearly have the ability to play any team off the park, but with players missing and Man Utd sporting better options on the bench, it seems likely that the holders will retain their title. Whatever the result, it is sure to be a fascinating contest.

Manchester United 3-2 Barcelona

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