Champions League Final Illustrates the Necessity of the Competition

Tomorrow, Barcelona and Manchester United will culminate their seasons in one final game.

It will take place in Rome, Italy, and it will be for UEFA Champions League glory.

From the first kicks in the first games of the group stage to the final game winning goals netted in the semi-final, it has all brought us to this one final point.

The roads both Manchester United and Barcelona have taken to get here have made them worthy of their places in the final.

Barcelona outclassed a surprising Sporting Lisbon side for first place in their group, which included eventual UEFA Cup winners Shakhtar Donetsk.

Manchester United managed just two wins in the group stage but still were able to win the group. Their efforts got them a draw with Inter Milan in the first round of the knockout stage, which was arguably the most mouthwatering tie in the competition so far.

Barcelona dispatched Lyon convincingly in the first round of the knockout stages, while United required just one goal to dispatch Inter—though they netted two.

The Catalans then cruised past German giants Bayern Munich 5-1 on aggregate while United had to work hard yet again, besting FC Porto on a 40 yard rocket strike from Cristiano Ronaldo.

United switched fortunes with Barcelona, it seemed, in the semi-finals.

United dispatched of Arsenal 4-1 on aggregate, while it took a heroic last gasp strike from Andres Iniesta at Stamford Bridge that saw the Catalans through to the final on away goals.

The final is set—it will be the current and reigning champions of England versus the current champions of Spain.

This is why the Champions League exists, to showcase the talents of Europe's best clubs on an international stage.

So, how will this game play out?

Well, there are only two possible scenarios that can happen in my mind.

Either the play will be wide open, which favors neither team over the other, or it will look much like the semi-final these two teams played out last year.

My hunch is that the latter is more likely to take place because that favors United. 

Why?

Well, United is good at grinding out results, and if the Red Devils can disrupt the free flowing style of Barcelona long enough to score on a counter attack, than that is exactly the plan Sir Alex Ferguson will put into working order.

The neutral would love to see an open style of play, but Ferguson and Manchester United have a distinct advantage.

They compete in the most competitive league in Europe which requires focus for 38 games out of every season.

La Liga just simply doesn't offer that type of challenge for its two or three elite teams top-to-bottom.

United make their living, especially in the Champions League, by frustrating their opponents with stout defense and flurrying counter attacks.

If Barcelona is to win this game they will have to capitalize on the types of chances they created, but were unable to finish in last year's semi-final.

Thierry Henry and Andres Iniesta should be fit to start in tomorrow's final, which gives Messi plenty of options to play off of. However, it may be hard for Barcelona to recover from the losses of Eric Abidal, Dani Alves to suspension, and Rafa Marquez to long term injury.

United have shown weaknesses at times at the back four and though Rio Ferdinand looks fit to start, the Red Devils can't afford temporary lapses in concentration against an impressive Barcelona attack.

While my prediction will come as no surprise, I need to delay it for just a bit longer to fully appreciate what this game will offer.

First off, it is being played in a historic city, in a fine stadium, and in front of two of the most loyal and gigantic fan bases in all of the world.

It will possess the world's two best players, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Both teams possess style and flare as well as 11 players that have the ability to offer multiple moments of brilliance that will surely be on showcase in tomorrow's final.

As I said, many pundits and fans' predictions rest on the condition of how the game will be played.

Even with the brilliance Messi will likely display tomorrow, it is going to be a major task to crack a stout United back line consisting of two of the best center backs in football.

I expect Sir Alex Ferguson to start a similar side to the one he started in the second leg of the semi-final in London. I would not be surprised if a scrappy goal or two were the result.

Prediction: Barcelona 1 Manchester United 2