Champions League Final Preview

Rome 2009

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Manchester United celebrate

Manchester United go into the Champions League final tonight unbeaten since May 2007 and full of confidence from winning the Premier League two weeks ago. The English, World and current European Champions face a formiddable foe in Barcelona - who won their domestic league title on the same weekend whilst also picking up the Copa Del Ray to add to their impressive haul.

Past Meetings

Manchester United and Barcelona have met nine times in European Competitions in both the European Cup/Champions League and what was known as the Cup Winners Cup. United have won on three occassions, with Barcelona picking up two wins and there have been four draws. Every encounter between United and the Catalan club is always dramatic - with the first meeting back in March 1984 and United going down 2-0 in the first leg. The return leg was considered by many to be Bryan Robson's finest game in a United shirt, as the Reds came from two nil down to win the tie 3-2 overall - a fantastic fightback.

Mark Hughes scored a brace to beat Barca in Rotterdam in 1991, again in the Cup winners Cup, to give Fergie his first European trophy - with Manchester United. The clubs then met again in 1994 - this time in the reformatted European Cup - the Champions League. United snatched a draw at Old Trafford, with a Lee Sharpe backheel, but went down 4-0 in Barcelona. Many fans blamed the foreigner restrictions - which undoubtly had an infludence - although when you have Romario and Hristo Stoichkov to content with, you know its going to be difficult.

The next clash, or should I say epic clash, came in the autumn of 1998. United had finished runners up to Arsenal the previous season and wanted to get back on track - especially with two new major signings in Jaap Stam and Dwight Yorke. United and Barcelona drew the first game at Old Trafford 3-3, with a superb freekick by David Beckham. A superb game of football that you would have thought would last in the memory for some time. It did, that is until the away game in the Nou Camp when the teams drew 3-3 again. Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole linked up impressively in the match - scoring one of the best passing goals in Europe. Barcelona legend Rivaldo scored the third and final goal (a superb overhead kick) - which meant that both clubs had shared twelve goals in two games. It was United and Bayern who qualified from what should be considered the all time group of death.

The final two games between these two giants of football happened last season - when after an uneventful first leg (where Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty) Paul Scholes settled the tie with a glorious strike. United held on and won the right to play in the final in Moscow - and the rest is history.

Barcelona form

Domestically, Barcelona have been on different planet from the other major teams in Spain, scoring 104 goals in only 36 games. However, the have also conceeded 35 goals - so almost a goal a game. United have played two more games domestcally than Barca and conceeded eleven less goals.

The Catalans destroyed arch rivals Real Madrid recently with Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and old boy Gerard Pique getting on the scoresheet. Having said that Barcelona have lost the last two league games - although a reserve side was put out, with the Champions League final in mind and La Liga already won.

In terms of scoring breakdown, Barcelona have scored most of their goals between the 15-30 minutes (25) - however more alarmingly (as Chelsea found out), 25 of their 104 goals were scored in the final fifteen minutes of the game. United will need to keep concentration throughout the match and remain strong till the end.

United lineup

It is ever so unfortunate that Darren Fletcher was wrongly suspended for the final, considering he was across both legs against Arsenal the best player on the park. Ryan Giggs or Paul Scholes will step into the Scot's role this evening - with Ryan Giggs getting the nod from us. Other than this forced changed, it is expected that United will lineup the same as against Arsenal:

Goalkeeper: Edwin Van Der Sar
Defenders: John O'shea, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra
Midfielders: Anderson, Carrick, Giggs
Attackers: Park, Ronaldo, Rooney

This indicates that United will lineup in a 4-3-3, with Ronaldo through the middle. I expect United to play quite deep breaking up Barcelona's play wherever possible and attempting to counter attack against a weakened defense. Anderson is vital in hussling both Xavi and Iniesta so that they do not get any time on the ball high up the pitch - whilst Park and Rooney and pivotal in United's counter attacking plan.

Verdict

If all goes to plan and United can nullify Barcelona's attacking threat whilst hitting the Catalans on the break then United will win - no question about that. If United fail to stop the intricate passing of the midfield three and Messi coming off the right flank, then United will be chasing shadows - Barca can have much of the ball as they want in front of the United backfour - when they are on the edge of the eighteen yard box, the space much be restricted. I think United can and will do it, i'm going for 3-1 United.

Manchester United Champions League Goal scorers 2008/09

PlayerGoals
Ronaldo4
Berbatov4
Rooney4
Tevez2
O'Shea1
Vidic1
Giggs1
Park1

Manchester United Champions League Assists 2008/09

PlayerGoals
Ronaldo4
Rooney3
Giggs3
Anderson2
Tevez1
Carrick1
Evans1

Manchester United Champions League Appearances 2008/09

PlayerAppearances
Rooney13
O'Shea12
Ronaldo12
Giggs11
Evra11
Ferdinand11
van der Sar10
Park9
Carrick9
Anderson9
Vidic9
Berbatov9
Tevez9
Fletcher8
Evans7
Nani7
Scholes6
Da Silva4
Neville4
Brown2
Kuzczak2
Gibson2
Foster1
Hargreaves1

Manchester United Champions League Results 2008/09

DateHomeScoreAwayGroundAttendance
17-09-2008Manchester United0–0VillarrealOld Trafford74,944
30-09-2008AaB Aalborg0–3Manchester UnitedAalborg Stadion10,346
21-10-2008Manchester United3–0Glasgow CelticOld Trafford74,655
05-11-2008Glasgow Celtic1–1Manchester UnitedCeltic Park58,903
25-11-2008Villarreal0–0Manchester UnitedEl Madrigal Stadium26,000
10-12-2008Manchester United2–2AaB AalborgOld Trafford74,382
24-02-2009Internazionale0–0Manchester UnitedSan Siro84,000
11-03-2009Manchester United2–0InternazionaleOld Trafford74,769
07-04-2009Manchester United2–2FC PortoOld Trafford74,517
15-04-2009FC Porto0–1Manchester UnitedEstadio da Dragao50,000
29-04-2009Manchester United1–0ArsenalOld Trafford74,733
05-05-2009Arsenal1–3Manchester UnitedEmirates Stadium59,867
27-05-2009Barcelona2–0Manchester UnitedOlympic Stadium72,700