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Friday 27 May 2011

Preview: Manchester United Vs Barcelona


PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Barcelona (4-3-3)

Valdes; Dani Alves, Mascherano, Pique, Puyol; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta; Pedro, Messi, Villa

Barca coach Pep Guardiola will be without the services of the injured Gabriel Milito and substitute goalkeeper Jose Pinto, who is suspended. Carles Puyol could deputise at full-back, with Javier Mascherano employed in the centre of defence.

Guardiola is expecting fireworks at Wembley and had nothing but praise for his opponents on Saturday, saying: "They are one of the best teams in the world, and not just this year. We are proud to be playing them. I think it will be a good final."

Manchester United (4-4-1-1)

Van der Sar; Fabio, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra; Valencia, Giggs, Carrick, Park; Rooney; Hernandez

Man Utd.


Leading scorer Dimitar Berbatov will have to be content with a place on the bench while Michael Carrick will likely hold off Darren Fletcher for a berth in midfield. Fabio should receive the nod ahead of his twin brother at right-back.

United manager Alex Ferguson is keen to win the CL trophy on English soil and warned his side not be in awe of his opponents, saying: "It is not good tactics to go into how good Barcelona are and show trepidation or apprehension about it. I don’t think that is our way."

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Barcelona have scored the most goals in this season's Champions League (27).
  • The Catalans have faced Manchester United 10 times in European play. Their record against the English outfit is: W3 D4 L3.
  • The Camp Nou giants have scored in their last 20 Champions League encounters. Rubin Kazan were the last team to shut them out back in November 2009.
  • Lionel Messi is the CL's top scorer with 11 goals in the current campaign.
  • Barcelona won the last European Cup final at Wembley in 1992 beating Sampdoria 1-0 after extra-time.
  • Xavi and Sergio Busquets are the only two players to complete more than 1000 passes in the 2010-11 CL.
  • Manchester United are riding a 12-game unbeaten streak in this year's edition of the Champions League.
  • Edwin Van der Sar will make his 99th overall appearance in the competition on Saturday.
  • The Red Devils have conceded only four goals in the tournament.
  • Alex Ferguson's side have reached their third CL final in the last four years.
  • United succumbed to a 2-0 defeat against Barca in the 2009 final at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
  • Manchester United's last loss in the CL came against Bayern Munich in March 2010.


Field Report
Head to Head
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎May 27, 2009Barcelona 2 - Man Utd. 0
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