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 |
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
UEFA Champions League (UCL) | May 27, 2009 | Barcelona 2 - Man Utd. 0 |
May 21, 2011 | Malaga 1 - Barcelona 3 | La L |
May 15, 2011 | Barcelona 0 - Deportivo 0 | La L |
May 11, 2011 | Levante 1 - Barcelona 1 | La L |
May 8, 2011 | Barcelona 2 - Espanyol 0 | La L |
May 3, 2011 | Barcelona 1 - Real Madrid 1 | UCL |
May 22, 2011 | Man Utd. 4 - Blackpool 2 | EPL |
May 14, 2011 | Blackburn 1 - Man Utd. 1 | EPL |
May 8, 2011 | Man Utd. 2 - Chelsea 1 | EPL |
May 4, 2011 | Man Utd. 4 - Schalke 04 1 | UCL |
May 1, 2011 | Arsenal 1 - Man Utd. 0 | EPL |
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