Champions League Final: Barcelona vs Manchester United

It is not often one gets to attribute the term ‘perfect’ in the real world, but the setting for the 2011 edition of the UEFA Champions League Final calls for an exception. The majestic Wembley is all set to play host as the Spanish champions Barcelona face off against the might of Manchester United.

The Barcelona juggernaut could not be derailed despite the heroics of a Portuguese, former FIFA World Player of the year (read Cristiano Ronaldo) and another Portuguese, the self-proclaimed best manager in the world (read Jose Mourinho) . United driven by their manager, Sir Alex Ferguson’s relentless pursuit for success, now have an unprecedented 19 league titles to their name and shall be featuring in the final of Europe’s premier club competition for the third time in four years. Barcelona on the other hand will be looking to win their 3^rd Champions League crown in six years, whereas United would look to avenge their 0-2 defeats at the hands of the Catalans in 2009. Both these teams have tree European titles to their names and both won their inaugural title at this year’s venue (United in 1968, Barcelona in 1992). Despite their recent dominance in European football and with few to argue against the credibility of these two teams to compete in the ultimate showdown, here is the anti-climax or so it seems: From pundits to bookies, all have Barcelona as over-whelming favourites to lift the trophy. Is it really a matter of the score-line or are the pundits missing something, let’s find out.

Barcelona: Overwhelming favourites vs overconfidence

It is almost a universally accepted that Barca play the most mesmerizing football on this planet, a view even endorsed by Manchester United’s Paul Scholes. Real Madrid with their monetary resources, master tactician and defensive set up got outplayed time and again this season, and going by what happened the last time United faced the Catalans, it would take a Herculean effort from Sir Alex’s boys to stay in the match.

The Barca trinity

The Barca Trinity: Can they weave a repeat of 2009?

What can you say about a team, three of whose players comprised the finalists of the FIFA Ballon d’Or. It’s not just that they beat their rivals; they dominate them and then decimate them. Having lost to Arsenal in the Round of 16 first-leg, the Gunners were handed a master-class in football by the likes of Xavi and Iniesta and such was the impact that they couldn’t muster a shot on target for the entire span of ninety minutes. If it’s next to impossible to nick the ball from the feet of Spain’s world cup winning duo, then it’s impossible to thwart Lionel Messi when he is on song. Way back in his own half or even with his back to goal he can be lethal. Iker Cassilas was busy retrieving the ball from his own net (Quarter final 1st leg) even before any of his team mates could get a proper challenge on the Argentinian although he had started his run from the centre line. For Messi, it’s not a question of whether he is the best in the world, it is whether he is the greatest ever? Such is his impact that United’s man for the big occasion was quoted,

“He is one of the best players in the world – everyone knows that and everyone knows one defender can’t stop him so we have to defend as a team”.—– Park on Lionel Messi

Could it possibly go wrong?

If there’s one thing that can go against the Catalans, it’s over confidence. They have effortlessly run over teams and an air of invincibility associated with them has just intensified. Pep Guardiola will be warning his troops against any complacency but sometimes, it sets in even without one realizing it. The Barca defence could be an area for concern. Skipper Carles Puyol is expected to return but there is a possibility he may be deployed at left back with former Liverpool star Mascherano partnering Pique at the heart of Barcelona’s defence. In either case, using Chicharito’s pace on the counter would remain a trump card for Sir Alex.

Manchester United: Team spirit vs lack of individual brilliance

The biggest difference between the team that suffered the debacle in 2009 with the one hoping to take the pitch on Saturday is the absence of one Cristiano Ronaldo. Quite surprisingly, Barca believe United are more potent without the Portuguese star. Full back Dani Alves opined:

“This Manchester United team is much more unpredictable without Cristiano Ronaldo. They have formed a more balanced group and they are stronger than they were two years ago.”

Can United stop Messi-Iniesta-Xavi?

Arsenal tried to outdo Barca at their own game and although they did taste success at home they came unstuck at Camp Nou. Real Madrid attempted to thwart their game but that too did not hold water for long. United’s advantage is it is not a two-legged tie and perhaps a strategy they employed at Old Trafford against the Catalans in 2008 where they allowed long spells of possession in front of their back-line and backed their concentration powers to prevent any sort of penetration could work.

Carrick's perfromance would go along way in sealing the Red Devils' fate

Darren Fletcher seemed to be destined for yet another Champions League Final heartbreak, having been suspended in 2009, he seemed to have lost the race against time to be match-fit to start in match of this magnitude. This would mean heightened responsibility on Micheal Carrick. We are all in awe of his passing ability, but his concentration levels and ability to the read the game will be tested to the core on Saturday.

Lack of inspiration

All those talk of this United team being a shadow of some of their more illustrious forefathers have been put to bed by their 19^th league title. There is no doubt that they owe their success to an indomitable team spirit but as the same time there is no denying that they have ridden their luck and they do lack some of the magic that a certain Portuguese used to bring to the table. Even if they are successful in keeping Barca at bay, the question is where the moment of individual brilliance(sometimes the key in close contests) is going to come from a Red Shirt. The man who looked most likely to come up with a moment of magic this season, Manchester United’s Players’ Player of the Year, Nani would probably not even start.

Can Van der Sar prove to be United's hero one last time?

Having said that, it is after all a cup final and not a league. It is meant to be won by the team who performs the best in those ninety minutes not throughout the season. Coupled to that, with all of Messi’s brilliance he is yet to score on English soil in six previous attempts. Edwin Van der Sar has been simply sensational for Manchester United and he would dearly love to go out on a high and knowing he would have to bring “his A game” to the fore, he might just be the difference between the sides.

The man on the whistle:

Needs to get the key decisions right on Saturday

UEFA have announced that Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai will officiate the Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester United at Wembley on Saturday. He is a veteran of more than 50 matches at his level. With so much of the post-match headlines having already been grabbed by the referees this season, we desperately hope it will be the players who would be all over the back-pages of the newspapers on Sunday morning. He was the man in charge when Chicharito got his first goal for Manchester United in Europe in a 0-1 victory at the Mestalla earlier this season. He also oversaw Spain’s 1-0 victory over Germany en route to their World Cup success. Interestingly however, United have on all three occasions when the Hungarian have officiated their matches!

A final word

It is undoubtedly the biggest game of the season being contested by the top two teams in Europe. Barcelona do start as favourites but if United can sneak into a lead with another high tempo start they would fancy the Barca back line with the amount of pace at their disposal.