With Wembley ready and waiting to host this years biggest club game in the World, the viewing public, the fans, the managers, and the players can do nothing but wait until the battle for the Champions League crown begins. Both Manchester United and Barcelona are worthy finalists this year and have huge experience in recent years at this stage. Barca in fact beat Manchester United at this stage two years ago, whilst Manchester United will be stepping out to their third final in four years.
Manchester United by no means had an easy route to the final, although they made it look so by not even conceding one goal away from home, and only conceding four in the competition so far. They overcame Valencia, Bursaspor and Rangers in the Group Stages, going on to shrugging off Marseille in the Round of the Last 16. They then were rewarded with a Quarter-Final against Premier League Champions Chelsea, with which they outplayed them over the two legs, finally demolishing German side Schalke in the Semi's.
Barcelona have also got an impressive record in the competition this season, only conceding three in the group stages and eight in total. Some may argue on paper they had a more difficult route, but again, they made it look quite easy. They eased past Panathinaikos, Rubin Kazan and FC Copenhagen in the group stages, and then followed by out-classing Arsenal in the last 16. They then faced Shaktar Donetsk in the Quarter-Final, easing past them with an aggregate score of 6-1 meaning they set up a dream tie with their 'El-Classico' rivals, Real Madrid. After and extremely controversial two legs, Barca's quality, and Lionel Messi's, shone through earning them their rightful spot in the season finale.
Barcelona will go into the game as the firm favourites boasting the quality such as 52 goal scored Lionel Messi, and the elegant Spanish midfielder Iniesta. However, Manchester United are hoping to welcome back their Scottish rock, Darren Fletcher, and have some well in-form players such as Antonio Valencia, Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney.
Likely Line Ups:
Man Utd -
Van Der Sar
Fabio Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Valencia, Fletcher, Carrick, Park
Rooney, Hernandez
Barcelona -
Valdes
Abidal,Puyol,Pique,Alves
Busquets,Xavi,Iniesta
Messi,Villa,Pedro
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