Beautiful Barca and magic Manchester battle it out for the best of Europe
Roar Pro
By Matthew Wilson, 19 May 2009 Matthew Wilson is a Roar Pro
After a 0-0 draw with Arsenal and Real Madrid’s 3-2 loss to Villareal, United and Barca have managed to claim champions in their own leagues without much effort in their recent games.
But the two have bigger trophies to hunt, with this year’s massive Champion’s League final just a stone’s throw away.
The two teams have losses going into the game. Darren Fletcher is out for United due to suspension – a red card in the Arsenal game.
Barca will be losing some big names in defence. Abidal and Alves will not be taking the stage in Rome due to suspensions, and Márquez is out with an injury.
With massive defensive losses, Barcelona’s strength will have to be their attack. But, with the players they have, that shouldn’t be a problem.
Two big names will also feel a little more pressure than the rest. Messi and Ronaldo are both the big contenders to take 2009 world player of the year, and winning a Champion’s League final may give them a bit of an edge.
History will be on Barcelona’s side, as no English team has ever won the Champion’s League title back to back.
But Manchester United, as we’ve seen, is a team accustomed to making history. They are the first ever English side to beat FC Porto away from home; and the first ever English side to win the World Club challenge.
It’s too hard to tell which team will be crowned European champions at the moment but, with Barcelona’s defensive troubles, United should feel they have the upper hand.
Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.
The Crowd Says (9) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
Football articles
- Phoenix need more than flash in the pan crowds (133)
- ‘New football’ fans may help save the game in Australia (124)
- Does Tasmania have a case for A-League inclusion? (119)
- What happened in Port Said was not a football riot (118)
- Magilton struggling to make a mark (68)
- Socceroos screwed over by FIFA, again (41)
- Gulf influence cripples the FFA again (40)
- Melbourne Victory vs Central Coast Mariners: A-League live scores, blog (95)
- Liam Miller: Bargain buy of the A-League season? (8)
- Zambia plays Cup of Nations final in memory of their fallen (6)
- Capello’s resignation ends an awkward marriage (8)
- Does the A-League need an injection of humour? (44)
- Redknapp the best bet to clean up Capello’s England mess (2)
- Redknapp tight-lipped over England job
- Melbourne Victory vs Central Coast Mariners: A-League live scores, blog (95)
- Liam Miller: Bargain buy of the A-League season? (8)
- Zambia plays Cup of Nations final in memory of their fallen (6)
- Capello’s resignation ends an awkward marriage (8)
- Redknapp the best bet to clean up Capello’s England mess (2)
- Melbourne derby reveals tale of two journeys (3)
- O’ so close for John: How JON almost landed the biggest job in sport (16)
- Explore:
- Barcelona football, Champions League, football, Manchester United
Robbos said | May 19th 2009 @ 7:31am | Report comment
‘No English club has ever won the champions league back to back’?
True if only talking about the renamed champions cup, not only English but no club from any nation has won it back to back.
But if you are looking at the European cup, both Liverpool 76-77 & 77-78 & Notts Forest 78-79, 79-80 (oh how the mighty have fallen) have won the cup back to back.
Brett McKay said | May 19th 2009 @ 8:37am | Report comment
Robbos, didn’t AC Milan win it back-to-back in the mid 90s there somewhere??
Robbos said | May 19th 2009 @ 9:44am | Report comment
NO.
AC MILAN won back to back in 89 to 90, but champions league only came in in 92.
Afew teams have wonback to back in the old European cup, as mentioned eariler Notts Forest & Liverpool. Real Madrid went back to back for 5 years in a row in the 50s. Ajax & Bayern Munich 3 times in roll in the 70s, Benifica back to back in the early 60s. The last team was AC in 89 & 90.
Brian said | May 19th 2009 @ 9:48am | Report comment
Milan won in 89-90. The Champions League was launched around the mid 90′s and no-one has yet won back to back.
1990 AC Milan
1991 Red Star Belgrade
1992 Barcelona
1993 Marseille
1994 AC Milan
1995 Ajax
1996 Juventus
1997 Dortmund
1998 Real Madrid
1999 Man Utd
2000 Real Madrid
2001 Bayern Munihc
2002 Real Madrid
2003 AC Milan
2004 FC Porto
2005 Liverpool
2006 Barcelona
2007 AC Milan
2008 Man Utd
jimbo said | May 19th 2009 @ 10:51am | Report comment
“European Champions League Final Chelsea FC versus Arsenal FC”
or “European Champions League Final Chelsea FC versus Manchester United” sound pretty mouth watering too.
But that would be two English teams in the ECL final for the second year in a row . . .
Slippery Jim said | May 19th 2009 @ 11:18am | Report comment
This article says no English club have won the UEFA Champions League (which, as Robbos and Brian mention, prior to 1992 was called the European Champion Clubs’ Cup until its renaming) back to back.
Actually, two English clubs, both Liverpool (76-78) and Nottingham Forest (78-80) have won the competition back to back.
http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/history/index.html
Still, not too bad an read for an article written by what appears to be a Ford Laser.
Alan Nicolea said | May 19th 2009 @ 5:33pm | Report comment
Indeed United have the upper hand when it comes to defence, but the recent form of Vidic could be a chink that Barcelona could exploit when attacking. Regardless, any attack that contains, Eto’o, Henry, Messi and Iniesta is bound to cause problems to any defence, no matter how well marshalled.
David V. said | May 19th 2009 @ 8:03pm | Report comment
Just proof that they’ve tried to invalidate history to make out that today’s football is this slick new game superior to the old. What a crock.
Gibbo said | May 22nd 2009 @ 4:01pm | Report comment
i dont think that is proof David, i think that’s a spin you’ve put on the fact that the competition has changed name. For your assertion to be prooved correct you’d need actual evidence.