Match Preview: Barcelona v United 28/05/2011
Match Preview – FC Barcelona v Manchester United Competition: Champions League, Final Kick-Off & Date: 7:45pm, Saturday, 28th May 2011 Venue: Wembley Stadium, London (Neutral) Live TV Coverage: Sky Sports 1 (HD), 6pm – 10:30pm & ITV 1 (HD), 7pm – 10:25pm Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary) Assistant Referees: Gabor Eros & Gyorgy Ring Additional Assistant Referees: Mihaly Fabian & Tamas Bognar Fourth Official: Istvan Vad Form: Barcelona go into Saturday night’s Wembley showdown as La Liga Champions, having seen-off Spanish rivals Real Madrid in a two-horse race. Barca have lost just once in their last six matches, drawing three and winning two. Manager Josep Guardiola and his men wrapped-up the Premier Division three weeks ago, and have since put little effort into their remaining league fixtures, resting key players in all departments. United head into the 2011 UEFA Champions League Final with four wins, one draw and one loss in their last six games. A better record than Barcelona’s last six, with Sir Alex Ferguson’s team claiming a record 19th Premier League two weeks ago. On Tuesday midweek, fringe players and oldies featured in Gary Neville’s Testimonial, in which Wayne Rooney (who scored), Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes were given a 30 minute run-about. The Injury Front: Barcelona have nothing to worry about in terms of absentees, with a clean bill of health being passed with the recent news that defenders Carlos Puyol and Eric Abidal have both recovered in time for the game at Wembley Stadium. Puyol is set to start at left-back, and not his usual position of centre-back due to the fact that midfielder Javier Mascherano performed better in that spot during Puyol’s time on the sidelines. United are also ship-shape, but doubts are surfacing over whether midfielder Darren Fletcher will start the game following his prolonged spell in the stands. Fletch missed the 2009 European Cup Final in Rome due to an unfair red card picked-up in the latter stages, but Sir Alex has no room for sentiment as he looks to John O’Shea, Fabio or Rafael Da Silva to feature at right-back. Meanwhile, Ryan Giggs is expected to begin the game. Squad: Van Der Sar, Kuszczak, Lindegaard, Rafael, O’Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Smalling, Evans, Brown, Evra, Obertan, Bébé, Valencia, Scholes, Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher, Gibson, Park, Giggs, Nani, Rooney, Berbatov, Owen, Hernandez.
The Gaffer: Pep Guardiola took the reigns of Barcelona in 2008, after spending a season at Barcelona B (the reserves). And having made 384 appearances for the Spaniards, he knows what the club is about. The 40-year-old former defensive midfielder isn’t aiming to stay too long at the club, however, saying he’ll call it a day soon… Most-Feared: Lionel Messi is well and truly the best footballer out there in the current climate. Although talk has cooled on him being the greatest player of all time, that hasn’t stopped the little 23-year-old Argentinian forward from scoring a mind-blowing 52 goals in 54 games. United will have to be on steroids to stop this guy ! The Ref: Viktor Kassai hails from Hungary, and thd the 35-year-old is hoping to represent his nation in terms of fair refereeing when he takes charge of the world’s biggest club game in London this weekend. Kassai has seen United win on the three occasions he has officiated games involving The Red Devils… United Latest‘s Prediction: Barcelona 2-3 United – Wayne Rooney, Chicharito & Michael Carrick ? Follow United Latest On Twitter ! Commentsl33bo Sat, 28 May 2011 1:19:11 pm cum on lads do the busby babes proud n sir Matt busby. it’s destiny Scotty T Sat, 28 May 2011 1:37:47 pm I think final score 1-nil united vidic with a header:) mom you devils Naz Sat, 28 May 2011 1:38:59 pm Inshallah Man u will win.dnt care hw strong barca r they r defeatable. Miika-fin Sat, 28 May 2011 2:10:46 pm Fabio is missing from the squad list. Raafay Sat, 28 May 2011 4:40:49 pm I wish carrick acores Ribbed Sat, 28 May 2011 4:58:19 pm Utd to win 2-0!! Bring the cup back were it belongs!! james Sat, 28 May 2011 5:09:39 pm 3-0 barca Darren Sat, 28 May 2011 5:13:44 pm Carrick? MU Fan Forever Sat, 28 May 2011 6:39:25 pm Going for a 9-0 win with Rooney and Chicharito scoring hatricks, Giggs, Carrick and Vidic scoring one each. Hugh Sat, 28 May 2011 9:10:53 pm It’s all over now since messi scored Malkster Sat, 28 May 2011 9:21:08 pm Well we may be the best in England but barca have proven they are different class Borba Sat, 28 May 2011 9:50:26 pm Heart broken want to cry. Borba Sat, 28 May 2011 9:52:03 pm Fuken Barca just has our number. Step Sat, 28 May 2011 9:52:38 pm Honestly don’t give a fuk no more Arfaan11 Sat, 28 May 2011 10:07:56 pm 1st of all well done 2 barca,the better team won.it’s fair 2 say we give it our all but jus wurnt gud enough,but really proud of th effort we put in.@ least we won prem lge n got 2 th final.warning 2 every1 we will come back stronger nxt season Darren N Sat, 28 May 2011 10:34:02 pm Congratulations to Barça, the better team won, let’s strengthen during the close season and come back stronger. Big bucko Sat, 28 May 2011 10:41:08 pm Face the facts no passion no heart we never played like united and I had to turn the volume off on the tele ninety mins of toss pots brown nosing barca Derek Sat, 28 May 2011 10:42:58 pm Congratulations Barcelona , see you in next years final with our new look 20th title winning team Saqib Sat, 28 May 2011 10:46:01 pm well i was sayin it again n again but many fans disagree wid me nw i think they understood dat our midfield specially cm iz not gud enough we were playin 37 year old giggs n out of form from quite sm time carrick against world best sm of xavi n iniesta we need gud playmaker 2 get rid off carrick n one world class defensive cm player nani wasn’t given much time with even though when valencia was not gettin into game at all…… we need complete overhaulin in midfield we never had plan b noother winger 2 replace valencia time 2 spend big ferguson dnt say dat nw dat there is no value in da market u cant get world class player cheaply 2day……… bye 2 giggs n scholes welcome 2 young sniejder rodwell n and defensive midfielder we need sm class in center of midfield….. Sean 123 Mufc Sat, 28 May 2011 11:12:47 pm BACK FROM THE PUB WE ALL WENT AWAY STRAIGHT AWAY . WHAT A JOKE WERE WAS BERBATOV 21 GOALS THIS SEASON AND OWEN DID NOT EVEN COME ON AND ABOUT MR O SHEA FABIO GOT INJURED THEN WE LOST THE GOAL . IF O SHEA WAS ON THE BENCH HE WOULD COME STRAIGHT AT RIGHT BACK NANI WAS ON THE LEFT FOR THAT GOAL HE SHOULD BE ON THE RIGHT AND SOME ELSE SHOULD OF PICK YOUR MAN UP . WE NEED YOUNG Sneijder and Sanchez asking a lot there but if we wanna win number four it has to be done . . we have great youth players in Morrison RYAN AND COLE BUT THEY NEED TIME . IT IS Sicking thinking we jumping now but instead it is flat . back to drawing board role on next week get this over with these few days lets enjoy Monday winging 19 means more to me anyway but it would be nice to end a season on a high and for van der sar o well we drink to 19 here here Ribbed Sat, 28 May 2011 11:40:35 pm Beaten by the better team. We need to buy a world class midfield . Marty MUFC Sun, 29 May 2011 12:03:09 am Say what ya say. No matter what we should be proud of the team tonight. No matter how we played we represented all of the UK and we where beat buy the better team. A Few strong signings in the summer and we could beat that barca team. KEEP THE RED FLAG FLYING HIGH CAUSE MAN UNITED WILL NEVER DIE !!!!!!!! Stephen Sun, 29 May 2011 12:33:13 am Did snidjer not say he’s staying at inter? Marty MUFC Sun, 29 May 2011 12:40:59 am Say what you say, we should be proud of the team tonight, we where beat by a better side and that’s all there is too it. SAF said they gave us a hiding and that’s an understatement. But needless to say we should keep our heads up because we are the best team in Britain and the second best team in the world and that’s nothing to be laughed at. A few strong signings in the summer and we could beat that barca team. ALWAYS KEEP THE RED FLAG FLYING HIGH !!!!!!!!! Professor Mclean Sun, 29 May 2011 1:04:28 am Jus hav to admire Barca, no team can live with them including us. Lets not get too carried away, we did win the 19th title, hwever we need a world class midfielder like v der vaart or sneijder. Looks like berbas out so need a top striker as unfort welbeck will never make it at man u. Man Sun, 29 May 2011 2:48:00 am When we get Sneijder , Sanchez, De Gea and get Tom Cleverly and welbeck back from loan, we beat Barcelona and win the champions league Justin Sun, 29 May 2011 3:06:03 am This one hurt. It just seemed like we were too lazy at certain times. Barcelona had possession for too much time. Tough to Neath that team when they have the ball so much. 🙁 Eusuzumu Sun, 29 May 2011 3:38:01 am Barca play well but utd best team all the way, we try next season come on mu Eusuzumu Sun, 29 May 2011 3:39:16 am Man utd is the best team in the world Karthik Sun, 29 May 2011 4:26:45 am I knew we had already lost the match wen I Carrick in the startng line-up! C’mon , here is a player who has been injured for most part of the season , was responsible for Man utds defeat to City in the F.A Cup ! Has been low on confidence n has been on the firing line of most Utd supported ! How come u play him against Barca ?? How can u expect him to nullify the WORLD CLASS Barca midfeild ! They made him look lyk a school boy ! He was providng loads of spaces to Xavi n Messi ! U cannot defeat him lyk dat !! N many of his passes wer easily interceptd !! I thnk playin was the biggest mistake made by Sir Alex ! Scholes should hav been in the startng XI !! But kudos to Barca ! Dey r ,were in wil always remain the best team in the world ! Itz clear to us all ! Well tried Man u ! We’ll come back harder n stronger wid a bettr squad n a bettr midfield ! Mufc fan Sun, 29 May 2011 5:29:38 am Man, that was…… Shite to say the least. Wierd setup, carrick? O man. We got rocked, 2 goal deficit again. I think that fabio should have sat down, berba should have played. O well im not coach. But as sore as i feel, barca doninated , 67% possesion at halftime. Still lads got far, congrats on 19, better luck next year. Still mufc for life!!! Proud of you even though guys didnt play like their usual self. An that setup, 4 4 1 1?? O jeez. Anyway. Still love man u forever!!! Mufc fan Sun, 29 May 2011 5:31:34 am Still lads got far, congrats on 19, better luck next year. Still mufc for life!!! Proud of you even though guys didnt play like their usual self. An that setup, 4 4 1 1?? O jeez. Anyway. Still love man u forever!!! Once a red always a red Sun, 29 May 2011 11:42:36 am There u r no value in the Market huh???? Where the hell comes toure van der vart???? We got humiliated. We won the league coz Chelsea played shitty football not bcos we were strong. Barca was great yeah I got that but when we got the ball we did not fucking used it well. Valencia giggs chicharito were disappointing. Big up for vidic n Ferdinand. Saf won’t fucking change anything. He will buy more fucking Bb. We need some serious recruitment. If only we had the money. Ranks Sun, 29 May 2011 3:01:47 pm Congratulations to Barca, best team I’ve saw in my lifetime, but it’s still been a great season with our 19th title and reaching the final, we will build on this next season. Rumours about Berbatov leaving the stadium were rubbished by Fergie, who after the game said he was in the dressing room. There will be new faces around OT next season and the owners need to realise they need to open their wallets to get another Champions League and retain the Premiership Ben Sun, 29 May 2011 4:31:26 pm No we can’t Prof McClean Sun, 29 May 2011 6:48:44 pm Jus hav to admire Barca, no team can live with them including us. Lets not get too carried away, we did win the 19th title, hwever we need a world class midfielder like v der vaart or sneijder. Looks like berbas out so need a top striker as unfort welbeck will never make it at man u. Leave a Reply |  
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