The final, from season 2008/2009 is here. Barcelona will once again meet Manchester United in a fight for the most prestigious European trophy.
Barcelona and Manchester United will meet once again, after both teams met in the Champions League final back in season 2008/2009. Barcelona won that game with 2:0, an early goal from Samuel Eto’o in the 10th minute, and a goal from Lionel Messi in the 70th minute.
Let’s review how each team reached the final of the most prestige European football tournament.
Barcelona:
Barcelona was in Group D with the teams of Copenhagen, Rubin Kazan and Panathinaikos. No real challenge here, and as expected Barcelona topped the group with 14 points in 6 matches. The team won all home games, including a visit in Greece against Panathinaikos and drew the remaining away games with the score of 1:1 against Copenhagen and Rubin Kazan.
In the first elimination phase in February 2011, Barcelona met Arsenal. After a loss on Emirates with 1:2, the Spanish team won the return match with 3:1 and advanced with an aggregate result of 4:3. That game brought a lot of attention on itself, after Arsenal was left a man short, when Van Persie received a red card, for continuing to play after the referee’s whistle.
After Arsenal, Barcelona faced Shakhtar Donetsk in the quarter final stage. An easy victory on Camp Nou with 5:1 and another victory in Ukraine with 1:0, placed Barcelona in the semi-finals, facing their old rival Real Madrid.
With a great game on Bernabeu and a victory with 2:0, and a draw on Camp Nou 1:1, the Catalans advanced to the final on May 28th 2011.
Manchester United:
Manchester United started this season, in Champions League in Group C, along with the teams following teams: Valencia, Rangers and Bursaspor. No real problems for the Red Devils here who topped the group also with 14 points in 6 games, winning all away games, and only one on Old Trafford against Bursaspor. The remaining 2 fixtures at home against Rangers and Valencia ended respectively 0:0 and 1:1.
In the first round of the elimination stage in February 2011, United faced Marseille. After a 0:0 in France, the game on Old Trafford was won with 2:1 and United made it to the quarter finals, where old rival Chelsea awaited. No problems there for the Red Devils, as they won both games 1:0, 2:1 and found a place on the semi-finals.
The semi-finals offered nothing new for Manchester United, as they faced Schalke, perhaps the easiest opponent of all. After the team had no trouble eliminating the Germans, they advanced to the final.
Conclusion:
Both teams have good enough odds to win the trophy this year. Perhaps United has a bit of advantage, as the Final will be played in England on Wembley. However let’s not forget that season 1991-92 Barcelona won their first Champions League trophy here, against Sampdoria, with 1:0, after a 0:0 in regular time, and a goal that came in the 111th minute scored by Dutch legend Ronald Koeman.
Manchester United might not be having their greatest season, and might not be in their best shape, but they have a rock solid defense and goalkeeper who have conceded only 4 goals so far, in Champions League.
My prediction for this game would be a Draw in regular time. I expect Manchester United to have learned from their previous mistakes in 2009, that no team that has tried to outplay Barcelona has succeeded. You bet Barcelona with strategy and tactics and I expect Ferguson to do exactly that. On the other hand Guardiola would count on his star Messi who has been nothing but brilliant this season, scoring 5 goals in the knock-out stage and 6 in the group stage.
The value bet for this game would be Manchester United to win priced @ 3.75.
This is promising to be a great match, so be sure to clear your night on May 28th 2011 at 19:45 BST.
Recommended Bet:
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Draw @ 3.40 | Visit Bet365 Now |
