Category: Match and schedule info

A look at the probable Champions League final teams, with marks out of 10 for each player, the benches and the managers for Manchester United and Barcelona.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson

After 30-plus years of success and 47 trophies, it says a lot about Ferguson that it still bothers him that he has ‘only’ won the Champions League twice. Could not find a way to better Guardiola’s Barca in 2009, and is desperate to make amends. – 9/10

1-Edwin van der Sar – Goalkeeper – age 40

The great Dutchman is going for his third Champions League winner’s medal, having won with Ajax and United. He retires after the game, and will be a huge loss to United thanks to his aerial dominance, distribution and agility – 8/10

20-Fabio – Right-back – age 20

Has replaced twin Rafael as Ferguson’s preferred right-back, although John O’Shea is also an option. Fabio offers far greater attacking threat and complete commitment in the tackle, but he can be caught out of position – 6/10

5-Rio Ferdinand – Centre-back – age 32

When fully fit, Ferdinand is one of the best defenders in the world. Unfortunately, those occasions are increasingly rare due to a chronic back complaint. Any lack of mobility is sure to be exposed by Messi – 8/10

15-Nemanja Vidic – Centre-back – age 29

Vidic claimed one of several Premier League Player of the Season awards last week, and has been a tower of strength for United in an often tricky season. His physical presence, coolness under pressure and absolute determination are immense – 9/10

3-Patrice Evra – Left-back – age 30

The full-back shrugged off the debacle of his France captaincy at the World Cup with another fine season at club level. Fit, strong and as effective going forward as in his defensive duties – 8/10

25-Antonio Valencia – Right midfield – age 25

After missing six months with a broken ankle, Valencia has quickly established himself as a key player for United, ousting Nani from Ferguson’s starting XI. Less skilful than Nani, but more disciplined and a more consistent crosser – 7/10

16-Michael Carrick – Central midfield – age 29

A great survivor, Carrick has ridden a prolonged spell of underperformance and come through the other side with some key contributions at the business end of the season. A fine passer, Carrick needs to ensure his tackles have maximum bite – 6/10

11-Ryan Giggs – Central midfield – age 37

Will be glad to return to the back pages after the most turbulent week of his 20-year career. Giggs rarely lets situations faze him, and Ferguson will be relying on the old stager to offer control, as he did in the title-clinching win against Chelsea – 8/10

13-Park Ji-Sung – Left midfield – age 30

Derided as a ‘marketing’ buy when he arrived from PSV Eindhoven, the Korean has won over the doubters with his incredible appetite for work and his knack of rising to the big occasion. Though a natural attacker, his biggest task will be at the defensive end – 7/10

10-Wayne Rooney – Forward – age 25

After a prolonged slump, Rooney is finally back to his best and enjoying a withdrawn forward role. Hernandez’s introduction has been crucial, as the Mexican stretches the game and allows Rooney space to operate – 9/10

14-Javier Hernandez – Forward age 22

Hailed as the ‘buy of the century’ by Rooney, that description might be pushing it but Hernandez’s impact on United’s season has been huge. His searing pace, intelligent movement and unerring finishing have brought him 19 goals in his debut season – 7/10

Substitutes from: Tomasz Kuszczak, John O’Shea, Rafael, Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans, Darren Fletcher, Anderson, Paul Scholes, Nani, Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen – 8/10

TOTAL SCORE (out of 130): 100

BARCELONA

Manager: Pep Guardiola

The Barca playing legend takes a low-key approach to coaching, and you can understand why. When you have players as good as this, there’s no need to over-complicate things. Has achieved the notable distinction of rattling Jose Mourinho – 8/10

1-Victor Valdes – Goalkeeper – age 29

A solid performer, Valdes is one of eight youth team products who could start at Wembley. United will look to test Valdes’s possible weakness under high balls. Like Van der Sar, his distribution is excellent – 7/10

2-Daniel Alves – Right-back – age 28

A worthy heir to Brazil’s flying full-backs Roberto Carlos and Cafu, Alves’s pace and fitness allow him virtually to play two positions at the same time. As an advanced winger, he links up particularly well with Messi – 9/10

3-Gerard Pique – Centre-back – age 24

Let go by United in 2008, Pique has blossomed into a spectacular ball-playing centre-back who has drawn comparisons with Franz Beckenbauer. A cultured foil to the uncomplicated Puyol, Pique is a key player for club and country – 8/10

5-Carles Puyol – Centre-back – age 32

The beating heart of Barcelona, Puyol’s wild-haired captain’s symbolic importance outweighs his ability. Though not a bad player, he is vulnerable to extreme pace and can be bamboozled by skilful opponents. But nobody is braver – 7/10

22-Eric Abidal – Left-back – age 31

European football’s feel-good story of the season, Abidal has made a remarkable recovery from surgery on a liver tumour in March. A slight question-mark remains over his match sharpness – Maxwell is ready to deputise if necessary – 7/10

16-Sergio Busquets – Defensive midfield – age 22

For many, Busquets represents the dark side of Barcelona’s beautiful game. Primarily a destroyer, Busquets’ willingness to go to almost absurd lengths to win a free-kick, exaggerate contact and incite opponents grates with neutrals – 7/10

6-Xavi – Central midfield – age 31

The best passer in the world, bar none. Xavi is the man who sets the tempo for Barca, touching the ball more than any other player and nearly always finding an opponent. A supreme creator, he makes his team-mates better – and they are already pretty good – 9/10

8-Andres Iniesta – Central midfield – age 27

The 27-year-old inhabits a world somewhere between Xavi and Messi – a nightmare to defend because he can pass, dribble and shoot with equal quality. His goal knocked Chelsea out in the 2009 semi-final, and he scored the winner in the World Cup final. A big-game player – 9/10

17-Pedro – Forward – age 23

The winger has had his season interrupted by injury, but at his effervescent best he can be a thorn in the side of any defender. He is a tireless worker who likes to run directly at opponents. Has 21 goals this season, four in Europe – 7/10

10-Lionel Messi – Forward – age 23

How good is the best player in the world? If he scores on Saturday, Messi will take his tally to 100 goals in the last two seasons. Oh, and he has also assisted over 20 goals this season. Messi, Iniesta and Xavi were the top three in last year’s Ballon d’Or voting – 10/10

7-David Villa – Forward – age 29

Spain’s record scorer ended the season with an uncharacteristic goal drought, hitting just once in 16 games. United have instructed Michael Owen to ‘impersonate’ Villa’s movement, cutting inside from the left, in training – 8/10

Substitutes from: Ruben Mino, Maxwell, Adriano, Seydou Keita, Javier Mascherano, Ibrahim Afellay, Bojan Krkic – 7/10

TOTAL SCORE (out of 130): 103

Barcelona are, if anything, an even better and more rounded team than the one that beat United in Rome to complete an unprecedented treble of Champions League, Spanish league and cup in Pep Guardiola’s debut campaign as coach.

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