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.
Striker Eto’o was offloaded and won Europe’s elite club competition with Inter Milan the following season, while the brief experiment with Zlatan Ibrahimovic ended when Barca moved him on to AC Milan and bought David Villa at the end of last season.
While Villa, one of eight Barca players who won the 2010 World Cup with Spain, has been going through a barren patch in recent weeks, his work rate is an important component of Barca’s play and he has formed a highly effective frontline alongside World Player of the Year Lionel Messi and Pedro.
Argentina forward Messi has gone from strength to strength since the 2009 triumph in Rome and is top scorer in this season’s edition with 11 goals, including two in the semi-final first leg at arch rivals Real Madrid.
Xavi and Andres Iniesta provide the creative spark in midfield, backed up by the mobile and tough-tackling Sergio Busquets, while Gerard Pique, who spent several seasons at United between 2004 and 2008, has been immense at centre back.
The stage is set for a classic.