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CL Preview: Barca v Man Utd

CL Preview: Barca v Man Utd


CL Preview: Barca v Man Utd

The Camp Nou will see the clash of equals tonight when the Red Devils take on Los Cules. Both teams are unbeaten with eight wins and two draws in this season's champions league. They have won all their home matches and have scored 18 goals and both conceded just five. Two great teams with identical records are fighting tonight for a place in the final.

Venue: Camp Nou, [98,772]

Referee: Massimo Busacca, Switzerland.

Past Meetings: They have met four times in the European Cup, Barca are just ahead with one win, all the other games were drawn, including the 3-3 in both grounds when they last met in '98-'99.

Tots Units Fem Forca will be the words inscribed on the massive mosaic on the turf, that awaits Manchester United in the Camp Nou. It means "Together We Are Strong", yes Barca have urged the fans to stand together with their team and be the twelfth man. The Camp Nou will be in Catalan colours with 56,000 flags handed out around the ground. Barcelona players have appeared in a rousing video on the club's TV station, calling for fans to get behind the team.

"To keep a clean sheet", says Victor Valdes, "the opponents must feel pressure coming from you." "To score goals we will need all your strength" says Eto'o. Lionel Messi wants to feel the crowd's magic and the suspended captain Carlos Puyol said the fans that he'll be one of them tonight.


Two Attacking Teams

The Saint George day will see neither roses or books in the Camp Nou, it will be a classic encounter of two teams that enjoy playing attacking football that will be at the heart of the festivities this year. The Blaugranes had enjoyed the 4-0 win against Manchester United back in '94, but the United team had grown a lot bigger this time around visiting their happy hunting ground, the Camp Nou. The United fans had always loved the Camp Nou, this was the very place where the Champions League for the last time, in '99 with two very late goals that shook the German giants, Bayern Munich.


Both teams have one of the finest squads in Europe, superstars of world football. Samuel Eto'o, Xavi, Zambrotta, Carlos Puyol, Rafael Marquez and Thierry Henry are the names who brings the wealth of experience to the Barca squad, the wonder kid Messi, Iniesta, the young and hugely talented Bojan and dos Santos combines the flair and pace of the youth for them. Manchester United have Giggs, van der Saar, Ferdinand, Scholes and Neville as powerhorse veterans and Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez - the young trio who have scored 73 goals in between them season - to add to the fire. The managerial wizardry of Sir Alex Ferguson and Frank Rijkaard added to it, gives the ingredients of a long awaited clash of the titans.


Recent Form

Barcelona have only one win in the last five domestic matches, they drew the last match against Espanyol without scoring a goal. The mixed results in the La Liga had been a matter of concern for Frank Rijkaard, the exlusion of Ronaldinho from the squad adds to the worry. Although Lionel Messi has returned to the squad, he is not back to his old self after the long injury.

The Champions League so far has been so good for the Los Cules, unbeaten in all games, drawing only two. They have managed to score in all matches except the one against Rangers in the group stage. Messi has been instrumental in Barca success in the Champions League, lately Bojan finding the net in several occassions.


Manchester United enjoyed a very good run in the Premier League this season, but the last minute fight back from Chelsea had pushed them down with a drawn match against Blackburn Rovers last weekend. Though Chelsea is sniffing behind them for the EPL title, the fact remains that the United squad are great fighters and they haven't lost in the last five league games. Ronaldo has found his name in the score sheet in four of them and is enjoying an impressive form in the Champions League as well having scored seven goals till now. They have conceded only one away goal this season and that will give them immense confidence, a draw might be a great result of United.

Barca have only a remote chance of winning the league this season, so they will be focused on champions league alone and that will make things difficult for United who have a potential league decider with Chelsea in the coming weekend.


Manager Comments

Frank Rijkaard has stated that Barca can go out and write a new page in history tonight. He said that there are no clear favourites for the night, when two big teams play each other. The Barca boss said that the squad are highly motivated for the semi final first leg and they can take a step towards reaching the final in Moscow tonight.

"This is no time to look back. This is the time to strive for a good result in order to allow us to end up going through."

Meanwhile, United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson has hailed his current squad as the top United side in his 22 years as manager - even better than the treble winners of '99. He is returning to Camp Nou, the same stadium where he had the European success for the last time.

"I don't know waht the older players, the ones who were here that night, have said to the younger players, the victory is not lost on anyone. Even more important is what the team can achieve themselves, making their own history. They are good enough to do that. This team is for today. They don't need to be reminded of the past or be worried about it."


Team News

Barca is more likely to stick to their tried-and-tested formula of 4-3-3, attacking through the wings and controlling the mid-field. They have pace in their attack and are good in short-passing. They might be a little shaky in the defence with captain and commanding centre-back Carlos Puyol out suspended. The Barca defence doesn't have much pace, but they are vastly experienced and are very good in pushing-up and forming the off-side trap.

Ronaldinho is still out injured(?) and won't be part of the squad. Puyol is suspended and out for the first leg. Thuram has been called in to replace the captain, and he is the only change in the squad that visited Espanyol last weekend. The others in the injury list are the Brazilian Edmilson and the second goal keeper Jorquera.

Manchester United will be more than happy to see van der Saar fit in time for the Barca clash. They don't have any injury worries, Hargreaves, Anderson and Rooney have recovered from minor injuries. The United captain Gary Neville is fit to play, Fletcher is a surprise addition to the squad.

United has strength in the attack - Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez trio had been instrumental this season for the Red Devils. The centre midfield role is more likely to be in the hands of experienced veteran Paul Scholes and former Munich defensive midfielder Hargreaves.


Men to watch

Xavi has been the Mr. Consistent for the Blaugrana, having featured in all the ten games of the Champions League. He controls the Barca mid-field, links it to the attack and defence, by his free flowing runs and clever passes. He is pacy, can give the killer ball, run into channels and tightly mark the opponent's attacker. A gifted centre-midfield player, he has the vision to see the goal and can weave the passes, truly the master architect behind all Barca's attack. Xavi combined with the best striker in Europe now, Samuel Eto'o can wreck havoc on any defence. Eto'o has been in a great form this season, his forward runs, dribbling skills and super smooth finishing makes him a class performer. He combines well with all the mid-fielders and enjoys beating the tight markers. Lionel Messi is another name, the wonder boy from Argentina who has already showed the world that he can do what the legendary Maradona had done. He can create goals on his own, is one of the fastest players gifted with great ball-control and balance. He can cut-in, cross the ball, play the killer pass and score with his strong left foot.


Cristiano Ronaldo has been the magic-man for United this season having surpassed United legend George Best's goal scoring records. His strengths are his pace, powerful striking and unorthodox passes and flicks blessed by sheer luck. He has been a consistent performer and is very good in changing lanes and wings and has a sweet right foot and a potentially threatening free-kick technique. Rooney is the natural centre-forward who can flick the ball forward, strike with enormous power and highly intelligent player who can take at least two defenders with him. He could be compared to the Champions League's most feared striker and Real Madrid captain Raul himself in his playing styles and abilities. Rooney enjoys the partnership with Ronaldo and the ever-working Tevez. Manchester United has a good defensive record and has enjoyed clean sheets in almost all matches, thanks to the supremacy of Edwin van der Sar in goal. He has started it all, the run in the league and the champions league - a confident performer, who never loses composure. He is tough to beat and he can throw the ball quickly upfront urging the players to attack. Van der Sar will be the one man who make the difference in all set-pieces, thanks to his reflex and command of the area.


Tactics and Gameplan


The match will be decided on how the mid-field is controlled and who wins the ball most, the creativity and vision of Xavi, Iniesta and Messi will be decisive tonight. United will have to see the Barca mid-field tightly marked and closed down often, if they want to win or draw the game. It will be in the hands of veteran Scholes, Hargreaves, and Carrick to stop the Barca trio.


Probable Starting Eleven

FC BarcelonaValdes, Milito, Sylvinho, Thuram, Zambrotta, Yaya, Xavi, Iniesta, Eto'o, Bojan, Messi.

Manchester United FCvan der Saar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Scholes, Hargreaves, Park, Tevez, Rooney.


Final Score Prediction

Barcelona 3-2 Manchester United

It will be a magical game that is more attacking - a combination of play-making and individual wonders. Eyefootball thinks that Barca will edge out the opponents tonight in a classic encounter.