wembley, london, champions league, uefa champions league final, manchster united, barcelona
The venue of the 2011 Champions League final. -AFP Photo

LONDON: Barcelona and Manchester United clash in the Champions League final at Wembley on Saturday (1845 GMT) to decide who are the undisputed kings of Europe.

The Spanish and English league champions are seeking to lift the trophy for the fourth time to join Bayern Munich and Ajax Amsterdam, with only Liverpool (five), AC Milan (seven) and Real Madrid (nine) ahead of them in the roll of honour.

Both teams were set on their way at the old Wembley, with United beating Benfica in 1968 to become the first English team to win the trophy and Barca, with current manager Pep Guardiola in their lineup, beating Sampdoria at the stadium in 1992.

 

United won again in 1999 and 2008 while Barcelona also triumphed in 2006 and 2009 when they beat United 2-0 in a disappointing final in Rome.

Despite the game taking place on English soil, Barca start as slight favourites having cut a swathe to the final with their mesmeric midfield passing and the deadly finishing of Lionel Messi, who has 52 goals in all competitions this season.

United, who beat the Spaniards in the semi-finals in 2008, will look to the power of Wayne Rooney and the sharpness in front of goal of Mexican revelation Javier Hernandez while hoping retiring 40-year-old goalkeeper Edin van der Sar keeps one more clean sheet in the final game of his career.

Opinion

Editorial

Budget presser
Updated 14 Jun, 2026

Budget presser

If the FBR falters, the government will find itself in hot water sooner rather than later.
Muharram precautions
14 Jun, 2026

Muharram precautions

WITH Muharram due to start next week, the authorities have already begun annual exercises to ensure that the ...
Blood bequests
14 Jun, 2026

Blood bequests

WORLD Blood Donor Day offers a moment of “gratitude, advocacy and renewed commitment” for thalassaemia patients...
Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...