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

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.