There aren't many areas of the Barca team that could be described as weak but the leftback position may be an area where Manchester United will get some joy, says Ben Lyttleton
Barcelona celebrated their third straight title success under Pep Guardiola last week and while, statistically, this season was not as impressive as the last - they scored fewer goals and won fewer points *- it was welcomed more than those in the past. The reason can be seen in the chants that their fans sung during the trophy ceremony: "Porque? Porque? Porque?" meaning "Why? Why? Why?" referring to Jose Mourinho's rant after Real Madrid¹s Champions League semi-final defeat to Barcelona; and another, ruder one, directly intended for Mourinho. The presence of the Portuguese in Madrid scared Barcelona, and having seen him off, they are now on the verge of a second Champions League in three years, and third in six. But United can be confident, perhaps more so than in 2009, when Barcelona won 2-0, with Samuel Eto'o's ninth-minute goal as good as ending the final.
Back then, United were so reliant on Cristiano Ronaldo that if the Portuguese had an off-day, the whole team suffered. For United, this is their third final in four years, and it's clear that it's not revenge United are after at Wembley: more that the winner can rightly call itself Europe's pre-eminent club of this generation. Barcelona are ([2.04]) to win the game in 90 minutes, with United ([4.1]). So what will make the difference on Saturday at Wembley? Don't look for a clue in the question: while the last eight teams to have played European Cup finals in their own countries have won (the most recent was Borussia Dortmund, in Munich in 1997, while only Stade de Reims in 1956 lost), Wembley holds special memories for Barcelona too. It was the stadium where Barca beat Sampdoria 1-0 in 1992, winning their first ever European Cup, with a side that contained a young midfielder called Pep Guardiola. The match-winner that day was Ronald Koeman, who is certain that today's side is better than the team he played in. "This Barcelona side is better for several reasons," he said last week.
"First, it is a lot more consistent. We caved in quite a few times and only won two of our leagues titles at the last moment. It is also more balanced tactically, with a defensive system using forwards and midfield to press a lot.
"Barcelona has the better team and plays the better football *but that does not mean they cannot lose a one-off match because in one match every detail can change the course of the game."
Continued: Soccer Betting
Barcelona celebrated their third straight title success under Pep Guardiola last week and while, statistically, this season was not as impressive as the last - they scored fewer goals and won fewer points *- it was welcomed more than those in the past. The reason can be seen in the chants that their fans sung during the trophy ceremony: "Porque? Porque? Porque?" meaning "Why? Why? Why?" referring to Jose Mourinho's rant after Real Madrid¹s Champions League semi-final defeat to Barcelona; and another, ruder one, directly intended for Mourinho. The presence of the Portuguese in Madrid scared Barcelona, and having seen him off, they are now on the verge of a second Champions League in three years, and third in six. But United can be confident, perhaps more so than in 2009, when Barcelona won 2-0, with Samuel Eto'o's ninth-minute goal as good as ending the final.
Back then, United were so reliant on Cristiano Ronaldo that if the Portuguese had an off-day, the whole team suffered. For United, this is their third final in four years, and it's clear that it's not revenge United are after at Wembley: more that the winner can rightly call itself Europe's pre-eminent club of this generation. Barcelona are ([2.04]) to win the game in 90 minutes, with United ([4.1]). So what will make the difference on Saturday at Wembley? Don't look for a clue in the question: while the last eight teams to have played European Cup finals in their own countries have won (the most recent was Borussia Dortmund, in Munich in 1997, while only Stade de Reims in 1956 lost), Wembley holds special memories for Barcelona too. It was the stadium where Barca beat Sampdoria 1-0 in 1992, winning their first ever European Cup, with a side that contained a young midfielder called Pep Guardiola. The match-winner that day was Ronald Koeman, who is certain that today's side is better than the team he played in. "This Barcelona side is better for several reasons," he said last week.
"First, it is a lot more consistent. We caved in quite a few times and only won two of our leagues titles at the last moment. It is also more balanced tactically, with a defensive system using forwards and midfield to press a lot.
"Barcelona has the better team and plays the better football *but that does not mean they cannot lose a one-off match because in one match every detail can change the course of the game."
Continued: Soccer Betting
