Can Barca’s Defence stop Roo and Ron?

After the dust has settled on the final weekend of the EPL season, all eyes will swiftly turn to Rome and one of the most mouth-watering ties in Champions League Final history. At their flowing best, few would argue that here are the two most exciting, most attacking teams in Europe.

Barcelona are the perennial favourites for this competition, which makes it all the more surprising that they have only won it twice. They have, however, taken the crown in recent times, beating Arsenal back in 2006. Since then though, they have flattered to deceive, reaching the knockout stages before coming unstuck against Liverpool and Manchester United. But, no matter how far they get, they always seem to retain the status of favourites, and nothing has changed this time around, with Barcelona fetching shorter odds than United, at most bookmakers, to gain a third title.

Here’s what I think. When Barcelona come up against top defences they struggle. For all their blinding potency in the La Liga, they have yet to convince me that they are a great side in Europe. True, they showed grit and determination against the odds and down to ten men against Chelsea. But 9 out of 10 referees would have given, at very least, one penalty in that game and Chelsea would have cruised to the final. For long periods Chelsea were totally comfortable sitting behind the ball and allowing Barcelona to weave pretty patterns without really penetrating the rearguard. If anyone was going to score a second goal it was surely Chelsea, on the break. Iniesta’s stoppage time goal was truly excellent but that doesn’t hide the fact that Barcelona didn’t look great at Stamford Bridge, and were very lucky to escape defeat. Barcelona also struggled against United’s similarly staunch defence last season. The more miserly might even suggest that they struggled against Arsenal’s ten men in Paris 3 years ago.

You may argue that teams ruin the game by using negatives tactics against Barcelona but no coach worth his salts would fail to mention to his players, the importance of keeping it tight against Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Eto and Henry. Barcelona, and particularly Messi, look unbelievably good when they thump sides week in, week out in La Liga, but when they are faced with top defences at the top end of European competition, they are regularly blunted. Conversely, when it matters, Ronaldo and Rooney have consistently produced the goods for United in Europe in the last few years.

The Spaniards will also be hindered in Rome by their dearth of available defenders with Alves, Abidal and Marquez all sidelined. If United’s defence can keep the opposition forwards relatively quiet it will give Rooney and Ronaldo the platform to try to expose the chinks in Barca’s defensive armoury.

And despite United strengthening all over the pitch in recent years, it is these two players who continue to define the success of the club. Signed in 2003 and 2004 respectively, The Two R’s have breathed new life into the first-team with commitment, ambition, pace and above all, bucket loads of skill. It would be hard to find two more hungry attacking players, especially on the counter-attack.

Of course no team can win The Champions League on the strength of two players alone. United’s well of talent is deep, with international quality back-up in every position, and world-class players pulsing through the first-team. Alex Ferguson is hard pressed to name his best side, but for me, in the biggest games, Fergie has a nucleus of 7 that he always picks if fit. His stalwart 7 are Van Der Saar, Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand, Carrick, Ronaldo, Rooney. The other 4 starters in the final are anyone’s guess but it’s fairly safe to assume that O’Shea and Anderson will play leaving Scholes, Giggs, Park, Tevez and Berbatov fighting for the final two berths in the side.

For all Barca’s brilliance, they don’t have as solid a spine as this. So I think United will edge it. Before Barca are immediately installed as favourites for next season.

Who do you think will win the Champions League in Rome?