Champions League - Man Utd v Barca by numbers

Eurosport - Wed, 27 May 19:21:00 2009

Want to place a wager on tonight's game and need a compelling argument to do so? We check out the key stats ahead of Manchester United's Champions League final clash with Barcelona in Rome.

FOOTBALL Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo battles with Barcelona's Lionel Messi in their 2007-08 Champions League clash at Old Trafford. The pair face off in the 2009 final, on May 27 in Rome. - 0

GOOD NEWS FOR UNITED FANS:

Manchester United have won all of their previous European finals - 4-1 v Benfica in 1967-68, 2-1 v Barcelona in 1990/91 (Cup Winners' Cup), 2-1 v Bayern in 1998-99 and they won on penalties against Chelsea last term following a 1-1 draw.

The teams have met in one final prior to this game, in 1990-91 when United defeated Barcelona 2-1 in the Cup Winners' Cup Final.

These two sides came face to face in last season's Champions League semi-final. United prevailed 1-0 on aggregate thanks to a Paul Scholes goal in the second leg at Old Trafford.

Barcelona have only managed to win once in their last eight Champions League fixtures against an English side.

The Catalan side have scored just one goal in their last four European games against a team from England.

United are unbeaten in their last seven Champions League meetings with Spanish sides.

Manchester United are currently on an all-time record 25 game unbeaten run in the Champions League.

United have kept a clean sheet in 13 of their last 18 Champions League matches.

Away from Old Trafford in the Champions League, United are unbeaten in 13 successive matches - including last season's final v Chelsea.

Edwin Van der Sar has kept more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper in the Champions League this season - seven.

Manchester United are one of only three sides to have appeared in a European Cup/Champions League final on more than one occasion and have a 100 per cent record (1968, 1999, 2008). The other sides are Nottingham Forest (1979, 1980) and Porto (1987, 2004).

HOWEVER

The last three Champions League finals have been lost by an English side.

The last time that Barcelona reached a Champions League final, they defeated an English side (Arsenal) to lift the trophy.

Barca have conceded only two goals in their last five European fixtures against an English side.

Barcelona have scored more goals (30) and shots (165) than any other side in the competition.

Lionel Messi is the leading scorer in this season's Champions League, with eight goals to his name.

Xavi has managed more assists (6) and has created more chances (36) than any other player in the Champions League this season so far.

AND BEWARE

Four of the last seven finals have ended in penalty shootouts.

Opta

Comment 55 - 74 of 74

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  1. Manure hahahahhahahahaha

    From Affi, on Wed 27 May 11:13PM

  2. HOPE THE REF TURN'S­ UP?????????????????????????????????????????????????????­ ?????????????

    From LORRAINE, on Wed 27 May 5:04PM

  3. To all those who said we had the easy path. Last 3­ rounds of CL
    Porto - Portuguese League winners (Recent­ CL winners)
    Inter - Serie A League winners
    Arsenal -­ Top 4 EPL

    And now face the Spanish League winners in­ the Final

    Don't look so easy to me?

    From redimaster, on Wed 27 May 4:39PM

  4. Those fans that say United will crush barca are not­ true united fans, We (real United fans) understand that­ this will be a close game and that either side can win­ it. United have a great defense and good attack, barca­ have great attack but a weakend defense. It will be­ very interesting to see who wins. Come on United.

    From redimaster, on Wed 27 May 4:28PM

  5. Utd weak points? Dont think so.

    From eunanmcdaid, on Wed 27 May 4:15PM

  6. It is so funny to hear you muppets go on about how Utd­ will crush Barca, win easy, its a full gone­ conculsion,they are the best etc etc, but before Barca­ got to the final I recall people saying "they are­ probably going to win it, they are the best team in it,­ they have the best attack etc etc"....you fans are­ so so so fekking fickle it's untrue. I really­ wonder what bs you may come up with if Barca trounce­ Utd or just win however, if you lot come back on here­ and say respect to them then fair enough but I am sure­ most of you will not.
    Probably because you maybe baking­ yourselves a big fat humble pie to eat or just choking­ on some d***ey C***, I think both teams are more than­ capable of winning and its a tough call...both teams­ have their weak points which I think both defenses are­ as bad as each other at times.

    From Diehard Italian Fan, on Wed 27 May 4:00PM

  7. Hey football fans! In the semis, the major talking­ points were the referee's decisions, not the games­ or the quality of the play. if this happens again in­ the finals then as football fans we REALLY want to see­ a TV judge introduced like they have in Rugby. The­ current system is out of date!!!!!

    From JOHAN, on Wed 27 May 10:19AM

  8. Viva Barca,not doubt barca win because is the best team­ and show wonderful football this year.

    From Ali, on Wed 27 May 10:04AM

  9. gobby thanks for the info :)

    From catsup244, on Wed 27 May 9:17AM

  10. To # 61 (JD)

    It is tradional to play midweek, however­ the 2010 Champions League Final is at the San Bernabeu­ in Madrid and will be on SATURDAY MAY 22ND. 2010.

    From Gobby, on Wed 27 May 9:11AM

  11. man u will win easy cos our reserves didn't lose­ either all we want to do is rub it in liverpool and­ chelseas faces and have a good match with barca no­ fighting :D

    From catsup244, on Wed 27 May 9:10AM

  12. Barcelona was just lucky when they won against Chelsea,­ but this time against Manchester united, it's going­ to be tighter for them. ManU 3 - 1 Barca. For sure!

    From marlon m, on Wed 27 May 7:48AM

  13. just jealous loserfool scumbags whinging utd 2-1

    From S, on Wed 27 May 7:44AM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    i bet that barca wil win at 3-2 on united..!!

    From adx, on Wed 27 May 7:25AM

  15. can someone tell me why the champions league final is­ on a weekday and not a weekend?

    From J. D, on Wed 27 May 3:09AM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    these are the most biased stats i have ever read...i­ wasn't gonna support any team in particular, but­ now i hope everyone will support the team w/ more­ class...let's go barca!

    From LeQ, on Tue 26 May 8:14PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    up barca, barca will win by the grace of GOD. at list­ barca 2 ---man u 1
    4rm archbishop1

    From pete.scott, on Tue 26 May 7:22PM

  18. We all know it's going to be a tight one, no doubt­ about it. With both teams at the top of their game, it­ promises to be a thrilling contest and it is impossible­ to make any strong predictions. That said, let's­ bear in mind that on nights like these things happen.­ The referee's decisions could have a major impact­ on the score. My humble feeling, although my heart is­ more with United, is that United might have a slight­ upper hand during the game but Barca will nick it at­ the last minute. Let the best team win!

    From jrmqls, on Tue 26 May 4:19PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Utd is gonna show the Barca midgets (dwarfs i.e Messi,­ xavi, iniesta) what steel we are made of

    From Andrew, on Tue 26 May 4:04PM

  20. lisahowlet, FYI United won the Community shield, world­ club cup, League Cup, Premier League and winning the CL­ will only be a formality tomorrow

    From Andrew, on Tue 26 May 4:01PM
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