We continue our series of articles focusing on this weekend’s Champions League Final by taking a look at the form of both sides ahead of tomorrow’s big match. With Barcelona and Man United sides clinching their domestic leagues over the past fortnight, here’s a closer analysis of each side’s respective recent run-ins:
Barcelona
Having secured the La Liga title at Levante on 11 May, Barcelona have subsequently rested their leading lights with one eye on Saturday‘s big match. Of the likely starters this weekend, only three players have seen any game time since the Levante game; the home fixture against Deportivo saw Victor Valdes start in goal and Dani Alves come on as a sub, while last weekend’s away win at Malaga saw Adriano start at left-back, with Alves again coming off the bench. Pep Guardiola has taken no further risks with the rest of his squad, ensuring there are no unexpected injuries in the run up to the final.
A look at their form over the last 6 games shows Barcelona have just 2 wins, with 3 draws and 1 loss, but it doesn’t really tell the full story. In both the Champions League semi final second leg at Madrid and in the latter stages of La Liga, Guardiola’s side have been in the position where a win has not been imperative and Pep’s team selection and tactics has definitely played a part; when a draw has been enough, they’ve got the job done.
An alternative look shows that, in their last 9 games -a run starting with the Champions League second leg Quarter Final away to Shakhtar Donestsk- Barcelona have only scored 12 goals, finding the net more than once on just three occasions and chalking up four clean sheets in the process. Included in this run was the four el clasico encounters with Real Madrid, which begs the question: have the showdowns with Jose Mourinho’s men taken more out of Barca than previously anticipated?
What will be a worry for Guardiola is the goal scoring form of his front three. David Villa has found the net in just 2 of his last 18 games, while Pedro fares slightly worse, scoring in 2 of his last 19. Usually, their lack of goals has been balanced out by the form of Lionel Messi but even their Argentine talisman has suffered something of a drought of late, having failed to score in his last 4. Indeed, a further look back shows Messi has only managed to score in 5 of his last 14 games for Barcelona.
Manchester United
When it comes to recent team selection, United’s dilemma has been the polar opposite of Barcelona. Chased virtually all the way for the Premier League title by Arsenal and Chelsea, United may have clinched their domestic league just three days after Barcelona, but never had a commanding enough lead to ever rest key personnel.
Even when the league was officially won, last weekend’s home game with Blackpool saw the likes of Van der Sar, Vidic, Rafael, Scholes, Park, Nani and Fletcher all start at Old Trafford; all could be part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s first XI this Saturday at Wembley. Furthermore, Tuesday’s Gary Neville testimonial even saw Rooney, Scholes and Giggs get half-hour run outs, a real mark of respect shown by Ferguson to such a loyal club servant.
United come into the final in the better form, with 4 wins and 1 draw in their last 6, the only defeat coming at the Emirates. At the back they haven’t been too impressive, conceding in 5 of those 6 games, scoring 13 goals in return. Further inspection shows that, since back to back defeats away to Liverpool and Chelsea at the beginning of March, Fergie’s side have been on a superb run of form, with 12 wins, 2 draws and just 2 defeats up to the end of the season.
Their front two haven’t hit the goal scoring heights of Messi over the season (other than Ronaldo, who has?) but Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez have, nevertheless, shown a lot more consistency over the last couple of months than the likes of Pedro and Villa. Rooney has found the net in 7 of his last 18 matches for United, whereas Hernandez has scored in 9 of his last 20 outings.
With their Champions League tactics on the road producing 6 clean sheets from 6 games -a 0-0 draw at Marseille was the only time they failed to score away from home in the competition this season- United’s resilient defence could definitely prove problematic for Guardiola’s side, particularly if Barca continue to under-perform in front of goal like they have done in recent matches.
