Reality bites before 'dream final'

A sumptuous array of attacking talent in the form of Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney may have the fans drooling, but defensive worries are dominating the coaches' thinking ahead of the European Champions League final.

• Billed as club football’s dream match, those letting their imaginations run wild will be picturing career-defining moments from Barcelona and Manchester United’s forwards – conveniently forgetting the torpor of last season’s clash between the two.
• Every 90 minutes is different of course and if any two sides are capable of producing a classic, it is the feared offensive lineups of the Spanish and English champions.
• No success comes with attack alone, and Barca coach Pep Guardiola in particular has much to fear from cracks appearing in his defensive bedrock.
• Fans arrive
• As the teams and hordes of fans arrive in Rome for the 67,000 Stadio Olimpico sellout, the La Liga champs will be without three of their first choice backline, with fullbacks Daniel Alves and Eric Abidal suspended while central defender Rafael Marquez misses out through injury.
• Guardiola, in his first year in charge, may opt to shift midfielder Seydou Keita to left back ahead of Silvinho, with Yaya Toure continuing to fill in at centre back and captain Carles Puyol possibly shifting to the right.
• For holders United, centre back Rio Ferdinand sat out Sunday’s 1-0 win at Hull City along with the rest of the defending European champions’ first team and coach Alex Ferguson is hopeful he will shake off a calf problem.
• “Rio is coming along fine. I think he is on course to play on Wednesday,” Ferguson told MUTV as United bid to become the first side to retain the Champions League.
• The silky skills of United’s Ronaldo and Barca’s Messi have led fans to label the game ‘the dream final’.
• Not pretty
• However, United midfielder Michael Carrick is aware last season’s semi-final between the pair was far from pretty, with the English side prevailing 1-0 in the second leg at Old Trafford.
• “We thought it would be very open and attacking when we played them last season and in the end there was only one goal over two legs,” Carrick told the club’s website.
• “They can score and create chances at any time but we believe we can defend well and attack them.”
• Carrick’s comments suggest United may be prepared for another smash-and-grab raid, where they nullify Barca’s attacks and hit them on the counterattack.
• The plan worked to perfection in the semi-final demolition of Arsenal, where world player of the year Ronaldo scored one of the goals of the season in a quick break from United’s own box.
• Tactics shmactics
• The Catalans say they are not interested in United’s tactics and want to show off their full array of talent, which failed to shine in their last-gasp semi-final victory over Chelsea.
• “Since I don’t know what sort of game they’ll play, what we have to do is get hold of the ball, dominate midfield and attack,” midfielder Xavi said before jetting to Italy’s capital.
• “Winning means we have to impose our own style.
• “The boss has told us to play the way we have all season, to enjoy ourselves and go for it from the off.
• “He also reminded us that we need to control our nerves and emotions.”
• Barcelona striker Thierry Henry – a long-time nemesis of United – and midfielder Andres Iniesta are both expected to play after training normally following knocks.
• Rome police will begin a huge security operation later with a partial alcohol ban in force in some areas of the city.
• Trouble has marred United visits to play AS Roma in recent years, with visiting fans being stabbed by Rome’s ultras hooligan factions.
• Probable teams:
• Barcelona: Valdes; Puyol, Toure, Pique, Keita; Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta; Messi, Eto’o, Henry.
• Manchester United: Van der Sar; O’Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Park, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs; Ronaldo, Rooney.