This is it – Barcelona Vs Manchester United, First Leg Preview.

By: Rob | April 22nd, 2008

So here we are. This is the match we’ve been waiting for. Some of the world’s best players get to show off here, in possibly the most exciting match of the tournament so far. English Champions Manchester United take on Spanish Runners Up (and only just) Barcelona in the exact oppositte of the defense-minded other semi final. I know you all want to see this one. Bring. It. On!

All the talk before the game of course, is about two men, the two best form-players on Earth at the moment, and the two that will be competeing (unless someone really special shows up at Euro 2008) for this years European and World footballer of the year awards. In case you haven’t worked it out, I am of course talking about Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The wingers have been the outstanding players this season, Ronaldo repeating last seasons incredible form, and Messi astonishingly improving on his. As i discussed earlier, Messi has played 1,000 less minutes than big money signing Thierry Henry, and yet has one more goal. Ronaldo is breaking all records all across the board, and making Premiership defenders quake in his wake.

More importantly perhaps, they are doing it in the Champions League. Ronaldo is top scorer in the competetion so far, after his goal against Roma – in a game week where Messi didn’t play – put him one ahead of the Argentine. When deciding on the big individual prizes at the end of the season, the Champions League does tend to get priority – look at Kaka’ last season – so its no stretch to suggest that World Footballer of the Year could rest on this game.

Of course, we said the same last year, and it was Kaka’ who beat Ronaldo in that game, and Kaka’ who was adjudged to be the better player. But as former Chelsea hitman Gudjohnson has pointed out, the more expeirenced players will play a vital role. The experienced heads of Giggs and Scholes for Man United are going to be essential in the intimidating arena that is Camp Nou.

Speaking of experieced players, for Barca, Carlos Puyol is suspended in the first leg. The Barcelona captain has reached the yellow card limit. While undoubtedly Barca would rather have him for the Old Trafford leg, he will be a big miss for the Catalan club.

Liverpool have come in for a bit of stick for the way that they play negatively away in the first leg, and then come back to Anfield and dominate, but I think the same has been true of Manchester United in the Champions League this season. Away from home they seem a completely different, and much more subdued beast than at Old Trafford.

The reason for this is largely because away from home, United tend to line up in a 4-5-1 formation, with Wayne Rooney up front on his own. While lots of sides are playing this formation at the moment, its even more defensive with United, simply because Rooney is not a traditional Number nine striker – he comes back and he defends, works hard, and links up with the midfield. I don’t expect anything different from United at the Nou Camp either – I imagine Sir Alex would be delighted with a 0-0, so they can go all attack at OT.

Its for this reason that I don’t anticipate an astounding first leg, but I do expect a classic second. If Barca go to Manchester having to score, then we are in for an absolutly cracking second leg. Don’t write off this first leg just yet though, there’s so much attacking talent on display that you shouldn’t be able to take your eyes from the screen. Messi, Ronaldo, Rooney, Henry, Bojan, Eto’o, Tevez, Giggs, Nani the list goes on and on. I’m excited. See you there.

…Or will it be Ronaldo with the last laugh?