CL Preview: Barcelona - Manchester United
Irresistible Forces & Unmovable Objects
The two remaining unbeaten sides in this season's Champions League tournament go head-to-head in the semi-final, with Barcelona - at home in the first leg - striving to prevent the first all-English final by defeating Manchester United and going on to face Chelsea or Liverpool in Moscow.
United stand between Barca and a second final in three seasons, while the Red Devils are targeting an appearance in the European Champions final 50 years after the Munich air crash robbed Matt Busby's much-loved 1958 'Babes' side of the chance of glory in the tournament's fledgling phase.
Both Barca and United have previously won Europe's premier club competition on two occasions, the Catalans in 1992 (against Sampdoria) and 2006 (Arsenal) twice and United in 1968 (against Benfica) and 1999 (Bayern Munich).
That 1999 United triumph was at Camp Nou, but the Red Devils have never beaten Barca on their own turf - losing 2-0 in the 1983-84 Cup Winners' Cup quarter-finals and 4-0 in the 1994-95 Champions League group stage, and drawing 3-3 there in the 1998-99 in the Champions League.
Barcelona also boast a more impressive record in the last four of the Champions Cup/League. They have won four of the eight previous semi-finals they have contested – in 1960-61, 1985-86, 1993-94 and 2005-06 – as well as reaching the 1991-92 final as winners of their last-eight group.
In contrast, United's nine previous semi-final appearances have yielded only two victories, and in last year’s competition they were defeated by eventual winners AC Milan in the last four, leading 3-2 from the first-leg but crashing out with a 3-0 defeat t the San Siro.
Ahead of Wednesday's clash, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said he hoped his side would show a "really positive" approach at Camp Nou, and certainly United go into the first leg as favourites based on current form. They will be looking to establish a platform of one or more away goals to take to Old Trafford for the second leg on 29th April.
Something will certainly have to give because Barcelona's home form has been flawless in this season's Champions League campaign - played five, won five, scored ten, conceded one - while the Premier League leaders are unbeaten away in Europe this season, with three victories and two draws.
Moreover, Barcelona's home record against English opponents is impressive, with 13 wins, eight draws and only two defeats in 23 previous meetings in European competition. Both those defeats came against this year's possible finalists, Liverpool - 0-1 in the 1975-76 Uefa Cup semi-final first leg (prior to a 2-1 aggregate defeat), and 1-2 in the 2006-07 first knockout round of the Champions League (which they exited to Rafa Benitez's side on away goals after the aggregate score finished 2-2).
That defeat by Liverpool last season means Barca have won seven and lost eight of 15 two-legged ties against English teams.
As for United, they have played 16 times in Spain against Spanish opposition, and won only once, drawing six and losing nine. Their one victory was in the quarter-finals of the 2001-02 Champions League at Coruna against Deportivo.
United's record in nine previous two-legged ties against Spanish opposition is five aggregate defeats and four draws.
Contrasting Domestic Fortunes
However, leaving history aside, it is the present that sees United travel to Catalonia this week as favourites not only to overcome Barca in the semis but also to win the overall competition in Moscow. Indeed, United are on course to capture a coveted Premier League-Champions League Double, although Ferguson will be coming down hard on any complacency within his squad, any tendency to think either of those two prizes are already in the bag. That is why in his pre-match press conference he insisted United and Barca are evenly matched, and that it is wrong to regard his side as favourites.
Nevertheless, United are meeting Frank Rijkaard's side when the Blaugrana are going through an indifferent spell of form at just the wrong stage in their season. Their fast-receding Primera Liga title hopes took another major knock at the weekend as city rivals Espanyol held them to a goalless draw that left them third behind Villarreal and arch-rivals Real Madrid, who now have 11 more points than the Blaugrana.
At least Rijkaard was able bring back Bojan Krkić, Andrés Iniesta, Lionel Messi and Deco from injury. Bojan started, and Iniesta and Messi came on as second-half substitutes.
Rijkaard said: "We had plenty of opportunities and didn't score so you have to say we were unlucky.
"We worked hard in order to get a good result but it wasn't to be. We're disappointed because we did everything we could. I'm happy with the players' attitude and mentality. The work that they are continuing to put in is something very positive. We're not giving up because we know there are still games left to win."
Barca have now taken seven points from their last eight Liga games, a run that includes one win (against Real Valladolid on 23rd March), four draws and three defeats, with Rijkaard's side scoring 13 goals and conceding 14 - a statistic that will give huge encouragement to United's prolific attack. In fact Barca have lost four of their last ten games in La Liga and the Copa del Rey, winning only one.
United's record is certainly more impressive: they have lost one of their last 15 matches in all competitions and are unbeaten in nine games. They are unbeaten away since going down to a shock 2-1 Premier League defeat at West Ham United on 29th December - ten games ago.
On Saturday, they came through a stern examination by Blackburn in a hard-fought battle that saw Rovers, managed by Ferguson protege Mark Hughes, take an early lead through Roque Santa Cruz and hang on to it through some Brad Friedel heroics until two minutes from time, when Carlos Tevez grabbed a close-range equaliser.
Despite the dropped points, United moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League ahead of next weekend's trip to Stamford Bridge for the showdown against second-placed Chelsea, where Ferguson's side could clinch the title.
Ferguson said: "We'd rather have had the three points and deserved that but we've rescued the game late on so that's a positive thing.
"Our performance in the second half was brilliant, the tenacity we showed was fantastic and we played like champions. We dominated the second half and were very, very unlucky not to win. We know that if we win at Chelsea we'll win the league. We've given ourselves a chance, there's only three games left and we're approaching the finish line. The attitude the players showed in the second half was fantastic, I'm proud of them today."
The Road To The Semi-Final
Barcelona
19.09.2007 Barcelona - Lyon 3-0 (Clerc o.g., Messi, Henry)
02.10.2007 Stuttgart - Barcelona 0-2 (Puyol, Messi)
23.10.2007 Rangers - Barcelona 0-0
07.11.2007 Barcelona - Rangers 2-0 (Henry, Messi)
27.11.2007 Lyon - Barcelona 2-2 (Iniesta, Messi pen))
12.12.2007 Barcelona - Stuttgart 3-1 (Giovani, Eto'o, Ronaldinho)
20.02.2008 Celtic - Barcelona 2-3 (Messi 2, Henry)
04.03.08 Barcelona - Celtic 1-0 (Xavi)
01.04.08 Schalke - Barcelona 0-1 (Bojan)
09.04.08 Barcelona - Schalke 1-0 (Yaya Toure)
Manchester United
19.09.2007 Sporting - Man. United 0-1 (Ronaldo)
02.10.2007 Man. United - Roma 1-0 (Rooney)
23.10.2007 Dynamo Kiev - Man. United 2-4 (Ferdinand, Rooney, Ronaldo 2)
07.11.2007 Man. United - Dynamo Kyiv 4-0 (Piqué, Tévez, Rooney, Ronaldo)
27.11.2007 Man. United - Sporting 2-1 (Tévez, Ronaldo)
12.12.2007 Roma - Man. United 1-1 (Piqué)
20.02.08 Lyon - Man. United 1-1 (Tévez)
04.03.08 Man. United - Lyon 1-0 (Ronaldo)
01.04.08 Roma - Man. United 0-2 (Ronaldo, Rooney)
09.04.08 Man. United - Roma 1-0 (Tévez)
DOMESTIC FORM GUIDE
Barcelona
Cup 20/03/08 v Valencia (A) LOST 2-3 (Henry, Eto'o)
League 23/03/08 v Real Valladolid (H) WON 4-1 (Eto'o, Iniesta, Bojan 2)
League 29/03/08 v Real Betis (A) LOST 2-3 (Bojan, Eto'o)
League 06/04/08 v Getafe (H) DREW 0-0
League 12/04/08 v Recreativo de Huelva (A) DREW 2-2 (Eto'o 2)
League 19/04/08 v Espanyol (H) DREW 0-0
Manchester United
League 19/03/08 v Bolton (H) WON 2-0 (Ronaldo 2)
League 23/03/08 v Liverpool (H) WON 3-0 (Brown, Ronaldo, Nani)
League 29/03/08 v Aston Villa (H) WON 4-0 (Ronaldo, Tevez, Rooney 2)
League 06/04/08 v Middlesbrough (A) DREW 2-2 (Ronaldo, Rooney)
League 13/04/08 v Arsenal (H) WON 2-1 (Ronaldo pen, Hargreaves)
League 19/04/08 v Blackburn (A) DREW 1-1 (Tevez)
TEAM NEWS
Barcelona
Striker Thierry Henry was unable to take part in training on Monday morning because of a fever. He had been an unused substitute in Saturday's goalless Liga draw against Espanyol. Ronaldinho, Lilian Thuram, Jose Edmilson and deputy goalkeeper Albert Jorquera also missed training.
Mexican defender Rafael Marquez has been suffering from bruising and inflammation in his right foot but is expected to be able partner Gabriel Milito in the heart of the Barca defence.
Skipper Carles Puyol must sit out the first leg through suspension, having collected his third yellow card in this season's competition in the second leg with Schalke. Rafael Márquez, Gabriel Milito, Yaya Touré and Messi are all within a booking of a suspension.
Squad: Valdés, Jorquera, Milito, Márquez, Zambrotta, Edmílson, Sylvinho, Thuram, Abidal, Oleguer, Xavi, Iniesta, Deco, Yaya Touré, Gudjohnsen, Eto'o, Henry, Giovani, Messi, Bojan.
Last Starting XI (v Espanyol): Valdés, Milito, Sylvinho, Puyol (Márquez 66), Zambrotta, Yaya Touré, Xavi, Gudjohnsen (Iniesta 45), Eto'o, Giovani (Messi 45), Bojan.
Manchester United
Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is fit after a groin strain and is in line to play, while Wayne Rooney seems to have overcome the hip injury he sustained against Blackburn on Saturday.
Owen Hargreaves and Anderson have both recovered from minor injuries, and Gary Neville and Darren Fletcher have also been named in the squad.
Ferguson was in positive mood when he said of Rooney: "Sometimes you get these knocks right on the bone but I'm sure Wayne will be OK for Wednesday. Edwin van der Sar, Owen Hargreaves and Anderson should also be fit."
Squad: Van der Sar, Neville, Evra, Hargreaves, Ferdinand, Brown, Ronaldo, Anderson, Rooney, Giggs, Park, Vidic, Carrick, Nani, Scholes, Pique, O'Shea, Fletcher, Silvestre, Kuszczak, Tevez, Heaton, Welbeck.
Last Starting XI (v Blackburn): Kuszczak, Brown (O'Shea 81), Ferdinand, Vidić, Evra, Cristiano Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs (Nani 6), Tévez, Rooney (Park 90).
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Barcelona
Thierry Henry spent eight years with United's Premier League rivals Arsenal, and scored nine goals in 18 appearances against the Red Devils. The last of those was a 90th-minute winner when the Gunners came from behind to beat United 2-1 at the Emirates in London in January 2007. Henry was also in the AS Monaco team that beat United on away goals in the Champions League quarter-finals in 1997-98.
Henry said of Wednesday's opponents: "At the moment, they're flying, but you never know in football. Hopefully, they will have a bad day when we play them. You know how it is in the Champions League - one bad day and you're gone.''
Should Henry's recent illness restrict his involvement, there is always Samuel Eto'o - who scored both Barca's goals in the 2-2 draw against Recreativo on 12th April, his 13th and 14th League goals on only his 14th appearance this season.
Manchester United
Between them Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tévez and Wayne Rooney have scored 73 of United's 101 goals in all competitions this season, and 52 of their 73 in the Premier League.
Ronaldo's goal against Roma in the quarter-final first leg was his seventh in the Champions League this season, making him the competition's top scorer. Before the Blackburn game, Ronaldo had scored in his last seven United games in all competitions. And he is also the Premier League's leading scorer this season with 28 goals. His goal against Arsenal on 13th April was his 38th of the season in all competitions and keeps him in contention to break Denis Law's club record of 46
goals (1963-64).
Ronaldo has also been nominated for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award, along with Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, David James, Cesc Fabregas and Adebayor. And for good measure, the United winger has also been short-listed for the Young Player of the Year award - having collected both accolades last season.
PREDICTION
Barcelona really need victory - and a clean sheet - to take to Old Trafford. But although United have never won at Barcelona, and have the pressure of being the favorites to reach the final at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, they are widely expected to have the quality to get past Barca at the moment. However, Barcelona boast attacking riches that can upset he best defence if they click, and although Ronaldinho is injured, Messi, Henry and Eto'o represent a pretty formidable trio.
For United there is everything to play for, and they also have experience running through h team now, which has given them the capacity to grind out results when things are not quite going for them. And while Barca also have outstanding talent in their ranks, they are not impregnable defensively. United might just have the pace and panache to damage them at Camp Nou with a couple of away goals.
Barcelona 2-2 Manchester United
Graham Lister
The two remaining unbeaten sides in this season's Champions League tournament go head-to-head in the semi-final, with Barcelona - at home in the first leg - striving to prevent the first all-English final by defeating Manchester United and going on to face Chelsea or Liverpool in Moscow.
United stand between Barca and a second final in three seasons, while the Red Devils are targeting an appearance in the European Champions final 50 years after the Munich air crash robbed Matt Busby's much-loved 1958 'Babes' side of the chance of glory in the tournament's fledgling phase.
Both Barca and United have previously won Europe's premier club competition on two occasions, the Catalans in 1992 (against Sampdoria) and 2006 (Arsenal) twice and United in 1968 (against Benfica) and 1999 (Bayern Munich).
That 1999 United triumph was at Camp Nou, but the Red Devils have never beaten Barca on their own turf - losing 2-0 in the 1983-84 Cup Winners' Cup quarter-finals and 4-0 in the 1994-95 Champions League group stage, and drawing 3-3 there in the 1998-99 in the Champions League.
Barcelona also boast a more impressive record in the last four of the Champions Cup/League. They have won four of the eight previous semi-finals they have contested – in 1960-61, 1985-86, 1993-94 and 2005-06 – as well as reaching the 1991-92 final as winners of their last-eight group.
In contrast, United's nine previous semi-final appearances have yielded only two victories, and in last year’s competition they were defeated by eventual winners AC Milan in the last four, leading 3-2 from the first-leg but crashing out with a 3-0 defeat t the San Siro.
Ahead of Wednesday's clash, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said he hoped his side would show a "really positive" approach at Camp Nou, and certainly United go into the first leg as favourites based on current form. They will be looking to establish a platform of one or more away goals to take to Old Trafford for the second leg on 29th April.
Something will certainly have to give because Barcelona's home form has been flawless in this season's Champions League campaign - played five, won five, scored ten, conceded one - while the Premier League leaders are unbeaten away in Europe this season, with three victories and two draws.
Moreover, Barcelona's home record against English opponents is impressive, with 13 wins, eight draws and only two defeats in 23 previous meetings in European competition. Both those defeats came against this year's possible finalists, Liverpool - 0-1 in the 1975-76 Uefa Cup semi-final first leg (prior to a 2-1 aggregate defeat), and 1-2 in the 2006-07 first knockout round of the Champions League (which they exited to Rafa Benitez's side on away goals after the aggregate score finished 2-2).
That defeat by Liverpool last season means Barca have won seven and lost eight of 15 two-legged ties against English teams.
As for United, they have played 16 times in Spain against Spanish opposition, and won only once, drawing six and losing nine. Their one victory was in the quarter-finals of the 2001-02 Champions League at Coruna against Deportivo.
United's record in nine previous two-legged ties against Spanish opposition is five aggregate defeats and four draws.
Contrasting Domestic Fortunes
However, leaving history aside, it is the present that sees United travel to Catalonia this week as favourites not only to overcome Barca in the semis but also to win the overall competition in Moscow. Indeed, United are on course to capture a coveted Premier League-Champions League Double, although Ferguson will be coming down hard on any complacency within his squad, any tendency to think either of those two prizes are already in the bag. That is why in his pre-match press conference he insisted United and Barca are evenly matched, and that it is wrong to regard his side as favourites.
Nevertheless, United are meeting Frank Rijkaard's side when the Blaugrana are going through an indifferent spell of form at just the wrong stage in their season. Their fast-receding Primera Liga title hopes took another major knock at the weekend as city rivals Espanyol held them to a goalless draw that left them third behind Villarreal and arch-rivals Real Madrid, who now have 11 more points than the Blaugrana.
At least Rijkaard was able bring back Bojan Krkić, Andrés Iniesta, Lionel Messi and Deco from injury. Bojan started, and Iniesta and Messi came on as second-half substitutes.
Rijkaard said: "We had plenty of opportunities and didn't score so you have to say we were unlucky.
"We worked hard in order to get a good result but it wasn't to be. We're disappointed because we did everything we could. I'm happy with the players' attitude and mentality. The work that they are continuing to put in is something very positive. We're not giving up because we know there are still games left to win."
Barca have now taken seven points from their last eight Liga games, a run that includes one win (against Real Valladolid on 23rd March), four draws and three defeats, with Rijkaard's side scoring 13 goals and conceding 14 - a statistic that will give huge encouragement to United's prolific attack. In fact Barca have lost four of their last ten games in La Liga and the Copa del Rey, winning only one.
United's record is certainly more impressive: they have lost one of their last 15 matches in all competitions and are unbeaten in nine games. They are unbeaten away since going down to a shock 2-1 Premier League defeat at West Ham United on 29th December - ten games ago.
On Saturday, they came through a stern examination by Blackburn in a hard-fought battle that saw Rovers, managed by Ferguson protege Mark Hughes, take an early lead through Roque Santa Cruz and hang on to it through some Brad Friedel heroics until two minutes from time, when Carlos Tevez grabbed a close-range equaliser.
Despite the dropped points, United moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League ahead of next weekend's trip to Stamford Bridge for the showdown against second-placed Chelsea, where Ferguson's side could clinch the title.
Ferguson said: "We'd rather have had the three points and deserved that but we've rescued the game late on so that's a positive thing.
"Our performance in the second half was brilliant, the tenacity we showed was fantastic and we played like champions. We dominated the second half and were very, very unlucky not to win. We know that if we win at Chelsea we'll win the league. We've given ourselves a chance, there's only three games left and we're approaching the finish line. The attitude the players showed in the second half was fantastic, I'm proud of them today."
The Road To The Semi-Final
Barcelona
19.09.2007 Barcelona - Lyon 3-0 (Clerc o.g., Messi, Henry)
02.10.2007 Stuttgart - Barcelona 0-2 (Puyol, Messi)
23.10.2007 Rangers - Barcelona 0-0
07.11.2007 Barcelona - Rangers 2-0 (Henry, Messi)
27.11.2007 Lyon - Barcelona 2-2 (Iniesta, Messi pen))
12.12.2007 Barcelona - Stuttgart 3-1 (Giovani, Eto'o, Ronaldinho)
20.02.2008 Celtic - Barcelona 2-3 (Messi 2, Henry)
04.03.08 Barcelona - Celtic 1-0 (Xavi)
01.04.08 Schalke - Barcelona 0-1 (Bojan)
09.04.08 Barcelona - Schalke 1-0 (Yaya Toure)
Manchester United
19.09.2007 Sporting - Man. United 0-1 (Ronaldo)
02.10.2007 Man. United - Roma 1-0 (Rooney)
23.10.2007 Dynamo Kiev - Man. United 2-4 (Ferdinand, Rooney, Ronaldo 2)
07.11.2007 Man. United - Dynamo Kyiv 4-0 (Piqué, Tévez, Rooney, Ronaldo)
27.11.2007 Man. United - Sporting 2-1 (Tévez, Ronaldo)
12.12.2007 Roma - Man. United 1-1 (Piqué)
20.02.08 Lyon - Man. United 1-1 (Tévez)
04.03.08 Man. United - Lyon 1-0 (Ronaldo)
01.04.08 Roma - Man. United 0-2 (Ronaldo, Rooney)
09.04.08 Man. United - Roma 1-0 (Tévez)
DOMESTIC FORM GUIDE
Barcelona
Cup 20/03/08 v Valencia (A) LOST 2-3 (Henry, Eto'o)
League 23/03/08 v Real Valladolid (H) WON 4-1 (Eto'o, Iniesta, Bojan 2)
League 29/03/08 v Real Betis (A) LOST 2-3 (Bojan, Eto'o)
League 06/04/08 v Getafe (H) DREW 0-0
League 12/04/08 v Recreativo de Huelva (A) DREW 2-2 (Eto'o 2)
League 19/04/08 v Espanyol (H) DREW 0-0
Manchester United
League 19/03/08 v Bolton (H) WON 2-0 (Ronaldo 2)
League 23/03/08 v Liverpool (H) WON 3-0 (Brown, Ronaldo, Nani)
League 29/03/08 v Aston Villa (H) WON 4-0 (Ronaldo, Tevez, Rooney 2)
League 06/04/08 v Middlesbrough (A) DREW 2-2 (Ronaldo, Rooney)
League 13/04/08 v Arsenal (H) WON 2-1 (Ronaldo pen, Hargreaves)
League 19/04/08 v Blackburn (A) DREW 1-1 (Tevez)
TEAM NEWS
Barcelona
Striker Thierry Henry was unable to take part in training on Monday morning because of a fever. He had been an unused substitute in Saturday's goalless Liga draw against Espanyol. Ronaldinho, Lilian Thuram, Jose Edmilson and deputy goalkeeper Albert Jorquera also missed training.
Mexican defender Rafael Marquez has been suffering from bruising and inflammation in his right foot but is expected to be able partner Gabriel Milito in the heart of the Barca defence.
Skipper Carles Puyol must sit out the first leg through suspension, having collected his third yellow card in this season's competition in the second leg with Schalke. Rafael Márquez, Gabriel Milito, Yaya Touré and Messi are all within a booking of a suspension.
Squad: Valdés, Jorquera, Milito, Márquez, Zambrotta, Edmílson, Sylvinho, Thuram, Abidal, Oleguer, Xavi, Iniesta, Deco, Yaya Touré, Gudjohnsen, Eto'o, Henry, Giovani, Messi, Bojan.
Last Starting XI (v Espanyol): Valdés, Milito, Sylvinho, Puyol (Márquez 66), Zambrotta, Yaya Touré, Xavi, Gudjohnsen (Iniesta 45), Eto'o, Giovani (Messi 45), Bojan.
Manchester United
Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is fit after a groin strain and is in line to play, while Wayne Rooney seems to have overcome the hip injury he sustained against Blackburn on Saturday.
Owen Hargreaves and Anderson have both recovered from minor injuries, and Gary Neville and Darren Fletcher have also been named in the squad.
Ferguson was in positive mood when he said of Rooney: "Sometimes you get these knocks right on the bone but I'm sure Wayne will be OK for Wednesday. Edwin van der Sar, Owen Hargreaves and Anderson should also be fit."
Squad: Van der Sar, Neville, Evra, Hargreaves, Ferdinand, Brown, Ronaldo, Anderson, Rooney, Giggs, Park, Vidic, Carrick, Nani, Scholes, Pique, O'Shea, Fletcher, Silvestre, Kuszczak, Tevez, Heaton, Welbeck.
Last Starting XI (v Blackburn): Kuszczak, Brown (O'Shea 81), Ferdinand, Vidić, Evra, Cristiano Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs (Nani 6), Tévez, Rooney (Park 90).
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Barcelona
Thierry Henry spent eight years with United's Premier League rivals Arsenal, and scored nine goals in 18 appearances against the Red Devils. The last of those was a 90th-minute winner when the Gunners came from behind to beat United 2-1 at the Emirates in London in January 2007. Henry was also in the AS Monaco team that beat United on away goals in the Champions League quarter-finals in 1997-98.
Henry said of Wednesday's opponents: "At the moment, they're flying, but you never know in football. Hopefully, they will have a bad day when we play them. You know how it is in the Champions League - one bad day and you're gone.''
Should Henry's recent illness restrict his involvement, there is always Samuel Eto'o - who scored both Barca's goals in the 2-2 draw against Recreativo on 12th April, his 13th and 14th League goals on only his 14th appearance this season.
Manchester United
Between them Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tévez and Wayne Rooney have scored 73 of United's 101 goals in all competitions this season, and 52 of their 73 in the Premier League.
Ronaldo's goal against Roma in the quarter-final first leg was his seventh in the Champions League this season, making him the competition's top scorer. Before the Blackburn game, Ronaldo had scored in his last seven United games in all competitions. And he is also the Premier League's leading scorer this season with 28 goals. His goal against Arsenal on 13th April was his 38th of the season in all competitions and keeps him in contention to break Denis Law's club record of 46
goals (1963-64).
Ronaldo has also been nominated for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award, along with Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, David James, Cesc Fabregas and Adebayor. And for good measure, the United winger has also been short-listed for the Young Player of the Year award - having collected both accolades last season.
PREDICTION
Barcelona really need victory - and a clean sheet - to take to Old Trafford. But although United have never won at Barcelona, and have the pressure of being the favorites to reach the final at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, they are widely expected to have the quality to get past Barca at the moment. However, Barcelona boast attacking riches that can upset he best defence if they click, and although Ronaldinho is injured, Messi, Henry and Eto'o represent a pretty formidable trio.
For United there is everything to play for, and they also have experience running through h team now, which has given them the capacity to grind out results when things are not quite going for them. And while Barca also have outstanding talent in their ranks, they are not impregnable defensively. United might just have the pace and panache to damage them at Camp Nou with a couple of away goals.
Barcelona 2-2 Manchester United
Graham Lister
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