2011 UEFA Champions League Finals

For football (soccer) aficionados, the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) Champions League Final can only be summed as - The Biggest Game in all European Football. For those living in the United States of America, this game is the equivalent to the Super Bowl in the National Football League (American Football). In other words, when the season starts for all European club teams, their goal is to win this game because it is the most sought after trophy. The team that wins this game has accomplished a grand feat that many team always strive to achieve, in which many teams have failed to do so because of the many great club teams that participate. However, the two teams in this years UEFA Cup Finals - Manchester United and Barcelona - have both won the Champions League three times each. In addition, these two teams are no stranger to each, for they have ran into each other 3 out of 4 years. Manchester United from the rugged English Premier League and Barcelona from the technical La Liga will once again be battling each other in the 2011 UEFA Champions League Finals at Wembley Stadium in London, England but before the analysis, one has to know why they constantly run into each other paths crushing each other's goals. 

Manchester United

When the football club of Manchester United is mentioned, many reactions will be received; either with disgust or with tremendous joy. The reason why one would react with disgust is that they have won the English Premier League (EPL) a record 19 times, won 11 FA Cups, won 3 UEFA Champions League Titles, and is the only English Club Team to be world champions (2x); as a result, many people view them as "buying championships" through the huge contracts that attract the great players to come play with them. On the contrary, the supporters of Manchester United are usually from Old Trafford, Greater Manchester and individuals from all over the world; but they are frowned upon because of the mantra bestowed upon them for "buying championships." Winning 19 EPL titles is no easy feat especially in a league that has no "weak team." The EPL is such a physical league that many other leagues throughout the world such as La Liga would complain for the foul because of the tackle or the challenge of any degree. The physicality, not so much the technical like in La Liga, of the EPL is what stands out amongst the many leagues across European Football; which many experts and fans from all degrees of support, have said the EPL is the best league in the world, for the "beautiful game" is actually played not stopped at every tackle or challenge. 

Barcelona

Amongst the fans (except, mainly those of Real Madrid) and experts, the most beloved Football club around the world is FC Barcelona. The reason for this is simple; Lionel Messi - the 2x FIFA World Player award recipient, and many other countless awards that if were to be acknowledge would transform this blog entry into a novel. Lionel Messi is at the helm of the attack and the reason behind the many winning efforts of FC Barcelona. Like Manchester United, Barcelona is a storied football club that have won countless of honors - 21 La Liga titles, 25 Spanish Cup, 3x UEFA Championship League titles, 3x UEFA Super Cup titles and many others. The success of Barcelona can be attributed to their amazing 'feeder team' (FC Barcelona B and Barcelona C Teams) that develop young talent into superstars such as Pedro, Bojan, Messi, Puyol, Xavi and many more. Since Barcelona tries not to attract great players through huge contracts, many fans around the world tend to be supporters. La Liga, unlike the EPL, is a completely different type of league.The Spanish League is all about being technical and not physical. Barcelona's approach is 'ball control', meaning that they are always passing the ball, in hopes of an opening, so they can attack. However, when there is a tackle or a challenge of any degree, many players tend to 'flop', in hopes that the referee awards a set piece. Consequently, the La Liga games seem to be slower than the EPL because the players tend to fall at every challenge from the defender; thus creating, a spark contrast between the EPL and La Liga.   

2011 Champions League Final

For the football aficionados, this game is what they would say 'nothing new.' These two teams have run into each other and have crushed each others season's goals, either in the semi-finals or finals. In the 2007-2008 UEFA Champions League season, Manchester United defeated FC Barcelona 1-0 in aggregate in the semi-finals. The first leg was a 0 to 0 draw but in the second leg, United scored the gol that took them to the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final against another EPL team, Chelsea. United would win their third UEFA Champions League, 6 to 5 in penalty kicks. Then the next year, the 2008-2009 UEFA Champions League, both teams ran into each other again; this time in the 2009 Finals. It was a chance for FC Barcelona to redeem themselves from the previous semi-finals elimination at the hands of their finals opponents. Not only did they win but they won convincingly with a 2 to 0 defeat of the team that broke their hearts and derailed their 2007-2008 hopes of the title. Just like Manchester United, Barcelona won their third UEFA Champions League Final. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on the person, Barcelona and Manchester United, did not run into each other but were both eliminated from the title contention by the eventual finalists, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan. Now in the 2010-2011 UEFA Champions League Final, the two teams that have always run into each other will once again, run into each other for the chance to be the 4x UEFA Champion. Will the physical play of the Manchester United superstar Wayne Rooney be enough to take Barcelona's superstar, Lionel Messi, out of his technical element? Will the Red Devils send the Avi del Barça down the path of damnation? Will the EPL reign supreme over La Liga? Barcelona or Manchester United? Who is your team?