Champions League Final

Tonight in Rome, Manchester United (Premier League champions and defending Champions League champs) face Barcelona(La Liga and Spanish Cup champs) in the UEFA Champions League final. Tonight's final does not lack anything in its build up. The most interesting storyline is Cristiano Ronaldo v. Lionel Messi. Which one of these two world-class players will shine the brighest? Ronaldo beat out Messi to become the World Player of the Year in 2008. But, in this year's Champions League, Messi has been more consistent in his performace, although Ronaldo has stepped up to the plate in the past few games.

Another big storyline that people are overlooking is that Barca will be without fullbacks Dani Alves and Eric Abidal due to yellow card suspension and centerback Rafa Marquez is out due to injury. This absence could hurt Barca greatly. The one that will be missed the most is Alves, whose speed up and down the right side of the field is irreplaceable. This may give Man United an easier route on the outside of the pitch with Ronaldo, Patrice Evra, Wayne Rooney, and big game player Ji-Sung Park. Park could be the man who by himself could exploit the absence of Alves and Abidal the most. Park always seems to be on the pitch to start any big match.

The good news for Barca is that Thierry Henry and Andres Iniesta are supposed to play so that will give them a better attack force up front along Messi and Samuel Eto'o. Another thing going Barca's way is the heat in Rome. Over the past week, Italy has been in a heat wave and that could help the Spanish team and maybe cause the Man United players to cramp up towards the back end of the game(especially if extra time is needed).

Now time to pick a winner:
Even with the heat on their side and with the return of Henry and Iniesta, I believe that the abscence of Alves and Abidal will be too much to overcome.

Prediction: Manchester United 2, Barcelona 1. Goals by Ronaldo and Rooney for Man U, and Eto'o scores for Barca.