FC Barcelona's journey to the Champions League final has been a long and unusual one. After last year's fourth-placed finish in La Liga, Pep Guardiola took over a side that needed to play it's way into Europe against a club few outside of Poland had ever heard of. (For those who care, Wisla Krakov is on the verge of successfully defending it's Ekstraklasa title.) When Barça lost the second leg of their third round qualifying tie with Wisla, the Spanish media shrugged. After all, the 4-0 win in the first leg had practically clinched a spot in the group stage. When Barça lost it's next game - La Liga's season opener at Numancia - the Spanish media gasped.

Was Pep Guardiola too green? Did he have the knowledge to lead a club of Barcelona's stature? The answer to those questions carried an exclamation point the size of the Camp Nou, as Guardiola orchestrated what is now set up to be Barcelona's greatest single season ever. Only the defending European champions stand between Barça and a first-ever treble. It's the Champions League final that neutrals are salivating over. A record-setting and stubbornly offensive Barça against a dominant and evenly-balanced Manchester United.

Even without it's two starting full-backs, I like Barcelona's chances in Rome. Assuming that Iniesta will be fit (and it appears that both he and Henry will be) Barcelona will have three of the final's best four players on its side: Messi, Iniesta and Xavi make the Clockwork Blaugrana tick. Xavi's vision, Iniesta's pace, and Messi's combination of the two can carve up any defense in the world. Even an English one. The play of that home-grown trio is directly responsible for Henry's resurrection and Eto'o's bid to win the Pichichi. It's because of them that Barça has more goals and assists than any team in the Champions League, including United.

Sir Alex Ferguson will have an impressive attacking trident regardless of what combination of Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov and Tevez he opts for. But it will inevitably be a notch below the prolific trio of Messi, Eto'o and Henry, who combined for 94 goals in all competitions this season, including 16 in 12 champions league games since the group stage. That accounts for just over half of Barça’s tournament-leading 30 Champions League goals, an average of 2.5 per game, and the highest scoring clip en route to the final since United's 1998-99 treble-winning season. Having already secured the Copa del Rey and La Liga titles, Barça will hope the parallels with United '99 will not end there.

The midfield battle should also go to the Catalan side, even if Toure Yaya is dropped into the center-back slot once again. With Fletcher suspended for the final, Ferguson will choose some combination of Anderson, Giggs, Carrick and Park. That’s a decent stable, but lacks the disruptive force to break up the quick passing prowess of Iniesta and Xavi that has become the staple of success for both Barça and the Spanish national team. If United cannot win possession in midfield, they’ll be reduced to bottling it up at the back a la Chelsea. While that tactic has frustrated Barcelona in the past, Iniesta proved it can be a dangerous proposition.

The defense will be United’s greatest strength. With Rio Ferdinand expected to be fit by match day, the Ferdinand-Vidic tandem is as good as any in the world. Patrice Evra is among the planet’s best full-backs and Irish veteran John O’Shea will be trusted to man the opposite flank. Guardiola will have a puzzle to build at the back, with Dani Alves and Abidal suspended for the final. But the rookie coach will be able to count on his two best defenders: Puyol and Pique. ‘Piquenbauer’ has emerged as a legitimate anchor and this final against his former club seems tailor made for him. That means Puyol can cover for Dani Alves on the right flank. Toure Yaya proved he has the strength, touch and technique to fill in at center-back. And Sylvinho would appears to be the logical choice at left-back, where he’ll have the unenviable task of containing Ronaldo.

The makeshift backline will seem inviting for United. As such, I expect Ferguson to attack, making for an attractive and open Champions League final. Just the sort of game that favors Barcelona.

Andrés Cordero is the host of Gol TV News and is a frequent contributor to the Barcelona Supporter's Group- Miami site.