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.

Barca Will Come Out On Top

Its the most wonderful time of the year. The holiday season is the only time of the year when you are nice to people you don't like and the whole thing about being naughty or nice doesn't matter cause you will still receive gifts. I've been more naughty than nice this year, especially that one night at Club Madonna's. Anyway, I'm thankful that i'll be receiving gifts but I'm still a bit greedy hoping that these Christmas wishes will come true.

Wish #1:



Stop the negative press about South Africa's preparations for the 2010 World Cup. There is a sense of prejudice and anti-African sentiment when a negative report or story about South Africa's preparations is written. If you love The Great Tournament, then you want to see South Africa host this historic World Cup.

Wish #2:



For Barcelona to win the treble this year. Its painful as a Barca fan to suffer through 2 straight trophy less seasons. Not to mention the cloud of Real Madrid, its 9 European Cups and fafillion La Liga titles lingering overhead. I want their lead in La Liga to extend to 24 points by the end of the season and for Real Madrid to qualify for the UEFA Cup or Europa League or whatever its gonna be called.

Wish #3:



For Cristiano Ronaldo to admit that he does not want to play for Manchester United anymore. The world's most arrogant player wants to play for Real Madrid. He has yet to come out and pledge his undying devotion to Old Trafford. I already transferred him to Real Madrid in FIFA 09. Its getting annoying to hear all this speculation, Man U is the faithful wife, Real Madrid is the freaky mistress and Cristiano is the husband who is afraid to admit that he wants to leave his wife for the freak.

Wish #4:



That Sylvie Van der Vaart, model wife of Real Madrid midfielder Rafael, be loaned to Club America of Mexico or some 1st division Mexican team so that we can see her in a tight and skimpy Porrista outfit before every Mexican League match. "Hot" is not the word to describe this woman's sex appeal. WOO! If I was Rafael, Sylvie would have had 5 or 6 kids by now. It would be impossible to focus on playing ball.

Wish #5:

VS.

Please put the Italian Serie A back on GOL TV. Fox is screwing up coverage of one of the great leagues in all of sports. This past Sunday, Fox Soccer Channel had Milan-Udinese live and then Fox Sports Espanol at halftime showed the 1st half of the same game on delay. On both Fox channels the same game was on simultaneously, with about 30 minutes game time difference. That's ridiculous and the weekly wrap up show, Serie A Weekly is nothing but a music video of soccer highlights, its a 30 minute YouTube clip. "Ciao, Italia", the 1 hour weekly wrap up show that was on GOL TV had commentary and game highlights of every match of the week with standings and the leading goal scorers chart at the end. Much like "Ole, La Liga" for Spain. Per Favore, ritorna calcio italiano alla GOL TV.

Wish #6:



That Ronaldo changes his mind and plays for SC Internacional of Porto Alegre. We know all know that the World Cup's all-time leading goal scorer recently signed with Corinthians and rumors are swirling that Juan Sebastian "La Brujita" Veron may join Timão as well. Instead, Ronaldo & Veron should sign for O Colorado. It would be intriguing to see Ronaldo up top with Nilmar and Veron acting as Andres D'Alessandro's midfield enforcer for the newly crowned Copa Sudamericana champs. Its not going to happen but a squad with those players would form the #1 challenger to São Paulo for the 2009 Brasileirão title.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Happy Holidays to you and yours. Celebrate Hanukah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa safely and I hope your Christmas wishes come true.

Christmas Dreams For The Great Game