The 2009 European Champions League final will be played between Manchester United and Barcelona in Rome.Barcelona won in a dramatic fashion, beating Chelsea in away goal rules to capture that elusive second final spot.
Meanwhile, Manchester United progressed in a comprehensive fashion, beating Arsenal in their away match 3-1 to capture the first final spot. Park Ji-sung gave the lead in early minutes and Cristiano Ronaldo was spot on target with his two second-half goals.
While United is trying to hold on to the title it won in Moscow last year, Barcelona is chasing its third title and hoping to end the English Premier League's recent dominance in European soccer's most prestigious competition.
This champions League final promise to be an interesting match as both teams had secured the domestic leagues trophy. It is a meeting of perhaps the two most entertaining clubs in Europe, both of them with big-name forwards who enjoy taking opponents apart with their imaginative interpassing.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will have his three main strikers - Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Carlos Tevez with Cristiano Ronaldo also attacking from the wings.
Guardiola usually sends his trio of strikers - Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o out together, and they have rewarded him with a combined 69 league goals out of a total of 100.
Both teams will be without some key players in the final through suspension and injury.
Defender Eric Abidal was sent off against Chelsea on Wednesday and will be suspended for the final, as will Daniel Alves, who picked up a second yellow card in the competition. Also missing for Barca will be center half Rafael Márquez. But Guardiola will have Carles Puyol back after serving a ban.
United midfielder Darren Fletcher will get that experience this time, after being harshly sent off for bringing down Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas in the semifinal second leg.
The final of the Champions League will be played in Rome on May 27th.
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