FCBARCELONA.CAT

23.04.2008 11:15

Barça-Manchester United: Did you know…

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Records, previous meetings, statistics. Below you will find all the curious information that you ever want about Barça against Manchester United.

- Barça and United have met in the European Cup on four occasions. Barça are just ahead with one win, 4-0 in 1994-95, while the other games were all draws, 2-2 at Old Trafford in 1994-95 and 3-3 at both grounds in 1998-99.

- Both teams qualified for the Champions League semi finals with almost identical records. The teams have won eight and drawn two of their ten Champions Leageu matches this season and have won all their home matches. They have also scored 18 goals each and both conceded just five.

- FC Barcelona and Manchester United have both won the European Cup on two occasions, with the English side last lifting the trophy at the end of the 1998-99 campaign with a victory in Camp Nou against Bayern Munich. That was their last visit to the stadium.

- One major difference between the clubs is that Barcelona have won four of the eight semi finals that they have played in, while United have been victorious in two of the nine occasions that they have reached this stage.

- Barça coach Frank Rijkaard and Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar played together for Ajax between 1993 and 1995 and won the European Cup and the European Super Cup as well as two Eredivisie titles together. They later worked together with Dutch national team when Rijkaard became the coach. Tonight they meet again as opponents.

- Deco was on the winning Porto side as the Portuguese midfielder helped them to defeat Manchester United in the 2003-04 season before going on to win the trophy that year. Thierry Henry also helped Monaco to beat the Red Devils in the competition in 1997-98.

- Henry has an impressive record against United throughout his career. In eight years at Arsenal he scored nine times against them in 18 games.

- A former Barcelona youngster is in the United squad as Gerard Piqué is hoping to make an appearance against his hometown club where he played between 1997-98 and 2003-04.

- FC Bacelona are at the top of the pile in a number of Champions League statistics this term as they have won the mpst corners, enjoyed the most possession of any team and had more shots at goal than anyone else.

- Xavi is the only Barcelona player to have appeared in all ten games in the Champions League this sason. Not one Manchester United player has been an ever-present for them in Europe.

- The teams have between them the two top scorers in the Champions League this season with Cristiano Ronaldo on seven goals and Lionel Messi with six. Liverpool's Steven Gerrard also has six.

- Carles Puyol misses the first leg through suspension. There are four Barcelona players one booking away from missing the second leg. They are Gaby Milito, Rafa Märquez, Touré Yaya and Messi. On the United side, Patrice Evra and Nani are one card away from suspension. The Red Devils have received the least cards of any team in the competition with just ten.