Barça look to break English monopoly

England dominates
The UEFA Champions League has seen an all-Spanish final – between Real Madrid CF and Valencia CF in 1999/00 – and an all-Italian showcase – as AC Milan beat Juventus on penalties in 2002/03 – and the 2007/08 competition is destined to conclude with a Premier League success at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium on 21 May unless Frank Rijkaard's side can derail United over two legs.

Previous meetings
United won the 1998/99 UEFA Champions League final at Camp Nou, beating FC Bayern München with two late goals, but they have never beaten Barça on their home patch, losing 2-0 in the 1983/84 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup quarter-finals, 4-0 in the 1994/95 UEFA Champions League group stage and drawing 3-3 there in the 1998/99 competition.

Second legs
Sir Alex Ferguson hoped his side would show a "really positive" approach in Catalonia, and will be confident of having something to play for in the second leg on 29 April. The aggregate winners will then have to wait 24 hours to know the identity of their final opponents, with Chelsea's tie against five-time European Champion Clubs' Cup winners Liverpool concluding at Stamford Bridge on 30 April.

Ballack's dream
Liverpool have beaten Chelsea in two UEFA Champions League semi-finals already, 1-0 on aggregate in 2004/05, and on penalties after the two sides traded 1-0 wins last season. However, the London side do not lack determination, with midfielder Michael Ballack saying: "For ten years I think I've been playing in the Champions League and I want to win this competition."