The two stars have never faced each other in a UEFA Champions League match, thus May 28 will mark the start of an individual battle that could expand itself in further years to come—if ever both Barca and United keep meeting each other regularly. Below, Live Soccer TV brings you Champions League statistics and expectations of the two concerned players.
2011 Champions League Stats – David Villa
Goals: 3 against Panathinaikos (1), Rubin Kazan (1) and Arsenal (1)
Assists: 1 against Arsenal (1)
Appearances: 11, in his case, equal to 857 minutes played for Barcelona
Expectations: Having not scored for Barca in the semi-finals against Real Madrid despite having a host of chances, David Villa will be expected to have a much more productive contribution in the Wembley final against Manchester United. Villa has not made more than 3 shots in any game for the Catalans in the 2010/2011 Champions League season, and this just shows how quiet he is—even when he is needed to explode.
Seeing that he was brought into the Barcelona subsequent to a €40m deal, there is so much that he needs to prove to his team’s fans. Perhaps, an imposing and rewarding display in London would be enough for him to clear his image and re-appear as the prolific scorer he once was. In any case, prompt remarkable improvements are undoubtedly required from the forward, who will have to fight his way against incredibly expert defenders on the opposition.
2011 Champions League Stats – Wayne Rooney
Goals: 3 against Rangers (1), Chelsea (1), and Schalke (1)
Assists: 2 against Marseille (1), and Schalke (1)
Appearances: 8, in his case, equal to 713 minutes
Expectations: For a player that showed great skills for the most part of last season, Wayne Rooney just isn’t impressing at the moment. Unsurprisingly, his statistics are better than Villa’s, having proved to be much more active in front for his team. Yet, he has failed to hit the back of the net on several occasions, and this is a hindrance the striker will have to get rid of in the 2011 Champions League final at the Wembley Stadium against Barcelona.
Two years ago, Rooney was not on target when he faced the Catalans in Rome, but he was forgiven by Manchester United fans as he was compelled to play in a position he was not comfortable with. The English talisman will have no excuse on the next occasion though, and seeing that he is capable of netting at times when it matters the most, Rooney will be expected to cause terrible troubles for the Barcelona defence.
Stay on Live Soccer TV as we cover the 2011 UEFA Champions League final at the Wembley Stadium on May 28. Update yourself on the match’s broadcast worldwide, and follow Barcelona vs Manchester United live through text-commentary!
