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Champions League - Man Utd v Barca by numbers

Want to place a wager on tonight's game and need a compelling argument to do so? We check out the key stats ahead of Manchester United's Champions League final clash with Barcelona in Rome.

GOOD NEWS FOR UNITED FANS:

Manchester United have won all of their previous European finals - 4-1 v Benfica in 1967-68, 2-1 v Barcelona in 1990/91 (Cup Winners' Cup), 2-1 v Bayern in 1998-99 and they won on penalties against Chelsea last term following a 1-1 draw.

The teams have met in one final prior to this game, in 1990-91 when United defeated Barcelona 2-1 in the Cup Winners' Cup Final.

These two sides came face to face in last season's Champions League semi-final. United prevailed 1-0 on aggregate thanks to a Paul Scholes goal in the second leg at Old Trafford.

Barcelona have only managed to win once in their last eight Champions League fixtures against an English side.

The Catalan side have scored just one goal in their last four European games against a team from England.

United are unbeaten in their last seven Champions League meetings with Spanish sides.

Manchester United are currently on an all-time record 25 game unbeaten run in the Champions League.

United have kept a clean sheet in 13 of their last 18 Champions League matches.

Away from Old Trafford in the Champions League, United are unbeaten in 13 successive matches - including last season's final v Chelsea.

Edwin Van der Sar has kept more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper in the Champions League this season - seven.

Manchester United are one of only three sides to have appeared in a European Cup/Champions League final on more than one occasion and have a 100 per cent record (1968, 1999, 2008). The other sides are Nottingham Forest (1979, 1980) and Porto (1987, 2004).

HOWEVER

The last three Champions League finals have been lost by an English side.

The last time that Barcelona reached a Champions League final, they defeated an English side (Arsenal) to lift the trophy.

Barca have conceded only two goals in their last five European fixtures against an English side.

Barcelona have scored more goals (30) and shots (165) than any other side in the competition.

Lionel Messi is the leading scorer in this season's Champions League, with eight goals to his name.

Xavi has managed more assists (6) and has created more chances (36) than any other player in the Champions League this season so far.

AND BEWARE

Four of the last seven finals have ended in penalty shootouts.