But matches of this magnitude are rarely won by one player shining alone.
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"Individuals might win matches, but groups win titles," Brazil coach Dunga once famously quipped.
When the teams walk out into the 21st century amphitheatre of the San Siro at about 7:40pm, the pitch will become filled with gladiatorial match winners.
Here are the key battles that will decide tonight's outcome:
1. Lucio v Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The Brazilian centre-back Lucio captains both club and country, and has been the one outstanding defender this season in the build up to the World Cup. Standing at 6ft 2in, the man is a wall of solid muscle. Even the considerable bulk of Didier Drogba could not move him in the quarter finals, the Ivorian's frustrations eventually boiling over when he was sent off for a petulant stamp.
Ibrahimovic will feel he has something to prove against his old boss Mourinho, who thought he could do without the giant Swede in the urgency to bring in players who put in a higher work rate. He has been in impressive form this season, scoring 15 goals for Barcelona, but will have to make sure he puts in 100 per cent effort on his old stamping ground. He will not have faced many sterner tests than he will do tonight.
2. Xavi v Wesley Sneijder
Two of the most creative playmakers in the game today will come up in direct competition in the middle of the park.
Xavi is one of seven Barcelona youth academy players who should start the game, and Barcelona playmaker Messi would be the first to tell you he would not score half the goals he does were it not for Xavi's expert eye in spotting space no one else can see. Not only does he spot the pass, he has the enviable ability of being able to shift the ball through the eye of a needle for the attackers.Sneijder will be eager to prove he is Inter’s Xavi, and judging by his form this season he may well be right.
Inexplicably shown the door by Real Madrid chairman Florentino Perez in the summer, Inter snapped him up for a bargain £12 million. Tonight, he will push forward far more than Xavi will for Barca, and watch out for his venomous right footed shot, capable of hitting the top corner of the net from 25 yards.
3. Goran Pandev v Dani Alves
Dani Alves is one of the greatest attacking full-backs in the world, but will have to watch his step tonight as he is up against a man who is more than likely to punish an out of position defender.Pandev has impressed since moving to Inter from Lazio in January and will look to cut inside from the left flank at every opportunity.
Guardiola will have to warn Alves that simply bombing forward at every opportunity would be naïve against a player of Pandev’s intelligence. Tonight should be a night for caution for the Brazilian bamboozler.
- Robbie Blakeley
Source: DSG
