Barcelona v Manchester United: final facts and figures

Published: 27 May 2009 - 01:53:32

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Barcelona v Manchester United: final facts and figures

Faking it no more SOME 15,000 fake United and Barca badges were seized by police at Ciampino airport as part of a crackdown on hooky merchandise. Three locals were arrested, who, persumably, won't be seeing the final, or any ill-gotten gains. Robbed of the chance THE authorities are keen to show off the Eternal City to the thousands of fans visiting today - as long as they don't admire the splendour too long. 'Thieves love crowds so don't get too absorbed in your surroundings,' is the official advice. Pique predicts Tevez take-off ONE man who clearly thinks Carlos Tevez's Old Trafford career will end tonight is Barca's Gerard Pique, his former United team-mate. 'I know Carlos wanted to stay but it seems like it will not be possible,' said his close friend. 'He can definitely play in another team.' 3 THE number of European Cup finals held at the Stadio Olimpico, with Liverpool winning twice, in 1977 and 1984, and Juventus on top in 1996. Not the original, but the best TONIGHT'S winning captain will proudly hold aloft the European Cup, but it's far from being the original. In fact, it's the sixth incarnation and only three years old. UEFA allows clubs to keep the trophy if they win it three times in a row or five in total - as Liverpool managed in 2005, to sit alongside Real Madrid, Ajax, Bayern Munich and AC Milan. 13 THE number of away matches since United's last defeat on the road in the Champions League. They did, though, lose the Super Cup final against Zenit St Petersburg last August.