Champions League final 2009: Sky Sports or ITV?

Two British clubs narrowly failed to make it to successive Champions League finals following Barcelona's last-minute strike against Chelsea. But fear not, there is still a great British rivalry off the pitch tonight as ITV and Sky Sports go head-to-head once more. The line-ups have a familiar feeling, too: Steve Rider v Richard Keys: Front men at the Olympic Stadium. There will be no golf cart to broadcast from for Rider although he has been back at ITV long enough now. Cool and calm (even when the channel has fluffed its lines this season), Rider is the man for all sports and as comfortable on the pitch as he is in the studio. Keys, the ex-morning TV presenter, is now a dab hand during Sky's Sunday afternoon and mid-week evening games, too. Likes to look into the camera when directing questions at his studio guests. There, you'll remember that one tonight. Clive Tyldesley v Martin Tyler Forget the anchors, the sideshows and Messi v Ronaldo, this is where it really matters for most people. " AND ITS LIVE!" Tyler against fellow seasoned campaigner Tyldesley, over-exuberant and now prone to include accents in his commentary. Andy Townsend v Jamie Redknapp: Too close to call. Both make viewers run for the next round or that half-time cuppa, although female fans will want to pause on the former Liverpool player's increasingly tight suits. David Pleat v Andy Gray Veteran v veteran who both have varying styles. Insightful, measured judgements from Pleat or straight to the point 'Nooo doubt in my mind that was a clear penalty' jabberings from Gray? Just for the record, probable reserves tonight should one or both fall foul of poisoned ice cream: Jim Beglin v Alan Smith. Gabriel Clarke v Nick Collins Clarkey is steady but for some reason gives you an uneasy ride in big moments. Collins is the experienced head and has covered more games than you could shake a wagging Didier Drogba finger at. Verdict: ITV for everything but the final. There are of course a plethora of other media to feast your eyes or ears on. How about listening to Alan Green and Mike Ingham on BBC Radio Five Live while refreshing Henry Winter's Twitter updates?

Source: Telegraph