Henry and Iniesta fit for Champions League final

Barcelona were boosted by the news that both Andres Iniesta and Thierry Henry were passed fit to play against Manchester United in the Champions League final in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday.

The pair had been injury doubts right up to the day of the game and with full-backs Eric Abidal and Dani Alves already suspended and centre-back Rafael Marquez injured, their inclusion is a huge bonus for Barca boss Pep Guardiola.

Meanwhile Sir Alex Ferguson left both Dimitar Berbatov and Carlos Tevez on the United bench with Cristiano Ronaldo likely to play as a loan forward.

Ferguson plumped for Park Ji-Sung, who was left out of the squad for last year’s final when United won the cup on penalties against Chelsea, and Wayne Rooney either side of the Portugal flyer.

But with Ryan Giggs lining up in midfield, alongside Brazilian Anderson and Michael Carrick, United could easily switch to a standard 4-4-2 with Giggs going out to the left and Rooney joining Ronaldo up front.

Instead it seems that the Welsh veteran, who won the Players Player of the Year award in England this season, will play in the hole behind Ronaldo, a role he has excelled in already in Europe this campaign.

Teams:

Barcelona (4-3-3): Victor Valdes; Carles Puyol (capt), Gerard Pique, Yaya Toure, Sylvinho; Sergio Busquets, Xavi, Andres Iniesta; Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o, Thierry Henry.

Substitutes: Jose Pinto, Martin Caceres, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Bojan Krkic, Seydou Keita, Pedro Rodriguez, Marc Muniesa.

Coach: Pep Guardiola

Manchester United (4-3-3): Edwin van der Sar; John O’Shea, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra; Michael Carrick, Anderson, Ryan Giggs (capt); Park Ji-Sung, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney.

Substitutes: Tomasz Kuszczak, Dimitar Berbatov, Nani, Paul Scholes, Rafael, Jonny Evans, Carlos Tevez.

Coach: Sir Alex Ferguson

Referee: Massimo Busacca (SUI)