Rome – the city that brought Athenian tragedy to the Western world and built titanic stadia for their gladiatorial battles will tonight play host to yet another epic battle of Homeric proportions.

Manchester United and Barcelona will meet to decide who truly rules Europe, and the number of conflicts contained within this story is breathtaking.

Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have conquered the world of football but now must face their final test… each other.

Alex Ferguson, the Chiron of the modern game, must face the Herculian might of the younger, more headstrong, Pep Guardiola. And Manchester United, as ambassadors of the English game, must weather the storm of a critical UEFA board looking for any reason to knock the Premier League down a peg or two.

Barcelona’s place in the final has been marred after referee made a series of controversial decisions against Chelsea in the semi-final, but there is no denying that this is the game everybody has been dreaming about.

Henry and Iniesta should take their place in the Barca ranks, like Achilles and Ajax returning to the Greek fleet, but a recovered and passionate Rio Ferdinand will defend his goal like Hector, and Rooney and Tevez will keep a depleted and ageing Barca defense busy.

Nicholas Deigman