Barcelona hopes to strike form

BEIJING, April 23 -- Barcelona will need to recapture the sort of form that made it the kings of Europe two years ago if it is to tame much-fancied Manchester United in its Champions League semifinal today.

Once seen as the leading exponents of the beautiful game in club football, Barcelona is a mere shadow of the side that took the competition by storm in 2006 and it is now United which is deemed the most attractive and exciting team on the continent.

Former Barcelona player and coach Johan Cruyff believes the team can put aside its poor league form and overcome United.

"Despite the slip-ups in the league and the fact that they have pushed Barcelona to the edge of a precipice, my thoughts haven't changed; Europe is different," the Dutchman said in his weekly column in El Periodico.

"I'm convinced they've got a chance if they don't do anything stupid."

Cruyff said the key to victory would be pressuring the United defence. "Where are United's worst players? At the back... So that's where we should pressure them."

Barcelona effectively waved goodbye to its chances of depriving Real Madrid of the league title after laboring to a 0-0 draw at home to neighbor Espanyol on Saturday. It has won only one of its last eight league games and it was distinctly unimpressive during its 1-0 victories over Schalke 04 in the last round of the Champions League.

The Spanish club's hopes rest in great part on Lionel Messi, who is back fit after missing the last round because of a thigh injury, but will also be without its former talisman Ronaldinho who is sidelined with a leg injury and looks to be on the way out of the club after a worrying slide in form this season.

Thierry Henry is doubtful after missing the Espanyol because of flu and coach Frank Rijkaard is likely to opt for youngster Bojan Krkic alongside Messi and Samuel Eto'o up front. Barca will also be missing skipper Carles Puyol who is out through suspension.

For United the match at the Nou Camp will mark a return to the venue of its famous 2-1 win over Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final. Another victory there would take it one step nearer a double this season of Premier and Champions League honors.

"They (Barca) are coming to the game with a lot of pressure on them because they aren't playing like people want them to," United striker Carlos Tevez said. "If we get to play in our style, we can make it very difficult for Barca."

But Alex Ferguson's side does have some injury concerns, mainly regarding Owen Hargreaves and Anderson. Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar (groin) was rested for the Blackburn game, while striker Wayne Rooney injured a hip at Ewood Park but should be fit enough to play today.

(Source: Shanghai Daily/Agencies)