Survival of fittest in ‘final’

UN final sin titulo: a final in all but name.

That’s Johan Cruyff’s verdict on tonight’s clash at Camp Nou, and while there will be those who might quibble in Madrid, Manchester, Milan or Munich, it’s hard to argue that Barcelona against Arsenal could turn out to be the match of the tournament, made all the more intriguing by the Gunners’ one-goal advantage from the first leg.

We can no doubt expect some exhilarating football, but it is also a match that could eventually turn on the fitness or availability of key players.