I get into endless arguments with friends over how good Barca actually are.... It'll be interesting to see what the community thinks and whether any of the spanish fans out there can give us any insight?

I think the Chelsea match went a long way in proving where Barcelona actually lie in terms of the international stage. I posted in a match thread straight after the match:

"92 minutes of tonights semi-final proved that Barca do not have enough to beat Manchester United.

The spanish league suits Barca so well because tactics like we saw tonight are never employed by other teams, I might go as far as to say the one-dimensional tactics of the spanish league simply flatter Barca.
When it comes to Barcelona, you know what you are getting, what surprises can they pull? Did anyone expect United's 433 last night? Park on the right and Ronaldo through the middle? United showed last night that they can mix it up and throw together different formations accommodating in-form players and run riot, I think it is fundamentally down to the different tactics seen in both leagues, there is no real identity to the Premier League, it is a c**ktail of numerous successful worldwide tactics while the Spanish league simply allows creative same-y teams to flourish, with the most effective rising to the top.
Chelsea completely muted the supposed best team in the world tonight and if it wasn't for a moment of poor defending thanks to Essien&Ballack then Hiddink would be hailed as a master tactician.
Where was Eto tonight?
Why was Dani Alves absolutely atrocious?
When did Messi actually threaten?
If Rio and Vidic are fit for the 27th and United's attack are playing like they did last night, then I expect 2-0 United easily"

Which I think goes a long way in demonstrating Barcelona are actually over-rated....

I mean the Premier League is a boiling pot of different tactics and when I watch La Liga it just seems to be teams who are varying degrees of Barcelona? I rarely see teams parking the bus like I would in the EPL and I think this is one of the reasons the EPL is the best in the world at the minute. The style of football in La Liga allows the passing to be free-flowing and the scorelines to be huge but parameters are set as to how tactically adventurous the managers are.

Or maybe I am completely wrong? Maybe I am being narrow-minded and forgetting that Barcelona's players always perform on the international stage?

I am not that a fan of barca as they are a team which is in the list of whose the best club in europe or may be in world? Had to comment

This has been a great year for the spanish team, no doubt at all. They won the Spanish League and the Cup easily, playing a great football, not only attacking but defending also. The machine worked perfect: a pretty compensated squad and several stars that resolved games in all kinds of situations.

But there is a little doubt after that point: is Barcelona FC the best team in Europe? If you analyze this Champions League, the catalonian were very lucky in the first round. They only had to fight Sporting of Lisbon, which is not a major team. After that they beat a Bayern Munich in a bad moment and the germans didn't offer any ressistance. So the first serious cross was against Chelsea, from the Premier League. Barcelona hardly could pass that semifinal, including three unbelievable mistakes of the referee in London that put the spanish team in the final.

In the domestic spanish competition, they found a Real Madrid (their main rival) under several internal problems and a worst squad, and they still had some chances of winning The Liga almost until the end of the competition.

So, we wil see what is going to happen in the Champion's League Final May 27th in Rome. The United will be a real hard test for Barcelona FC. Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Messi: can anybody ask for more? That game will show to everybody if Barcelona is really te best team in the world.

I hope the best team wins

I believe barca are over rated as well

Wonderful point, but it'll all play out tomorrow.

That being said, I still think that Barcelona are a strong side to go up against. Barca have Messi, Eto'o, Iniesta, and Alves who are all solid players. Yes, they were all almost non-existent in the Chelsea match. Yes, Manchester United are an incredible club. Yes to all the counter arguments one can make. However, each of those before mentioned players, and the rest of the Barca squad, are individually, exceptional players in their own right.

Imagine for a minute, Messi being as quick and agile as he normally is. Will the tall defensive duo of Vidic and Ferdinand be able to keep up with him? Maybe, but will he give them problems, definitely. Then look at Eto'o; imagine him being as dangerous as normally. He's arguably one of the world's greatest strikers, even on the international level. Lastly, if Iniesta has his "happy feet" going, then Barca's passing range will be a lot larger than United may be able to handle.

I know it's a lot of what ifs and maybe, but football is exactly that. All I'm trying to say is don't underestimate Barca. I'm predicting 2-1 Manchester United, but that second goal will only come in the 95th minute after a spectacular match

I'm agreeing (as (most) of the time with moonpig) we have more depth in are squad and they can't beat Chelsea well at all. Their simple tactics can destroy every one in the Spanish league. In Spain they suck back their defence -in the EPL they play higher- which is good for their style of play.

Their style of play can beat that type of defence well because.... They are very good at hard short fast passes on the ground, and they have messi who fits their style of play perfectly, He can do short tight little cuts in crowds really well (Better than Ronaldo). They are also a pretty small team over all and don't go down to the corner and do crosses very well at all, Note: when was the last time you saw that?

We have a better over all team then Barca, We have better defence, We can play in different formations and still be great, better fitness and speed, and have some (maybe more than that) of their short quick passing, and are long ball and running style of play that suits the EPL. We are a better well rounded team and therefore I think we can beat them.

Yea I think they're over rated, and I think we'll come out 2-0 winners pretty easily, that said we gotta' be all out for the game and play are hardest to do that, and anything could really happen so we'll see

Cheers    I think it will be 3-1 for us though    Hopefully

They woudnt be at the finals of they werent good so people stop it don't hate I just think that manchester is better I have to be fair their my rivals to you know

Listen some teams just have the ability to beat teams its the styles that what it is chelsea (the best team ever lol) just played straigth defence and frustrated barca and you could blame on that idiot drogba for missing the goal

Monnpig listen eto is trash messi didn't really get locked down they were lost without henry alves has the only player trying everbody on barca was like starstruck or something I don't know but don't think manchester is just going roll them over and if henry plays it will be a good match if he doesn't barca will lose ! And listen I'm not tryna say henry is the greastest he wasnt on the pitch agaisnt us chelsea that's why I think it was so tight and whoever is left back today for manster will have work unlike chelsea

Edited by JohnyG - Combined a triple post into one post

Happily proved wrong tonight, very enjoyable game

I still think they are over rated, but they played like champions today. Manchester United didn't

I don't think theres any need for this post any more...

As all the professionals said it came down to who turned up on the nite and man utd obviously missed their flight 'cause I couldn't see them newhere

Over rated is almost what some clubs strive for, building a reputation is always good. Being "over rated" just helps that process. Of course don't forget Iniesta, one of the most under rated players in the world

They beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge with a man down. That's all that's needed to be said

I would love Barca to face us (Chelsea) next year with even a bad referee - anything will be better than the disgrace that saved them. In the Semifinals we got a fact - Barca is not the best team in the world and English football is better than Spanish

Any team that performs well is over-rated, because if they slip up, then you'll say that they are over-rated. On the other hand, if a lesser team does well, you'd say their under-rated, it's just how a team performs on a consitent basis, you can't judge a team by watching them play one or 2 matches. Which brings us back to the question, after the whole season with the treble, do you think Barca is over-rated. For me, No...