Reds ready for Eto'o and co

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed the Reds have been taking an in-depth look at Champions League final opponents Barcelona in recent weeks.

The main focus may have been on securing the title, but over the past few days United have scouted matches and scoured hours of video tape.

And Sir Alex's brother, Martin, has spent the last few weeks in Spain keeping tabs on Messi, Eto’o and co.

“My attention started switching to Rome two weeks ago,” the United boss told MUTV.

“We’ve been doing a lot of video analysis and Martin’s been watching every match. The concentration is firmly on the final now.”

While the Reds wrapped up an 18th league title at the weekend, fellow finalists Barcelona clinched La Liga – their second trophy in under a week.

The Catalans lost to Mallorca at the weekend, but are still confirmed as Spain's top team. Four days earlier, Pep Guardiola’s side raced to victory in the Copa del Rey, the English equivalent of the FA Cup, with a crushing 4-1 win over Athletic Bilbao.

Both sides are dominant domestically, but the Reds may be encouraged by the sight of a misfiring Samuel Eto’o in Mallorca.

He missed a penalty and a host of other chances in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat, but the 28-year-old Cameroon international says he'll aim to rediscover his form in the final.

He told Barcelona's website: “I’m having a tough time at the moment.

There will be few chances, but I’ll need to score in Rome."

Eto’o’s hopes of netting a goal against United may be hampered by the absence of a number of his colleagues at the Stadio Olimpico.

Despite booking his side’s place in the final with a late equaliser at Stamford Bridge, Andres Iniesta suffered a thigh muscle injury during Barcelona’s recent 3-3 draw with Villarreal and is racing to be fit.

They will also have to do without Rafael Marquez and suspended defenders Eric Abidal and Daniel Alves, while former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry is still bidding to recover from a twisted knee in time for the Rome showdown.