Man U - Barcelona

I'm typing this with one eye on the window and the other on a tiny, ghost-filled window showing a Chinese broadcast of the Champions League match between Man U and Barcelona. It's almost a religious experience. Thus far, this game is delivering what we didn't get from the Arsenal-Barca final two years ago: two of the most attacking, talented teams in the world going at each other. Currently it's 1-0, courtesy of two typical events: 1. Barca trying to play the ball out of the back and making a horrible giveaway. 2. Paul "Ginger Ninja" Scholes blasting a long-range shot into the upper corner. Now creating a situation where Barcelona has to steam forward to get an equalizer while Man U tries to get a second goal to put the game to bed. Right now Little Leo Messi is the Danger Man. Every time he gets the ball you can feel everybody tense up -- he's already had one run where he beat three men and then was robbed by Van Der Sar for the equalizing goal. It's his pace when he gets going with the ball at his feet, combined with his close control, that makes him something unworldly. The thought of a team with both him and Cristiano Ronaldo is maybe too perfect to actually happen. Cut. Parry. Thrust.