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Flying the flag: Barcelona fans descend on London en masse ahead of the Champions League final with Manchester United
16.00: Barcelona fans appear to be taking over central London, apparently using the same guide book that American film makers leaf through when looking for establishing shots for a shift to the capital when picking out targets.
Red telephone boxes - check; Trafalgar square lions - check; double-decker buses - check; Big Ben - check. If you are a seller of comedy union flag top hats, plastic policemen’s helmets or barely edible fish and chips I suggest you get out and about and turn yourself a tidy coin...
15.30: Would Wayne Rooney starring intensely at you while morphing in to Andres Iniesta then Rio Ferdinand make you want to buy a new pair of trainers? Would it? The people at a certain sportswear producer certainly think so. Watch here...
Twitter Reason for optimism there will be goals tonight from the incomparable statistical behemoth that is @OptaJoe Numbers: 31 goals have been scored in the 10 previous meetings between Man Utd & Barcelona; 3.1 per game on average. Open.
14.50: So how do you solve a problem like beating Barcelona? It can be done - Arsenal and Real Sociedad have done it this season and they're no great shakes - but it isn't easy. Alan Smith turns his tactical brain to the conundrum and comes up with the following observations.
Key tactical issues for the Champions League final
Twitter @WayneRooney Thx for all good luck messages. Listening to the beatles now just relaxing in hotel. Can't wait for game. Were ready. #unitedwestand
14.00: Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to lead Manchester United up the Wembley steps following tonight's Champions League final with Barcelona. Uefa prefer a club official to lead their team forward and Sir Bobby Charlton did the job for United three years ago in Moscow, with chief executive Peter Kenyon leading the defeated Chelsea team. However, Charlton is reluctant to repeat the task, believing any possible celebrations should be left to those with direct involvement.
13.20: Sir Alex Ferguson has been told to stay away from Old Trafford when Peterborough take on Huddersfield in the League One play-off final tomorrow. The order comes from his son, and Peterborough manager, Darren Ferguson - who claims his father is a jinx.
"Our chairman is the same, he's told his dad to stay away as well," Ferguson Jnr said. "We think they are both jinxes. There's a bigger picture, he can watch it on the television."
Twitter @RobKelly2: ITV or Sky for the Champions League final? ITV for Roy Keane in studio, Sky for the match. Can't abide Tyldsley and Townsend. Dreadful
13.00: "Sir Bonny will always be United's heartbeat" - Read Des Lynam on why Old Trafford's supreme ambassador is living proof that not all our sporting heroes have feet of clay... click here
12.40: Barcelona captain Carles Puyol says he is ready to deal with the unknown quantity of Javier Hernandez: "He's an important player. He's always on the verge of being offside and he's also a scorer, so he's definitely a player to take seriously."
Video Wayne Rooney will rise to the occasion - Rio Ferdinand
12.25: Sir Alex Ferguson expects tonight's Champions League final to be the best for a decade. He said: "The success of both teams in the last decade has been enormous. The attraction of two great teams with great history is obvious. It is an appealing final in terms of what could happen in the game. There could be a lot of goals, there could be a lot of excitement and there will be a lot of good football, I am sure of that. It is set up. The platform is there. Hopefully it turns out that way."
12.20: Exclusive: Sir Alex Ferguson has devised a two-pronged strategy to beat Barcelona in Saturday's Champions League final, including a radical rescue plan should Manchester United fall behind at Wembley... to find out more click here
Twitter @henrywinter: Leaving Wembley with some startled Catalan photographers. We've just bumped into a professional Jose Mourinho lookalike
12.15: Good afternoon and welcome to The Telegraph's live blog on the biggest game of the year. Manchester United take on Barcelona at Wembley in today's showpiece event and you won't miss a thing as we count down to kick-off, tonight, at 7.45pm GMT.
Let's get things rolling with some required reading...
Ferguson primed for date with destiny: victory at Wembley would crown even United manager's superb CV, writes Henry Winter.
Guardiola exit talk unsettles Catalan kings: Barca legend Johan Cruyff believes coach could walk away after final, says Mark Ogden.
Three ways to stop the unstoppable: Ferguson's men must isolate Messi, double up and deny him space, suggests Duncan White.
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