SPORTSNET PRESENTS MANCHESTER UNITED AND BARCELONA MEET IN THE MATCH OF THE YEAR ON SATURDAY, MAY 28TH

Stephen Brunt will be reporting from London from May 25-28

TORONTO (May 24, 2011) – Rogers Sportsnet features two of club football’s most storied franchises when Manchester United and Barcelona battle in the UEFA Champions League Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, May 28 at 2 p.m. (ET)/11 a.m. (PT) on the Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific channels. The game will also be available in high definition.

Gerry Dobson, Craig Forrest and Lara Baldesarra will preview the championship match and provide halftime and post-game analysis. Stephen Brunt will also appear during the preview show with a report from Wembley Stadium. Brunt will be filing reports for Sportsnet Connected from London, England starting Wednesday, May 25 to Saturday, May 28. Connected will present Brunt’s video essay on Friday, May 27 at 6:30 p.m. (ET)/3:30 p.m. (PT) about the 1968 European Cup Final from Wembley Stadium between Manchester United and Benfica and the current match-up.

In addition, sportsnet.ca will host Skype chats with Brunt to preview the match on Friday, May 27 and Saturday, May 28 at 12 p.m. (ET)/9 a.m. (PT). The website will also present a Skype chat with Brunt on Sunday, May 29 at 12 p.m. (ET)/9 a.m. (PT) to wrap-up the championship match.

Manchester is looking to rebound from a 2-0 loss to Barcelona in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final. Manchester claimed their last championship in 2008 over Chelsea, winning 3-0 on penalties after playing to a 1-1 draw in regulation. They also won the championship back in 1999 and 1968.

Barcelona’s road to the final in London included knockout phase wins over Arsenal and Shakhtar Donetsk, before taking out Real Madrid in the semi-finals. Barcelona forward Lionel Messi led all league scorers with 11 goals. Barcelona has also captured the European Cup three times including 2006 and 1992.

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