Can anyone stop Barcelona? Their Champions League record over the last few years speaks for itself. They came up against English champions Manchester United, a team that fancied their chances of beating the Spanish giants, and got played off the Wembley park.

According to most placing free bets, they are arguably the best side in Europe and their win proved it as they dominated United from start to finish. It’s hard to see how they could improve their squad and, with manager Pep Guardiola hoping to reunite Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas with his Spanish team-mates, the Catalan side are likely to be stronger this time around.

They have some of the best players in the world, all over the pitch. Their defence always seems to get criticised, but in Carlos Puyol and Gerard Pique, they have quality across their backline.

Their midfielders are the best in the world. The way Xavi and Andres Iniesta caress the ball around the pitch, creating chances for Lionel Messi and David Villa. Villa must be licking his lips every time the Spanish midfielders collect the ball as he knows there is a goal scoring opportunity. 

Messi constantly defies what someone can do with a football. It’s as if the ball is stuck to his boot, its textbook dribbling. If you are placing a free bet on his success, you will know how defenders must be frightened lining up against Barca because they know they are in for a tough night, with all the attacking talent on the field.

In Europe, there is no chance they will ever exit the group stages due to their superiority to destroy teams at the Nou Camp. Inter Milan, under Jose Mourinho, found a way of beating them last season in the semi-finals but that was a one-off.

Home advantage is vital when playing Barcelona, but just as Arsenal found out last season, even if you beat them on home soil, they are going to be too strong in Spain.

The best chance a team has of beating them is a one-off match, the final, but after seeing them beat Alex Ferguson’s side so easily, that theory is extinguished.

People do rave about Barcelona and so they should. After taking apart arguably the second best side in Europe, Manchester United, so comfortably in the Champions League final, it’s impossible to find a side that are likely to topple them.