How do you stop Barcelona? That’s the question being asked by Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini this season as they bid to lead United and City to Champions League glory this season.

Both men have spent heavily in the transfer market to try to meet the challenge of usurping Pep Guardiola’s brilliant European champions. But will even that be enough to bridge the gap to Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi et al?

Here MEN Sport’s JAMES ROBSON tries his hand at fantasy football and considers whether a Manchester dream XI would be capable of bettering Barca.

We think we’ve come up with the perfect combination to bring the cup with the big ears back to Manchester - but we know that you won't agree with all the choices, so that's why we are giving you the chance to have your say by submitting your team at the bottom of the page. We will publish your verdict later but for now, here's Robson's choice:

Goalkeeper

Joe Hart

Despite only being 24 and with one full season of Premier League football behind him, the City goalkeeper is England’s No1 and in this instance, Manchester’s too.

Should David de Gea fulfil the potential Ferguson believes he has, the Spaniard may one day overtake his City rival. But if a combined team were to take on Barcelona tomorrow, Hart’s presence, command of the area and ability to pull off wonder saves, sees him get the nod.

Right back

Chris Smalling

If left wing has traditionally been England’s weak area, right back is Manchester’s equivalent. The fact of the matter is that neither United nor City are particularly blessed in this area. Rafael and Fabio are both full of promise, but also prone to the rash. It becomes a straight up battle between Smalling – who has looked so impressive as a makeshift right back this season – and Micah Richards. Fabio Capello has so far favoured Smalling this season – and we’re going to follow the England manager’s lead as well.

Centre Back

Rio Ferdinand

Remember this is an ideal scenario. In an ideal scenario Ferdinand would not be blighted by the injuries that have hampered him in recent years. In those circumstances, a fully fit Ferdinand strolls into any team in the world because of his masterful reading of the game, composure in the tackle and on the ball, and his ability to build from the back.

Centre Back

Nemanja Vidic

Another tough choice with Vincent Kompany such a dominant figure for City, while Phil Jones is showing enormous promise at such an early stage of his United career.

But Vidic is the perfect foil for Ferdinand. Brave, uncompromising and powerful, he is an old fashioned centre back – Ferdinand’s hatchet man, if you like. A great leader and capable of scoring too. Kompany could easily have made this line-up too – and in a year or two, Jones may well be the first name on the team sheet.

Left Back

Patrice Evra

It’s a full compliment of United defenders and Evra is the easiest choice of all. The Frenchman was not at the peak of his powers last season – but perhaps only Ashley Cole can rival his adventure, energy levels and effectiveness as a modern-day full back. The ability to take on and beat opposition defenders when on the attack – the energy to get back and nullify wingers at the other end.

Midfield

Holding midfielder

Yaya Toure

The former Barcelona midfielder has been less of an enforcer at City than he was at the Nou Camp. But in a choice between him and Nigel de Jong, he just shades it because of what he offers in attack since being deployed as more of an offensive midfielder by Mancini. De Jong may be the more effective ball-winner, but Toure is the more progressive player – and after his goals in the semi final and final of last year’s FA Cup success, he has to get the call.

Right midfielder

Nani

United’s Player of the Year last season has started this term in similarly blistering fashion. At last those early comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo don’t look so out of place. Ferguson made a mistake in leaving him out of his starting XI against Barcelona in the Champions League final – we won’t be doing the same. The Portuguese winger can still make wrong decisions, but he beats opponents at will on either side, creates and scores goals too. What team can afford to be without those qualities?

Central midfielder

David Silva

The spectacular Spaniard has everything you would want in an attacking midfielder. Perfect balance, faultless control, vision and the ability to dictate a game with the wand of one of his magic boots. Frankly he wouldn’t look out of place in Barca’s line-up – but we’ve got him and he’s going to give Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi a run for their money.

Left midfielder

Samir Nasri

It’s perhaps a touch harsh on Ashley Young that he misses out to Nasri – but it was a close call. How Ferguson would have loved to have landed the Frenchman during the summer, but it was Mancini who won the race. We’re just glad that one of them did because it means we can line him up in our Manchester dream team. The beauty of this trio of midfielders is that they are totally fluid – much like Barca’s. Nasri can play right across the middle, as can Silva, while Nani can switch from wing to wing as well as up front.

Strikers

Sergio Aguero

Time was when you couldn’t imagine anyone ever usurping Carlos Tevez’ role at City, but his countryman is doing a good job of it. Aguero still has some way to go before he can match Tevez – but what a start he’s made to life in Blue. Eight goals in six games is an outstanding return and the mind boggles as to what he can go on to achieve.

Wayne Rooney

He just keeps on getting better. Nine goals already this season, two hat-tricks and on the score sheet in each of his five Premier League games this term, the talisman for club and country is on fire. Scored against Barca in the Champions League final, but what could he do with this stellar cast around him? Could easily lead the line for Guardiola’s team – but we hope he will be the man to shoot the European champions down.

Now here's your chance to choose the Manchester team that could beat Barcelona. We have stuck to a straight 4-4-2 formation so you will have to choose four defenders, four midfielders and two strikers. The collective verdict will be published on the MEN site next week.  

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