Barcelona seek Spanish double with European Cup win

PARIS, May 17 (Reuters) Barcelona will give Spain a rare European double if they beat Arsenal in the Champions League final at the Stade de France.

A week ago Sevilla beat Middlesbrough 4-0 to give Spain victory over England in the UEFA Cup final.

If Barca beat Arsenal, Spain will complete a clean sweep of for the first time since 1997 when Borussia Dortmund of Germany were crowned European champions and Schalke 04 won the UEFA Cup.

Today's match will be the 19th meeting this season between Spanish and English clubs. Spanish clubs have won seven times and English teams four times with seven matches drawn.

Those meetings include Barcelona's aggregate win over Chelsea in the first knockout round, while Arsenal saw off both Real Madrid and Villarreal on aggregate on their way to the final.

Neither team has lost in this season's competition.

Arsenal will be looking to win the keep the European Cup in England following Liverpool's victory last year. If Arsenal do win, England (10 wins) will draw level with Spain (11 wins) as the countries with most European Cup wins since Real Madrid won the first final in Paris 50 years ago.

English clubs have won 28 trophies in all European competitions, and Spain will pull level with that total if Barcelona are victorious.

LINE-UP SETTLED Frank Rijkaard, a three-times winner of the trophy as a player with Ajax and AC Milan, appears to have his starting line-up settled.

Former youth team player Oleguer is likely to get the nod over Brazil international Juliano Belletti at right back and Arsenal old boy Giovanni van Bronckhorst should start on the left side of defence in preference to another former Gunner, Silvinho.

Speedy winger Ludovic Giuly is expected to receive some compensation for his omission from the French World Cup squad by being given a start alongside Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o up front, while Henrik Larsson will start on the bench in his last game for the Catalans.

Rijkaard's biggest selection dilemma will be whether to risk Argentine teenager Lionel Messi in the squad.

The 18-year-old has not played since tearing a thigh muscle in the second leg of their tie against Chelsea on March 7 but took part in a 90-minute training session at the stadium last night.

Arsenal's French boss Arsene Wenger is likely to prefer the experience of England's Sol Campbell to Swiss youngster Philippe Senderos in the defence even if Senderos recovers from a knee injury. Ashley Cole is also expected to get the nod over Frenchman Mathieu Flamini at full back.

Probable teams: Arsenal: 1-Jens Lehmann; 27-Emmanuel Eboue, 28-Kolo Toure, 23-Sol Campbell, 3-Ashley Cole; 13-Alexander Hleb, 15-Cesc Fabregas, 19-Gilberto Silva, 7-Robert Pires; 9-Jose Antonio Reyes, 14-Thierry Henry.

Barcelona: 1-Victor Valdes; 23-Oleguer, 5-Carles Puyol, 4-Rafael Marquez, 12-Giovanni van Bronckhorst; 15-Edmilson, 20-Deco, 24-Andres Iniesta; 10-Ronaldinho, 8-Ludovic Giuly, 9-Samuel Eto'o.

Referee: Terje Hauge, Norway REUTERS PM BST0904