One of the most intriguing aspects of sports is the rivalry which exists between teams and how deep those rivalries tend to run. On Saturday Real Madrid and Liverpool square off in this year's Champions League decider and their rivals can't help but look on with envy as both vy for the biggest trophy in club football.
Barcelona and Manchester United have more in common with one another as many people would note. Both teams form part of the two biggest rivalries known to world football namely being the El Classico and Liverpool/Manchester United rivalry.
For obvious reasons neither of these sides would look forward to the prospect of watching their most bitter rival winning the trophy they covet most.
Barcelona said goodbye to club legend Andres Iniesta in some fashion winning a league and cup double and came just short of finishing the La Liga season undefeated.
However, the Catalans, after a 4-1 first leg win over Roma, folded like a cheap suit in their Champions League quarterfinal after they were outmuscled and bullied by the giallorossi in a 3-0 loss in the return leg. This resulted in Barcelona heading for exit door on away goals.
A win for Madrid would leave Barca in a bittersweet moment where even though they took back their La Liga crown from Real Madrid they are stuck with the prospect of watching Real Madrid make even further history in the Champions League.
The Blaugrana have already witnessed Madrid win La Decima, become the first team in the Champions League era to defend the title, and a win for Madrid will put the current squad among some of the greatest teams in the history of European football.
If the Los Blancos come out victorious they will not only have the distinction of having been the only side to win three consecutive Champions League titles, but it also puts them just one Champions League title away from equalling the five European titles that Real Madrid won during the 1950s.
All this puts a damper on a fantastic domestic campaign for the Catalans.
These were sentiments expressed by Madrid captain Sergio Ramos.
"If Madrid wins the Champions League, it would eclipse a little bit Barcelona's double" Ramos told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope.
"They are worthy of their two titles but if your direct rivals win the Champions League, the dynamic of the situation changes."
This also rings true for Manchester United who proved to be underwhelming losing out to a mediocre Sevilla in the last 16. They have saved a little with a second place finish in the Premier League however...
They also lost last week's FA Cup final to Chelsea and could end with egg on their faces if Liverpool bring the Champions League trophy back to Merseyside.
For the last decade or so, Liverpool's fortunes haven't been the best and still have a 28 year Premier League drought lingering over them.
But a Champions League win will be as good as ten Premier League titles as Liverpool would draw even closer to the seven European titles won by the second placed AC Milan on the all time winners list.
In addition to that, it would rub further salt into United fans' wounds as they expected much from this season because "We all know what Mourinho does in his second season".
A Liverpool win will all but likely increase the pressure on United to perform for next season and in all likelihood we will see what Mourinho does best during his third season.
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