Champions League final tickets plan looks a nice little earner for the Football Association

Well, there’s a way up Wembley Way, a very expensive way. The Football Association is offering Uefa-sanctioned hospitality packages, including ticket, for £3,480 per person.

“Messi, Nani, Xavi, Rooney, Iniesta et al going head to head, what a fantastic final this promises to be – certainly one not to be missed,’’ reads the excited blurb from Wembley as if United supporters needed reminding.

The deal includes a “ticket located behind the goals or in the corners on Level Two; pre and post-match access to the hospitality lounge in Wembley Arena; informal seating with a range of bars and food options with pre- and post-match buffet; Champagne reception with inclusive beer, wine and soft drinks pre- and post-match; live entertainment; ex-player expert panel; photo opportunities and one match programme per person”. At £3,480, that’s a nice little earner.

For those wondering whether the governing body of English football, a non-profit-making organisation, should be involved in such trade, the small print confirms that “hospitality packages are being provided by the FA on behalf of Uefa” and adds that “the price for the packages has been set by Uefa”.

Whatever happens on the pitch, this 2011 Champions League promises to be the greatest money-spinner in club history.

United fans sing when they're winning

Now that a 19th title seems destined for Old Trafford, Manchester United fans have set their sights on finishing No 1 in the charts. United fans are busily spending 79p to download the Paul Hardcastle song 19; they believe they need around 30,000 to be No 1 by Sunday. Hardcastle has given the United fans his blessing even though he’s a currently crestfallen follower of Chelsea.

“I’m asking EMI to put proceeds to charity,’’ he tweets. “I see it then as a good cause. Anyway we will have the title back in 2012, ha ha.” Hardcastle also points out a quirk of the 1985 charts to Liverpool fans disappointed at United breaking their 18-title mark. Having spent five weeks at No 1, 19 was knocked off its perch by a charity version of You’ll Never Walk Alone.

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Rafael Nadal v Novak Djokovic: all signs point to a titanic clash in final of Mutua Madrid Open

That is the most likely scenario, given that Djokovic has won all 27 matches that he has played this year — including five tournaments — while Nadal’s last defeat on clay came fully 34 games and two years ago against Robin Soderling in Paris.

Unless someone pulls off a stunning feat of giant-killing, it will be the indomitable Serb against the invincible Spaniard on Sunday. Djokovic has the form, having beaten his former nemesis in five of their last six meetings, but Nadal will enjoy both the fervent support of his home crowd and the shift from hard courts to clay, the surface he has made his personal fiefdom.

Can anyone derail either of these two trains before they meet head-on? Well, Andy Murray has a shot at a semi-final against Djokovic — a potential rematch of the Australian Open final – if he can come through a quarter of the draw that includes Gael Monfils and Tomas Berdych.

But this would be a lot to ask. While the Big Two have been polishing their latest trophies, Murray has only just emerged from the worst losing streak of his career — the one that started with that morale-shredding loss to Djokovic at Melbourne Park, and continued through inept performances in Rotterdam, Indian Wells and Miami.

He has been in Spain for over a week, first recovering from the sore elbow that kept him out of the Barcelona Open, and then working with Darren Cahill, the team adidas coach who will help him as a consultant until a more permanent coaching appointment can be found. There was also a 16-game practice match against Nadal himself, which ended up in an 8-8 draw.

Granted a first-round bye, Murray will enter the singles on Wednesday against either the Frenchman Gilles Simon or Croatia’s Ivan Ljubicic — a demanding opener for a man with little live tournament action behind him, but one he should survive if he recovers the form he showed in Monte Carlo last month.

On Tuesday, Murray is expected to play doubles with brother Jamie, but the main attraction at the Park Manzanares will be Mikhail Youzhny’s tussle with the unseeded Juan Martin del Potro, a dangerous “floater” in the men’s draw who dominated all-comers in the Estoril Open last week.

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Lens to let Dindane play final

Lens president Gervais Martel has confirmed the club will allow Aruna Dindane to play for Portsmouth in the FA Cup final, for the sake of the on-loan striker.

Dindane has become a regular for Pompey since arriving on a season-long loan in August but should he play another match it would trigger a clause requiring them to pay £4million to Lens.

The cash-stricken club can ill afford that sum and Martel has suggested Lens could now waive that fee.

Lens confirmed on their website that they have decided to allow Dindane to play for Portsmouth in the final against Chelsea, while the Ivory Coast striker could also feature in their final three Barclays Premier League games against Bolton, Wolves and Everton.

Martel added on www.rclens.fr: "There remains some problems to sort out with the English club. But I gave priority above all to the human aspect.

"I couldn't prevent the player from preparing for the Cup final against Chelsea. And moreover, above and beyond this final, there is also the next World Cup for him with his country the Ivory Coast.

"It was impossible to deprive him of a possible World Cup call-up. I couldn't block the player because of difficult discussions between Portsmouth and Lens."

The 29-year-old earned the penalty which Kevin-Prince Boateng scored to book Pompey's place in next month's FA Cup final with victory over Tottenham at Wembley.

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