RYAN GIGGS has dubbed it the ‘‘dream final’’ and Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping Manchester United’s showdown with Barcelona in Rome next week can buck the trend of drab European showpieces.

With the notable exception of Liverpool’s amazing clash with AC Milan in Istanbul four years ago, epic Champions League finals have been rare.

Even United’s own astonishing injury-time comeback against Bayern Munich in 1999 was preceded by a fairly tepid 90 minutes and it is five years before that to the only other performance that stirred the blood, AC Milan’s four-goal hammering of Barcelona in Athens.

Yet next Wednesday promises to be much better.

With Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi engaged in an unofficial contest to be crowned the world’s best player for 2009, Wayne Rooney and Andres Iniesta vying for the best supporting act and others, such as Dimitar Berbatov, Carlos Tevez, Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry eager for a chance to shine themselves, Ferguson has a feeling Rome will not be playing host to a dire affair.

‘‘Football is always needing a boost,’’ reflected the United boss.

‘‘We have negatives in the game that surface every year in all different ways.

‘‘When we get a game that paints the real story of football then we are all lifted.

Barcelona and Manchester United can do that.

‘‘The players we both have suggests it will be a great final. I hope it lives up to it.’’