ITV’s got viewers as 15m tune in for football clash

The match between Manchester United and Barcelona will ensure the commercial channel dominates throughout the week, with similar numbers tuning in for the finals of Britain's Got Talent.

Between them, the television events are expected to bring some financial respite to the broadcaster which is struggling with falling advertising revenues.

Already the live Britain's Got Talent shows have reached audience of 15 million each night. The final on Saturday, judged by Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden, is expected to be the most-watched show of the year.

The channel is hoping that by branding the two "A Week of Finals" it will appeal to both men and women and keep the family audience throughout the week.

But executives hope that this year's football final will beat the record 14.6 million who tuned in last year to watch Manchester United beat Chelsea in a dramatic penalty shoot out in Moscow.

The match tonight in Rome will be watched by a sell-out crowd of 65,000 in the city's Olympic Stadium.

Thirty thousand Manchester United fans - 10,000 without tickets - are in Rome. Tickets were changing hands for up to £2,000 as desperate fans tried to get a seat.

Among those attending the match will be Prince William, who is president of the Football Association and Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe.

Spanish VIPs include King Juan Carlos and the country's Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero. Gordon Brown has decided not to go.

Security for the final will be unprecedented with more than 1,500 police and paramilitary carabinieri on duty around the Italian capital.

Despite the massive police presence, with uniformed officers from Manchester on patrol with the carabinieri and undercover "hooligan spotters" deployed, there was little trouble in the city.

Police said the only football related incident was the arrest of a Bulgarian who had sold two genuine tickets to two Manchester United fans for 1000 Euro only to then snatch them back and run off.

In the past Rome has been the scene of several violent attacks on visiting British fans who have been stabbed or slashed across the buttocks in the traditional calling card of the city's Roma Ultras.

Some fans headed for a specially organised campsite on the outskirts of Rome dubbed "FergieFields" where beer was on sale and two giant screens put up to watch the match.

Among the first to arrive were Carl Black, 39, and Jez Marsden, 37, both life long United fans who had driven from Grantham to Rome in 24 hours and who were both without a ticket.

Mr Black, who is in the army, said: "We have been abroad with Manchester United before and never had any problems - in fact the only problem we have got is trying to get a ticket for the game.

"I'm prepared to pay 300 for a ticket or at a push 400 pounds but no more - if I get one great if not I will just watch it on the big screen here at the campsite."

Mr Marsden, an RAF Harrier pilot, said: "The girlfriend was a bit worried about me coming over here but I'm not too bothered - we will be keeping away from any potential trouble and if we can't get a ticket we won't even go into town."