Champions League - Barcelona win the final

Eurosport - Thu, 28 May 10:40:00 2009

Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi scored the goals as Barcelona beat Manchester United 2-0 in the Champions League final in Rome.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Champions League Barcelona Trophy - 0

Cameroon international Eto'o struck after ten minutes and Messi added the second with a superb header 20 minutes from time.

United can have no complaints as they failed to find their usual fluency and defended hesitantly with many of their key performers well below-par.

Barcelona lifted the trophy for the third time in their history and matched United's own treble in 1999 as Pep Guardiola's men added Europe's premier competition to domestic League and Cup success.

The Catalan club scored with their first real attack after United started in electric fashion.

Andres Iniesta got past Anderson too easily and found Eto'o who cut inside Nemanja Vidic and toe poked the ball under Edwin van der Sar from close range.

Until then it had been all United.

After just two minutes Cristiano Ronaldo's 30-yard effort bounced viciously in front of Victor Valdes who spilled the effort and it required a superb block by former United defender Gerard Pique to deny Park Ji-sung a tap-in.

The Portuguese then volleyed just wide from 16 yards before United fell behind with Serb Vidic, named Barclays player of the year earlier in the day, culpable with a lackluster challenge.

Ronaldo looked to get his side back on terms and his run through on goal was ended by a Pique block for which he received a yellow card.

But Barca then began to boss the game and Messi came to the fore with a scorching drive just missing the top corner, with Van der Sar beaten, before Xavi curled a free-kick just over the top.

It was the 11th effort on goal in a frenetic opening half-hour.

United had an escape on the brink of half-time when Van der Sar spilled a low cross from Messi but there was no-one at the near post to capitalise and Sir Alex Ferguson gambled at the interval by replacing the ineffective Anderson with Carlos Tevez.

But Barca relished the extra space in midfield and twice came close to extending their advantage within the space of four minutes.

Iniesta sent Thierry Henry away down the left, in a big hole vacated by John O'Shea, and he turned Rio Ferdinand inside out before seeing his shot saved by the legs of Van der Sar.

Then a surging run from man-of-the-match Iniesta was ended a yard outside the penalty area by Vidic and Xavi curled the resulting free-kick around the wall and against the post.

United did regroup however and Ronaldo swung in a cross from the right which Yaya Toure completely missed only for the ball to bounce off the hard pitch and over the head of the unmarked Park six yards out.

Park was then replaced by Dimitar Berbatov as Ferguson threw caution to the wind with a 4-2-4 formation only to concede a second.

Patrice Evra hooked his clearance aimlessly to Xavi who picked out an unmarked Messi and the little Argentine climbed high to guide the ball past Van der Sar and into the far corner for his first goal against an English club.

United should have pulled a goal back almost immediately as the ball fell to Ronaldo at the far post only for Valdes to smother his shot.

Paul Scholes replaced Giggs and he was booked along with Ronaldo as United chased the game with the Premier League champions almost conceding a third when Carles Puyol's thumping header was saved by Van der Sar before the advancing Dutchman saved a shot from the Barca captain after the best move of the match.

Berbatov headed over from close range late on but there was no way back for United who failed in their bid to become the first team since Milan in 1990 to retain the European crown.

Victory for Barca also ended United's record 25-match unbeaten run in the competition and inflicted a first defeat in a European final on the Old Trafford club.

Lee Walker / Eurosport

Comment 1292 - 1311 of 1351

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  1. Ronaldo had wasted many chances and that was the reason­ Man Utd losed to Barcelona.he also got bad manners and­ shown his frustration on Barcelona players including­ Puyol.I think Ferguson will sell Ronaldo following his­ bad performence and manners.

    From Wt, on Thu 28 May 12:31PM

  2. Please, forget this final: Barça won but it's­ past...
    Let's think about next year's one:­ let's hope it will be between the same teams... It­ wouldn't mind if one wins or loses because in any­ case for any of them it will be special to win in Real­ Madrid's stadium... I would like Barça to win but I­ wouldn't mind if Man U wins... In any case, R.­ Madrid would see as its two enemies gets them rid...
    A­ Barça's supporter

    From Jordi B, on Thu 28 May 12:31PM

  3. Miserable United fans? Not so? Good luck to Barcelona­ they are a great team.The tactics did not work for Man­ United and some players found wanting.We have won 3­ trophies though this season and we will learn from the­ mistakes made and put them right I am sure of that.When­ playing in the top games you have to accept defeat­ graciously but the only crime is to not learn from it.­ Miserable,no not at all,looking forward to a couple of­ great players being added and challenging for all the­ honours again next season. We are Manchester United! No­ matter which players leave or are brought in we carry­ on! We never die. Well done Barca but expect more of a­ challenge next time.Defeat is never good but to lose to­ a team like barca makes things a little easier. I find­ it so sad that Man City and Liverpool fans have nothing­ more to cheer about but when United get beat.They are­ not good enough to challenge in finals such as this so­ turn their insecurity into being United haters.What a­ great coach Pepe Guardiola is, nice change from the fat­ spaniard just down the M62.

    From TERRY K, on Thu 28 May 12:28PM

  4. lol barca ripped united last night. anyway yeh i am­ also a 4ever ronaldo hater but i can give him some­ credit last night as he did shake the players hands and­ accept that he lost and for once he didnt set of the­ waterworks which also pleased me. so ronaldo as much as­ i hate to say it was in my good books last night. but­ well done to barca who certainly deserved the win and­ played excellently

    From smiley123, on Thu 28 May 12:26PM

  5. Mon the Barca!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From John, on Thu 28 May 12:24PM

  6. It's simple Man Utd got beat by the best team­ europe this season. there's no need of all the­ arguing. It's either Fergie got the tactics all­ wrong or Barcalona getting them right, cos everytime­ Carrick got the ball he passed it to Ronaldo everytime­ and Puyol read it all the time. That's why Man Utd­ lost, Barcalona read the game in the 1st 10 mins and­ went on to do what they do best, play football.

    From paul1gibson2007, on Thu 28 May 12:08PM

  7. YOU DON'T SEE US CRYING, WE'RE FIGHTERS AND­ WE'LL BE BACK NEXT SEASON...AT LEAST WE CAN SAY,­ WELL DONE BARCELONA...NOT LIKE THAT FAT SPANISH WAITER­ RAFA...SPOILT BRAT HE IS, IF LIVERSCUM WANT A CHANCE TO­ ACHIEVE WHAT UTD HAVE THEN I SUGGEST THEY GET­ THEMSELVES A MAN TO MANAGE LIVERSCUM NOT A BABY­ SPITTING HIS DUMMY AT EVERY MATCH HE LOSES.

    From L H, on Thu 28 May 11:56AM

  8. It's all cleared as Sir Alex Ferguson has accepted­ he got the tactics all wrong. He's problem was­ simply 'cos he played Anderson and Giggs together,­ i'm not sure if ya all see that Anderson passes­ where all flop from the start until he was subtituted.­ Same thing happens to Inter against Man U. Well­ it's as simple as saying the best team won.

    From maxadex, on Thu 28 May 11:54AM

  9. A world full of miserable Man U fans, life doesn't­ get any better than this. I agree with comment 1336, as­ a devoted Ronaldo hater he was brilliant last night a­ true gent in defeat

    From mick.wren, on Thu 28 May 11:54AM

  10. martinvford, we can't get into the trophy cabinet­ with all those european trophies in there, especially­ the big one that's ours to keep. oh, yes , you need­ to win it FIVE times to keep it

    From leslie d, on Thu 28 May 11:49AM

  11. Where is all the United arrogance and bravado now eh ?,­ Shooting your mouths off while listening to your own­ hype has come back to bite you in the @#$%. Barcelona­ owned you and played you off the field !.
    At leats Sir­ Alex and Ronaldo had the good grace to look the­ barelona players in the eyes as they shook hands at the­ end , most of utd didnt !.
    So start slagging off­ chelsea and liverpool fans if it makes you feel better­ but at the end of the day the better team won and you­ have to deal with it.

    From DJ Viper, on Thu 28 May 11:46AM

  12. Man U is not really a fantastic team. they win most of­ their matches through questionable ref. decisions. An­ example is Man U - Tothenham match. The premiership­ actually belong to Liverpool.

    From funmio, on Thu 28 May 11:42AM

  13. stop cryin like @#$% im a juventus supporter but­ yesterday barcellona smashed it wif glory sooo all­ yo'll man fans suk aa dik byee hahah

    From juve.manu, on Thu 28 May 11:38AM

  14. WE CAN HOLD OUR HEADS HIGH..WE GOT TO PLAY­ BARCELONA..WHERE DID YOU LOT GET..NOWHERE, WHERE YOU­ BELONG.

    From L H, on Thu 28 May 11:38AM

  15. If the early goal (the lame reason for their loss) put­ the spanner in the works for Man U, then where is the­ much talked about Man United’s character and­ resilience? Well, there were no Webbs, Rileys etc for­ support. I also hear laughable excuses like Darren­ Fletcher not playing, high temperatures, etc. Perhaps,­ it is worthy of mention that the entire Barca back four­ were missing (to injuries and suspensions) and Barca­ did not play in the snow! Barcelona is probably the­ Premier League’s Arsenal (but without media­ condemnation).

    From Victor, on Thu 28 May 11:38AM

  16. Mary, as a true genleman, will pick you up, give us­ your flight number. Got plenty of bleach, we'll­ kill it all! can't wait love!

    From United, kids, wife, on Thu 28 May 11:37AM

  17. Barcelona should not have been playing in the final­ anyway! We all would agree with that.....They cheated­ against Chelsea in the semis.
    Manchester United did not­ play to a competitive level on the night. They need to­ discard Berbatov, and replace Scholes.
    Manchester­ United needed an edge, someone who can turn a game­ around with a single stroke of genius. Someone like my­ brother, and England's son David Beckham.

    From OsmanK, on Thu 28 May 11:27AM

  18. As a man u fan i agree with l h because it is true and­ yeah there are still many years to try and get the cup­ so i dosent matter ther is always next year and to be­ truthful we will probs win next years cuz we are so­ good unlike chelse,liverpool,arsnal etc;
    i think man u­ will always be good no matter what!!!

    From Abbie, on Thu 28 May 11:20AM

  19. United, kids, wife, - whereabouts in Manchester are­ YOU, sweetie? I'm flying back from Spain on Sunday­ and I'll have a big bag of washing that will need­ doing. You are so wonderfully squeaky clean, with such­ high morals - I can't think of anyone who I would­ rather have washing my personal things. I'm sure my­ little knickers would be safe on YOUR washing line!

    From Mary, on Thu 28 May 11:19AM

  20. i'm no man u fan but suported them for the sake of­ english football... however... they were terrible, they­ were playing well until barca scored then all went pair­ shaped... they never looked the man u we see in the­ prem, i think they lost cos all they thought they had­ to do was turn up.... fergeson's tactics were way­ off

    From soulfulfunk, on Thu 28 May 11:10AM
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