Champions League - Huge crowd welcomes Barca

Eurosport - Fri, 29 May 08:13:00 2009

Treble-winners Barcelona finally met their match on the streets of their home city as up to a million fans flocked to welcome them home from their Champions League final triumph.

FOOTBALL Members of Barcelona football team wave to the crowd as they celebrate their Champions League victory from the top of a bus along the streets of Barcelona - 0

The Catalans have outplayed all comers to win La Liga, Copa del Rey and now the Champions League, but they struggled to make their way through the crowds to the Nou Camp to complete their celebrations.

Having beaten Manchester United 2-0 in Rome on Wednesday, the squad flew back to Barcelona on Thursday afternoon and it was coach Pep Guardiola and captain Carles Puyol who carried the European Cup down the steps from the plane.

They boarded an open-top bus and with the trophies propped up inside the front windscreen, set off for a journey that would take over three hours. A second bus drove behind pumping out music.

Spanish media reported that up to a million fans thronged the streets to greet them.

The players, who all wore blue shirts emblazoned with "Cup, League and Champions", danced, sang songs, waved flags and sprayed drinks over the fans.

The club threw open the doors of the Nou Camp and a capacity 98,000 crowd had to wait for over an hour past the scheduled arrival time for the team to make their entrance and kick off the evening's festivities.

After the final on Wednesday night, around 100,000 fans celebrated in the centre of Barcelona, but events turned ugly later on.

Local police told Spanish media they had detained 119 people mainly for public disorder offences and causing damage. Medical services dealt with injuries to 153 people, with 23 needing hospital treatment.

Reuters

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  1. For all those manchester united fans out there that­ are­ still
    clinically depressed about the result at­ the­ Champions League game
    a special helpline has been­ set­ up by sir alex ferguson
    simply call
    0800­ 2-02-02-0

    THE LINES ARE RED HOT pmsl!!!!

    From hamiltonsteve64, on Tue 2 Jun 2:19PM

  2. Chelsea deserved to lose the semi because they play­ like cowards they only had 1 proper pen decision go­ against them and 3 others that drogba tries to get but­ doent get in premiership every week so stop moaning.­ Yes the English top 4 has done well in europe but the­ quicker they dont the better in my eyes so at least the­ rest of us can actually enjoy champions league football­ again PLAYED ON THE GROUND. The Premiership has created­ the most boring football style since football started.­ At least other leagues in europe teach there kids­ correctly and hopefully money wont dictate the path­ that football takes.

    From jomc_1999, on Tue 2 Jun 10:39AM

  3. eto'o the best attac in the whole­ universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o the best attac in­ the whole universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o the best­ attac in the whole universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o­ the best attac in the whole­ universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o the best attac in­ the whole universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o the best­ attac in the whole universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o­ the best attac in the whole­ universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o the best attac in­ the whole universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o the best­ attac in the whole universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o­ the best attac in the whole­ universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o the best attac in­ the whole universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o the best­ attac in the whole universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o­ the best attac in the whole­ universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o the best attac in­ the whole universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o the best­ attac in the whole universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o­ the best attac in the whole­ universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o the best attac in­ the whole universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o the best­ attac in the whole universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o­ the best attac in the whole­ universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o the best attac in­ the whole universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o the best­ attac in the whole universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o­ the best attac in the whole­ universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o the best attac in­ the whole universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o the best­ attac in the whole universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o­ the best attac in the whole­ universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o the best attac in­ the whole universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o the best­ attac in the whole universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o­ the best attac in the whole­ universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o the best attac in­ the whole universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o the best­ attac in the whole universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!eto'o­ the best attac in the whole universe!!!!

    From aimar_b52, on Tue 2 Jun 10:12AM

  4. United fans were happy to see barcelona but since they­ lost now there saying it should of been chelsea

    From thrrgegt, on Sat 30 May 4:00PM

  5. Jimmy Rice and others who talk about Liverpool­ destroying Real Madrid shouldn't forget that HALF­ OF THE LIVERPOOL SQUAD IS MADE OF SPANISH PLAYERS AND­ THE MANAGER IS SPANISH. Steven Gerrard was there before­ Rafa arrived and what he did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Like­ Michael Owen he wanted to leave Liverpool. Only after­ Rafa started his revolution he decided to stay so very­ well remember that without foreigners your clubs are­ useless. It is due to this reason your national teams­ can't even qualify for big tournaments, whereas we­ are European champions and the Italians are World­ Champions and England????? You could win the World Cup­ in 1966 only because of refereeing blunder in the final­ against Germany, so why do you people shout about­ refereeing decisions.

    From barcelonafan85, on Sat 30 May 3:21PM

  6. Jimmy Rice and others who talk about Liverpool­ destroying Real Madrid shouldn't forget that HALF­ OF THE LIVERPOOL SQUAD IS MADE OF SPANISH PLAYERS AND­ THE MANAGER IS SPANISH. Steven Gerrard was there before­ Rafa arrived and what he did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Like­ Michael Owen he wanted to leave Liverpool. Only after­ Rafa started his revolution he decided to stay so very­ well remember that without foreigners your clubs are­ useless. It is due to this reason your national teams­ can't even qualify for big tournaments, whereas we­ are European champions and the Italians are World­ Champions and England????? You could win the World Cup­ in 1966 only because of refereeing blunder in the final­ against Germany, so why do you people shout about­ refereeing decisions.

    From barcelonafan85, on Sat 30 May 3:20PM

  7. it was a fluke glory glory man utd... we will win next­ year but fair play barca well done.

    From TR, on Sat 30 May 9:21AM

  8. I can answer you, in 2002 , 3 Italian teams were in­ semi final, and final was played between Milan and­ Juventus. in 2000 3 Spanish teams were in semi final,­ and the final was played between Real Madrid and­ Valencia. Now, the same has happened to English teams.­ Is it a big deal? No. Every teams change from time to­ time. Do you really think that english teams will be­ in semi finals every year? u kidding me? omg. lmao.

    From chechenr, on Sat 30 May 8:38AM

  9. Congrats Barcelona!!!
    From a United Fan...

    From Davis K, on Fri 29 May 11:35PM

  10. one thing i cant deny though is that your national side­ is 50 times better than ours and is a joy to watch

    From Jimmyrice man u are champs again, on Fri 29 May 8:21PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    barcelona_mes_que_un_club liverpool absolutely­ destroyed real madrid and barcelona cheated chelsea­ everyting u said is boll ocks, please write in spanish­ instead it offends me u using my language

    From Jimmyrice man u are champs again, on Fri 29 May 8:19PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    barca were good no denying but chelsea were cheated out­ of a place in final they should have got 4 penalties, 3­ english clubs were in semi finals, your holy real­ madrid got destroyed by gerrard and liverpool, english­ top four pisses all over any top four from whole of­ europe it proves it when in final 4 3 were english i­ not sayin the best wasnt spanish but the 2nd 3rd 4th an­ joint 5th were english and we had 3 in semis last year­ an quite possibly year before u tell me when spain have­ when were seville or valencia in semis consistent like­ our teams

    From Jimmyrice man u are champs again, on Fri 29 May 8:17PM

  13. piece of advise for man u,

    next time man u plays­ magnificent Barca again, instead of chasing the shadow­ at middle of the pitch, u guys should ask politely,­ "excuse me senor, can i have my ball back,­ pleeeeassseeee...."

    From carlamms, on Fri 29 May 6:42PM

  14. in last 12 years la liga take champion league 5 times­ more than any other
    1998 real madrid
    1999 man­ united
    2000 real madrid
    2001 bayern
    2002 real­ madrid
    2003 milan
    2004 porto
    2005 liverpool
    2006­ barca
    2007 milan
    2008 man united
    2009 barca

    From black, on Fri 29 May 6:25PM

  15. where are all english fans who say their league is the­ best
    i can guess they are hiding under the bed
    the face­ of barca players especialy eto iniesta messi and puyol­ will be their nightmare, you will here this everyday­ baaaarrrcaaaa! 2-0
    let us take player by player
    valdez­ show how quality spanish keepers are
    pique stop oxygen­ from reaching to roney
    yaya tore put park in his small­ pocket
    silvinho keep o'shea bussy in diffence­
    puyol show the world that ronaldo is normal player,­ instead of diffending actualy puyol was attaking and­ ronaldo was diffending
    bosqes rid carrick like­ donkey
    xavi walk over giggs and show him what he miss­ about football in 20 years in EPL
    iniesta was the hero­ of the theatre while anderson was his shadow
    messi­ humiliate what was called before the match the best­ diffence
    henry tore rio into pices
    eto make vidic(best­ player in season accourding to united fans) look like a­ child which missed from his parent
    in generaly man­ united looks like ordinary people and have alot to­ learn about football
    english fans
    come out you puesy­
    when there was 3 english teams in semi there were­ millions of insects known as EPL fans in eurosport but­ we spray pesticide and and kill all english pest

    From black, on Fri 29 May 6:07PM

  16. I wish Barcelona had converted the other 4/5 other­ chances they had against Man U and the score should­ have read 5-0 or 6-0, then only the foolish and­ arrogant Man U faithful would have gone into hiding and­ kept their mouth shut. It requires intelligence to­ understand that Barcelona outplayed Man U and 2-0­ doesn't mean Man U played very well. Barcelona are­ the best, the whole world knew it, but we had to prove­ to a handful of impertinent Englishmen through this­ match that Barcelona and La Liga are the best. Hail the­ greatest team of earth, with the greatest players in­ the World. Viva La Liga, Viva Barcelona. The whole­ world loves you.

    From barcelonafan85, on Fri 29 May 3:40PM

  17. I wish Barcelona had converted the other 4/5 other­ chances they had against Man U and the score should­ have read 5-0 or 6-0, then only the foolish and­ arrogant Man U faithful would have gone into hiding and­ kept their mouth shut. It requires intelligence to­ understand that Barcelona outplayed Man U and 2-0­ doesn't mean Man U played very well. Barcelona are­ the best, the whole world knew it, but we had to prove­ to a handful of impertinent Englishmen through this­ match that Barcelona and La Liga are the best. Hail the­ greatest team of earth, with the greatest players in­ the World. Viva La Liga, Viva Barcelona. The whole­ world loves you.

    From barcelonafan85, on Fri 29 May 3:40PM

  18. Fernando Torres summed it up well after his first­ season in England.
    He said that the overall quality of­ 20 teams in Spain was better than in England, but that­ the top 4 teams in England were better than in Spain.I­ think he might change his mind after seeing­ United's meek performance on wednesday, to the top­ 3 teams!!!

    From Koppite 1973, on Fri 29 May 2:40PM

  19. barcelona is the best team in whole world and it is­ fact. it dosnt matter what will be in next season.­ thing that barca had done in this year can do club only­ once in its history and i think that football that­ barca plays nowdays has nobady playd in this century­ and nobody will play for a long time. everything is­ perfcat the manner of passing , attacing, tacling. so­ congratulations barca, congratulations all barca­ plaiers, congratulation pep gvardiola adn all barca­ fans. and i must add that it is not end barca will­ still show us again what it can in next years. wish­ them to bee everything so perfect as was this season.­ thaks­ bacaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From kalandadze.irakli, on Fri 29 May 2:28PM

  20. The reason I'm saying that La Liga is better than­ premiershit is because of a similar reason you english­ fans look at. You only look at the last 2-3 years of­ champions league, where spanish teams and italians had­ some trouble. Why don't you look at the facts and­ all the history of CL. In Spain, you have madrid with­ the most CL trophies, you have Barcelona with the most­ goals in CL, 851 goals, and madrid comes second with­ 850 goals, you also have spain leading with 12­ trophies, you also have raul the leading scorer in CL.­ Also the fact that you english fans don't face the­ facts and don't show respect for the opposing­ teams. You always talk about Barca not surviving in­ premiershit, well guess what, we knocked out chelsea,­ and we destroyed man u, the so called the permiershit­ champions. Also another fact, you again say that La­ Liga teams are so weak, than let me ask you, why the­ premiershit champions man u could not beat a 5 place La­ Liga team Villareal? I'm trying to prove a point­ here, don't just look at the last 2-3 years, and­ don't just look at 4 english teams, because they­ are the only tought teams in england, the rest suxk.­ It's almost guaranteed for arsenal, man u,­ liverpool, chelsea to get the top 4, where as in Spain­ you have seville, atletico madrid, villareal, valencia,­ real madrid, Barcelona and more fighting for top 4,­ because the teams in La Liga are a lot tougher, where­ as in england you only have top 4. Alos in 2002, we­ had a Spanish all finals, Valencia v Madrid, and you­ did not hear much of Spanish fans saying "oh we­ are the best because we have an all Spanish­ finals," like you english fans say. Also, the­ reason the top 4 teams in england are good teams, is­ because you have bilionares buying the clubs, and they­ have money to buy good players, where as in spain, you­ have members investing in clubs, and you have more home­ grown players. Also, the fact is, Barcelona does play­ the Best Football in the world.

    From barcelona_mes_que_un_club, on Fri 29 May 1:24PM
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