Barcelona can never be underestimated. They've scored over 150 goals this season. Pundits are thinking they'll win easily because Sir Alex Ferguson , the United manager, knows how to neutralize the attacking flair of barca.

I had heard this too, and was a bit surprised. I'm looking forward to catching the match.

I was so nervous at work today i was sick,,man my nerves are on edge..

2-0 Barcelona are the champs congrats to them

blib sorry you lost money ..... btw how much did you bet??

Fair play to Barca they was the better team by a long way... Still gutted though..

Barcelona 2-0 Man Utd



Manchester United's attempt to make history and become the first club to defend the Champions League ended in failure against Barcelona in Rome's Stadio Olimpico.

Sir Alex Ferguson's hopes of repeating last year's triumph against Chelsea barely got off the ground as they ended well beaten by a Barcelona side inspired by the genius of Argentine superstar Lionel Messi.

United started the final, played in stifling heat, as if retaining their crown would be little more than a formality, creating a host of early chances against the nervous-looking Catalans, with Cristiano Ronaldo a constant threat.

But once Samuel Eto'o scored at Edwin van der Sar's near post in the 10th minute after escaping Nemanja Vidic, the credits were rolling on their bid to add the Champions League to the Premier League for the second successive season.

Barcelona's peerless midfield pair of Andres Iniesta and Xavi ruled midfield with a display of passing perfection, starving United of further opportunites to strike at a defence weakened by injuries and suspension.
Xavi hit the post with a free-kick and Thierry Henry was denied by Van der Sar before Messi crowned a glorious personal performance with a stunning header to clinch victory with 20 minutes remaining.

He made a mockery of his tiny stature to rise and head home Xavi's cross - and in that magical moment any hopes United harboured of a recovery were snuffed out.

If the showdown between Messi and Ronaldo was billed as the spectacular sub-plot within this showpiece, there was only one winner as Barcelona's diminutive star terrorised United throughout.

Ronaldo, for all his obvious frustrations that ended almost inevitably in a yellow card for a late barge on Carles Puyol, never stopped running but this was not to be his night or United's.
Ferguson warned in the build-up that Iniesta - arguably the game's most influential performer - and Xavi could put opponents "on a carousel" with their passing, and his prediction proved ominously correct as United were on a rough ride after the optimism of those opening 10 minutes.
Once Barcelona had settled after the early goal, there was no way back for United as several changes in formation failed to produce a spark and Wayne Rooney unable to exert any influence on events, first from the left flank and then from the centre.
And as Barcelona's name was carved on the giant trophy at the final whistle, with the celebrations of the Catalan fans a sharp contrast to the subdued Manchester United supporters, there was no doubting their right to claim Europe's elite trophy for the third time.

Ryan Giggs took the place of suspended Darren Fletcher in the United line-up - and for the first 10 minutes they penned a nervous Barcelona back in their own territory.

The game was only two minutes old when Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes fumbled Ronaldo's free-kick, and only the crucial intervention of former United defender Gerard Pique prevented Ji-Sung Park turning in the rebound.

Ronaldo was then twice narrowly off target before Barcelona made their first serious insertion into United territory. And it was to devastating effect as they turned the opening exchanges upside down to take the lead.

Barcelona will credit the brilliance of Eto'o, but it was a cheap shot from United's viewpoint as the Cameroon striker was allowed to escape by Vidic and keeper Van der Sar's effort to block the effort at his near post was flimsy, to put it kindly.

It was against the run of play, but gave Barcelona a visible injection of confidence and adrenalin, allowing Messi to pull the strings up front and Xavi and Iniesta to take control of midfield.

Iniesta may have been an injury doubt prior to this final, but there was little evidence of fitness problems as he produced a virtuoso demonstration of the modern midfield arts, leaving United to chase in vain in an attempt to regain possession for the latter stages of the opening half.

n one magical moment, all three of Vidic, Michael Carrick and Rooney were foiled in an attempt to take the ball away from Messi, with the Argentine eventually forcing a foul.

Rooney was a peripheral figure, pushed to the margins of the game on the left flank. He was too important a figure to be starved of possession and influence in this system, and it was no surprise when Ferguson pushed him inside as half-time approached.

Ferguson made another switch during the interval, sending on Carlos Tevez for the ineffective Anderson, a positive move that reflected United's failure to build on their early domination.
It was not a quick fix as Barcelona simply continued in their imperious stride after the break, Thierry Henry tricking his way inside Rio Ferdinand only to be denied by the legs of Van der Sar.

Xavi then almost doubled Barcelona's lead with a 20-yard free-kick following Vidic's foul on Messi. He beat Van der Sar with his curling effort, but it rebounded off an upright to safety.

United were struggling to get a clear sight of Barcelona's goal, and in a bid to remedy this problem Ferguson sent on Dimitar Berbatov for Park with 25 minutes remaining.

The change had no chance to take effect before Barcelona deservedly went two up five minutes later. Xavi was the cretor with a cross that looked too high for Messi, but he defied his lack of inches to soar and send a header over Van der Sar.

United looked to mount an instant response, with Valdes blocking crucially from Ronaldo, but there was no way back and it was Barcelona who looked more likely to add to their lead.

Van der Sar saved well from Puyol as Barcelona dominated until the final whistle - and not even the most partisan Manchester United follower can doubt that Pep Guardiola deserved to round off a dream first season in charge by adding the Champions League to the La Liga title and the Spanish Cup.

BBC.CO.UK/FOOTBALL

Looks like the white uniform gave away the result.
Seriously, Man Utd only showed up for the first 10 minutes of the game. I didnt expect such a poor performance, so I'm very disappointed. It's not like them to give up on the game so early. The first goal was not part of the plan, but they had to pick themselves up afterwards, which they never did, and it just didnt look like they wanted to win as much as Barca.....oh well, there's always next year.

I think if it was a best-of-5-games finals, or best-of-7 like they do in the NBA, the result was the other way around. Anything can happen in one single match.....but congratz to Barca for a wonderful season.

UNICEF Vs. AIG

UNICEF won.

See you next year.

Congratulations to the Barcelona team on a very good team. Manchester can hold their heads up high for a great run. I didn't get to see the end, but I watched a good portion of it with my 14 year old son, who shocked me with how much he knew about this league and some of the players. I enjoyed it very much.

How and when is the location of the championship determined? I was a little surprised it was in Italy where they have had a lot of problems with violent and uncivilized fan behavior. It wasn't long ago that Italian teams played in empty arenas because assembling the fans was an invitation to riots and mayhem.

Wow, what happened to Man Utd. in this? I figured it would be closer than it was. Great header by Messi though!

AD, I only lost $20. But since I'm broke it hurts. I should have known not to bet but it made it a little more fun

Kl, Good to hear your kid is interested in football and that you enjoyed it. The location of the final is decided by the UEFA Executive Committee. As for when they decide, I don't know- but it always makes it on the sport news. Anyway there won't be any need for them to do so anytime soon because the next three finals' locations have been chosen.

Here they are:
-2010: Santiago Bernabeu,Madrid
-2011: (home sweet home)Wembly Stadium,London
-2012: Allianz Arena, Munich

Shame for Man Utd but Barca were awesome and fully deserved to win. It was a great game to watch,Barca are always easy on the eye!


Klyd,your question about the location has been answered but apparently there was a lot of fighting outside the ground last night. The Italian fans wanting to have a go at the English fans. 150+ arrests by all accounts

Im booking my flight for Madrid just in case in the next few weeks as it will be much cheaper now..

Nice thinkin DE NIRO .... can you tell me the price when
you book your flight ... maybe we can go together who knows

I'll let you know..

I heard that too. They reported that dozens of Italian fans dressed in police outfits to beat Manchester fans.

Indeed Klyd,the crafty beggars!!

My best pal follows Newcastle home and away in every game which a few glorious years ago involved European games

Anyways he and some friends went to Turin to see Newcastle play the mighty Juventus.They were drinking in a bar peacefully and there were plenty of police around so they felt safe. The Juventus fans raced in on mopeds and attacked them and the police just watched. When some of the English lads fought back the police waded in with riot batons and arrested over half of them. My mate didn't get arrested but he did get his head laid open from a baton.

He vowed never to go to Italy again for football. Football hooliganism used to be called the "English disease" but the Italians are right up there now.

I was rooting for Barcelona.

Shame on you...

Sorry buddy. I like all the spanish teams.