Champions League 2008/09

[abadani69]

Champions League quarter-final, first leg collated results.

At Old Trafford, Manchester.

Manchester United 2 Porto 2

Scorers

Manchester United: Wayne Rooney 15, Carlos Tevez 85

Porto: Cristian Rodriguez 4, Mariano 89

Halftime: 1-1

Referee: Konrad Plautz (Austria)

- -

At the Madrigal, Villarreal

Villarreal 1 Arsenal 1

Scorers

Villarreal: Marcos Senna 10

Arsenal: Emmanuel Adebayor 66

Halftime: 1-0

Referee: Tom Henning Ovrebo (Norway)

- -

Playing on Wednesday (both 1845 GMT)

Liverpool v Chelsea

Barcelona v Bayern Munich

[Rasputin]

Chelsea took command of the Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool as Guus Hiddink's side stunned Anfield with an exhilarating attacking exhibition.

Fernando Torres looked to have put Liverpool on course for another glorious European night when he fired Rafael Benitez's in-form European specialists ahead after only six minutes.

But Chelsea responded in style to run out emphatic winners of an enthralling encounter, in which Liverpool played a full part until they were eventually overpowered.

Branislav Ivanovic was Chelsea's unlikely hero, heading goals either side of the interval to put Chelsea ahead - twice taking advantage of Liverpool's familiar Achilles heel, wretched marking at corners.

Didier Drogba, who wasted two excellent opportunities to score before Ivanovic levelled six minutes before the interval, was on target after 67 minutes when he turned in Florent Malouda's left-wing cross from eight yards as Liverpool suddenly collapsed under the weight of Chelsea's pressure.

The only black mark on Chelsea's night was a second-half booking for captain John Terry for a challenge on Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina that rules him out of next week's second leg at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool have specialised in comebacks against the odds in the past, but it is hard to see how Benitez - who will have been left exasperated by his side's defending - can navigate a route out of this one against a Chelsea side who have been rejuvenated by the veteran Hiddink.

In the previous Champions League meetings between the sides it has been almost impossible to separate them, but Chelsea have never adopted such a positive approach before and Hiddink reaped a rich reward.

Anfield was left subdued apart from a defiant rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone" at the final whistle - all Liverpool's hopes dashed by Chelsea after the optimism sparked by Torres' early goal.

Chelsea's fans, in contrast, celebrated wildly after a victory that was almost beyond their wildest expectations.

Liverpool's recent resurgence has been characterised by high-tempo openings that have put opponents under instant pressure - and they were at it again in the early stages at a vibrant Anfield.

Dirk Kuyt almost gave Liverpool the perfect start after two minutes when his powerful shot on the turn was deflected inches wide off Ivanovic, but the Kop did not have long to wait to celebrate.

This time Kuyt was the creator with a clever flick that released Alvaro Arbeloa on the right-flank, and when he delivered an inviting cross Torres was on hand to sweep a comprehensive finish low past Petr Cech.

Chelsea, with a chequered Champions League history at Anfield, wasted the opportunity to respond immediately when Salomon Kalou sent Drogba clear in the area, but Liverpool keeper Reina raced out to make a vital block.

Hiddink had pledged to send out his side in attacking frame of mind, and Chelsea were as good as their coach's word, with Malouda then firing inches wide with Reina beaten.

Torres was an electrifying presence once more, and he was too quick for Frank Lampard when he swooped to rob the England man after 25 minutes, only to send a curling effort just off target.

It was a remarkably open game, with both sides committed to attack, and Drogba was guilty of another miss when he should have restored equality.

The Ivory Coast striker got on the wrong side of Jamie Carragher as Michael Ballack played a ball into the area, but after stumbling and then regaining control Drogba blazed wildly over the top with only Reina to beat.

Chelsea got the equaliser, and the away goal, they deserved, six minutes before the interval when Liverpool's long-time weakness at defending set-pieces surfaced again.

Malouda's corner was a routine affair, but Ivanovic was able to escape from the attentions of three Liverpool defenders to turn a header beyond Reina.

Kuyt should have scored Liverpool's second immediately, but Cech came to Chelsea's rescue as Liverpool looked poised to regain their advantage.

The second half began as an explosive first ended, with Carragher making a desperate clearance off the line from Drogba and Torres shooting just over the top after finally breaking the shackles of Chelsea's defence.

Terry was then ruled out of next week's return leg for a clumsy challenge on Reina - but it was the last piece of bad news for Chelsea.

They swiftly delivered two deadly blows to take a stranglehold on the tie and leave Anfield, so used to success on these nights, collectively stunned.

Ivanovic could barely believe his luck when he was given time and space in the penalty area once more to head another corner, this time from Lampard, powerfully past Reina.

And five minutes later Chelsea were in dreamland when Drogba finally hit the target, sliding home Malouda's cross from close range past a badly-exposed Reina.

Chelsea continued to threaten on the break as Liverpool pressed to little or no effect - and the final whistle brought confirmation of success for Hiddink's tactical masterclass and bitter disappointment for Anfield.



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Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio (Dossena 75), Kuyt, Lucas (Babel 79), Alonso, Riera (Benayoun 67), Gerrard, Torres.
Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Hyypia, Agger, Ngog.

Booked: Aurelio.

Goals: Torres 6.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Ashley Cole, Kalou, Ballack, Essien, Lampard, Malouda, Drogba (Anelka 79).
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Carvalho, Belletti, Mancienne, Mikel, Deco.

Booked: Kalou, Terry.

Goals: Ivanovic 39, 62, Drogba 67.

Att: 42,543

Ref: Claus Bo Larsen (Denmark).

[Rasputin]

Barcelona tore Bayern Munich to shreds at the Nou Camp to all but reach the Champions League semi-finals.

Leo Messi scored twice, skipping clear of a shambolic defence to stroke in Samuel Eto'o's pass after nine minutes.

The 21-year-old Argentine magician then set up Eto'o to fire home the second and had a strong penalty shout turned down before tapping in Henry's cross.

Henry finished another free-flowing move before half-time and Bayern's only consolation was a goalless second half.

A 5-1 thumping at the hands of Wolfsburg at the weekend had Bayern fans fearing the worst against an in-form Barca - but they could not have imagined just how badly it would turn out.

Defensively, Jurgen Klinsmann's side were awful, as the first goal typified.

Christian Lell, standing in at left-back in place of the injured Phillip Lahm, left Messi all on his own to run onto Eto'o's pass and calmly pass the ball into the net.

Only three minutes later, Bayern were 2-0 behind when Messi turned provider for Eto'o, who just about stayed onside and finished into the far corner through keeper Hans Jorg Butt's legs.

Barca kept up the pressure, slick in possession and tenacious in their efforts to win back the ball on the rare occasions they lost it.

They could - and probably should - have had a spot-kick when Messi dinked the ball past Lell and fell under the challenge.

But English referee Howard Webb waved away the penalty claims and, to Barca's horror, showed a yellow card to the Argentine for diving.

Despite his side's comfortable lead, Pep Guardiola was incandescent - and the Barca boss was sent to the stands by Webb for his protests.

The hosts quickly got back to the job in hand.

Andres Iniesta carved open the Bayern defence with his pass but Butt anticipated Henry's run and came out to meet the former Arsenal striker, taking an accidental kick in the face in the process.

A lengthy spell of treatment for the keeper interrupted Barca's momentum, but they added a third on 38 minutes.

Henry, in a move reminiscent of his Arsenal days, produced a burst of pace on the left to leave Massimo Oddo trailing in his wake before squaring for Messi to tap in from close range.

There was still time for Henry to get on the scoresheet before the break.

Messi cut in from the right and was floored by former Barca midfielder Mark van Bommel's cynical shoulder barge.

But Webb played the advantage, Eto'o picking up the loose ball and moving it to the left for Henry to sidefoot low into the far corner.

Van Bommel was fortunate to escape a yellow card - or perhaps even a red - but that was a rare bit of good news for the German giants.

They did improve after the break, with substitute Andreas Ottel adding some much-needed steel in midfield.

Ze Roberto might even have scored a consolation but was denied by a fabulous block by Barca skipper Carles Puyol.

However, the home side had more chances of their own on a dream night at the Nou Camp.

The irrepressible Messi was denied his hat-trick by an excellent Butt save and, right at the death, saw a shot hit team-mate Seydou Keita on the line.

At the final whistle, a tearful Franck Ribery was consoled by France team-mate Henry.

Bayern face a near impossible task in the return leg on Tuesday if they are to stop Barca booking a semi-final against Chelsea or Liverpool.



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Barcelona: Valdes, Dani Alves, Marquez, Pique, Puyol, Xavi, Toure Yaya (Busquets 81), Iniesta, Messi, Eto'o (Bojan 89), Henry (Keita 74).
Subs Not Used: Pinto, Caceres, Gudjohnsen, Sylvinho.

Booked: Messi, Marquez.

Goals: Messi 9, Eto'o 12, Messi 38, Henry 43.

Bayern Munich: Butt, Oddo, Demichelis, Breno, Lell, Altintop (Ottl 46), Schweinsteiger, Van Bommel, Ze Roberto (Sosa 76), Ribery, Toni.
Subs Not Used: Rensing, Podolski, Lahm, Borowski, Badstuber.

Booked: Lell, Demichelis.

Att: 97,000

Ref: Howard Webb (England).

[abadani69]

Chelsea advanced to the European Champions League semifinals, just not the way the Blues thought they would.

Frank Lampard scored in the 76th and 89th minutes, and Chelsea withstood a Liverpool surge in a 4-4 tie Tuesday night.

Chelsea, which lost last year’s final to Manchester United, advanced on 7-5 aggregate in the home-and-home, total-goals series and will next play Barcelona, which tied 1-1 at Bayern Munich and advanced on 5-1 aggregate.

“From coasting at 3-2 with 14 minutes to go and all of a sudden being 4-3 down, it was a nervy end,” Lampard said. “These nights are what football is all about. It was a bit uncomfortable for the team during the game, but when you look back on tonight it was a great advert for English football.”

Following a 3-1 loss last week in the first leg at Anfield, Liverpool tied the aggregate when Fabio Aurelio scored in the 19th minute and Xabi Alonso converted a penalty kick in the 28th after Branislav Ivanovic was called for hauling him down in the penalty area.

Didier Drogba scored for Chelsea in the 51st, Alex tied the score in the 57th and Lampard put Chelsea ahead. Liverpool took a 4-3 lead on goals by Lucas Leiva in the 81st and Dirk Kuyt in the 83rd, putting the Reds within a goal of victory in the series, but Lampard’s second goal sealed it for the Blues.

“We brought a bad result from Anfield, but today I think we have to be happy and proud with our performance in the game,” Alonso said. “We were unlucky to concede early in the second half but we kept fighting. Now we have to think about the Premier League.”

Both teams were missing their captains: Chelsea defender John Terry was suspended and Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard was out with a groin injury.

“You can kill the game in the first half hour by not conceding, but not by sitting back, with your backs in the goal—then you ask for problems, and we were worried,” Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink said. “It was a matter of having too much respect, so we got a little bit angry and the team reacted. That’s what I liked in the second half.”

It was the 24th match in five seasons between the clubs, including 10 each in the Premier League and Champions League, two in the League Cup, one in The Football Association Cup and one in the preseason Community Shield. Liverpool scored as many as three goals in a match at Stamford Bridge for the first time since Dec. 16, 1989.

“When you lose you have to be disappointed, but when you lose in this way you have to be proud and have your head up,” Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said. “Thinking about the Premier League, maybe it’s positive because if we can score four goals here at Stamford Bridge, we can do the same in any stadium. We can win a lot of games with this mentality.”

At Munich, Franck Ribery put Bayern ahead in the 47th minute, and Seydou Keita tied it in the 73rd.

In the semifinals, Barcelona hosts Chelsea on April 28 and plays at Stamford Bridge on May 6.

On Wednesday, Porto hosts Manchester United following a 2-2 tie in the first leg and Arsenal hosts Villarreal following a 1-1 tie.

[abadani69]

After becoming the first team to hold Barcelona scoreless since the Spanish league’s opening weekend last August, Chelsea headed home in good position to advance to the European Champions League final for the second straight year.

“It’s quite an achievement against a team that plays beautiful football,” Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink said after Tuesday night’s 0-0 tie in the first leg of the semifinals.

Both goalkeepers made important stops, with Victor Valdes getting his hands up quickly to stop Didier Drogba following a defensive lapse in the 39th minute — Chelsea’s only shot on goal to Barcelona’s 12.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech dove to keep Samuel Eto’o’s shot out in the 70th after the Barcelona forward had shook off Alex to get a clear chance from close range. Cech made several clutch saves down the stretch, the most notable on substitute Aleksandr Hleb moments after Bojan Krkic had headed a clear chance from point blank over the goal.

“They won’t be able to play like they did today, just waiting on everything in their own half,” Eto’o said. “Drawing at home is not a bad thing for the team. Playing away in the return leg just means we have to score that away goal that will settle us.”

Barcelona was held scoreless for the first time since starting the Spanish league season with a 1-0 loss to Numancia last Aug. 31 on the opening weekend. Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez pulled up in the 50th minute with a left knee injury that will keep him out for the rest of the season and was replaced by captain Carles Puyol.

“Rafa’s loss was the worst news today,” Barcleona coach Pep Guardiola said.

Chelsea hosts the second leg at Stamford Bridge on May 6, with the winner advancing to the May 27 final in Rome. Puyol is suspended for the match.

“It’s a fantastic result, Chelsea captain John Terry said. “They had a lot of possession, but we stayed very tight. We watched videos before the game: They like to play little balls through, and we knew that and stopped them doing it.”

Defending champion Manchester United, which won last year’s final on penalty kicks, hosts Arsenal on Wednesday night in the other semifinal.

Cech smothered Henry’s chance in the 31st and blocked a hard shot from the France striker two minutes later.

It was the two clubs fourth meeting in five European campaigns, and things heated up as the fouls mounted.

Barcelona had a major blow in the 50th when Marquez pulled up with a left knee injury that will keep him out for the rest of the season, making way for Puyol. Barcelona’s defense will be short-handed for the return leg at Stamford Bridge on May 6 with Puyol suspended after being booked in the 74th.

[Atef_Dubai]

inter millan inter millan

[Rasputin]

Manchester United produced a virtuoso display to remain on course to become the first team to successfully defend the Champions League - and destroyed Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger's dream of winning his first European trophy.

Arsenal's hopes of wiping out a single-goal deficit from the first leg were all over inside 11 minutes as United struck twice to silence an expectant crowd inside the Emirates.

Ji-Sung Park pounced on Kieran Gibbs' slip for a close-range finish after eight minutes, while Cristiano Ronaldo fired a 40-yard free-kick past startled keeper Manuel Almunia three minutes later.

It left Arsenal's plans, plus Wenger's bold promise of a "magnificent" performance from his players, in tatters as they were simply unable to cope with the power, pace and energy produced by Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

606: DEBATE
Well done...fully deserved

renoog
Ronaldo's second goal of the game after 61 minutes summed up their display in the space of a few devastating seconds.

Arsenal were undone from their own corner by a superb sweeping move that also involved starring roles for Park and Wayne Rooney before Ronaldo completed the formalities with a flourish.


Early goals killed off game - Ferguson
It rubber-stamped United's passage into a final against Chelsea or Barcelona in Rome later this month - and on this evidence they will take some stopping.

The only blot on United's otherwise perfect night came 16 minutes from time when Darren Fletcher was sent off by referee Roberto Rosetti, who ruled he had fouled Cesc Fabregas as he raced in on goal.

Robin van Persie's penalty will not cause United as much pain as Fletcher's suspension for the final.

If United's first-leg performance did not bring the margin of victory it deserved, they were full value for this triumph.

And as Ferguson and United's players celebrated, Wenger was left to contemplate the stark statistic that Arsenal have not won a trophy since they beat these same opponents in the 2005 FA Cup final - and looked light years behind them on the evidence of these two games.


Fletcher will be ruled out of the final because of his red card
United will now press on to seal another Premier League title, safe in the knowledge that they can take a tilt at winning this trophy for the fourth time.

Arsenal attempted to crank up the atmosphere inside the Emirates by placing thousands of flags on seats around the stadium - but two early blows from United ensured they were swiftly lowered.

United were desperate for the away goal that would leave Arsenal facing a mountainous task, and they were gifted it via an error from Gibbs.

He looked comfortably positioned to clear Ronaldo's routine cross, but he slipped and Park was on hand to take advantage by sliding in to lift a finish over Almunia.

Arsenal's plight became virtually impossible three minutes later when another mistake, this time from Almunia, allowed United to double their advantage and leave the Gunners requiring four goals.

Van Persie fouled Ronaldo 40 yards out, and while his strike was sweetly-struck and dipping, Almunia must take responsibility for moving too late to save an effort that arrived at a comfortable height.

Arsenal's players - and their thousands of followers - were visibly shell-shocked and Rooney almost made it three after 18 minutes.

Playing with great discipline in a left-flank role, he cut in dangerously to test Almunia with a shot the keeper was just able to turn to safety.

United were in complete control and Ronaldo was just off target with a header from Anderson's resulting corner.

Arsenal had been dominated to such an extent that they were reduced to ignoring Wenger's long-held philosophies as they launched aimless balls in the direction of Emmanuel Adebayor and Van Persie.

Their only response was a tame header from Fabregas that provided little more than catching practice for Edwin Van der Sar.

If Arsenal hoped the interval would inspire some remarkable transformation in a one-sided encounter, they were to be disappointed as United simply resumed with the same air of superiority.

Ronaldo tested Almunia with a low shot at his near post before he added United's third with a goal that summed up the quality of their performance.

From an Arsenal corner, Ronaldo found Park just 20 yards from his own penalty area. He played in Rooney, and when he served up a perfect pass, there was Ronaldo to complete a picture goal with a finish high past Almunia.

It afforded Ferguson the luxury of being able to remove Rooney and Patrice Evra, players who would have missed the final had they had picked up another yellow card.

Fletcher did, however, suffer that fate when he was shown a straight red card by referee Rosetti 14 minutes from time when Fabregas tumbled as the pair collided in the penalty area.

Rosetti awarded a penalty, which Van Persie duly scored, but replays showed Fletcher appearing to get a clean touch on the ball before Fabregas fell to the ground - although there was no suggestion the Arsenal captain dived.

United then simply played out time before taking deserved acclaim at the conclusion of a magnificent team effort - as Europe's elite trophy came into sight for Ferguson and his men once more.



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Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Djourou, Gibbs (Eboue 45), Walcott (Bendtner 63), Fabregas, Song Billong, Nasri, Van Persie (Vela 79), Adebayor.
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Silvestre, Diaby, Denilson.

Booked: Nasri, Adebayor, Eboue.

Goals: Van Persie 76 pen.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra (Rafael Da Silva 65), Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson (Giggs 63), Park, Ronaldo, Rooney (Berbatov 66).
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Evans, Scholes, Tevez.

Sent Off: Fletcher (75).

Goals: Park 8, Ronaldo 11, 61.

Att: 59,867

Ref: Roberto Rosetti (Italy).

[Rasputin]

Andres Iniesta's spectacular strike deep into stoppage time wrecked Chelsea's dreams of a second successive Champions League final against Manchester United amid chaotic scenes at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea looked to have kept Barcelona at bay and sealed an all-Premier League clash in Rome on a night of nerve-jangling tension after Michael Essien's 20-yard blockbuster in the ninth minute.

But with Guus Hiddink's side hanging on - and fuelled by a sense of injustice after referee Tom Ovrebo rejected a succession of penalty appeals - Iniesta beat Petr Cech from the edge of the area to send Barcelona into the final on away goals.

It was a heartbreaking moment for Chelsea and one that was too much to bear for Didier Drogba, on the sidelines after being substituted with an injury.

There had already been angry scenes in the technical area after Barcelona's leveller, with Hiddink appearing to be buffeted on the touchline, but at the final whistle, Drogba marched on to the field to subject referee Ovrebo to a prolonged verbal tirade.

He rightly received a yellow card, but Drogba refused to be deterred by this punishment and continued to pursue the official while being held back.

It was a shameful conclusion to a dramatic encounter.

Barcelona now face United in the final - but it was victory at a price with Dani Alves ruled out of the final after a booking and Eric Abidal also missing after he was unluckily sent off for tangling with Nicolas Anelka.

Chelsea, meanwhile, must now gather their forces for the end of the Premier League campaign and the FA Cup final against Everton - but the glittering prize of the Champions League has eluded them once more.

They looked on their way to the final after a superb defensive display that restricted the visitors all night until Iniesta's deadly strike.

Barcelona's attempt to secure a crucial away goal suffered a blow before kick-off when Thierry Henry was ruled out with a knee injury - while Chelsea included both Drogba and Anelka in their line-up.

The Catalan giants posed the first threat when Xavi's effort took two deflections before Jose Bosingwa cleared from almost on the goal-line.

And Chelsea took advantage of that escape to make the breakthrough after only nine minutes.

Frank Lampard's pass was half-cleared, and even though there seemed little danger, Essien met the loose ball with a thunderous left-foot volley that left Valdes stranded as it ripped high past him and into the net off the bar.

Barcelona's response was predictably measured as they refused to stray from their trademark passing approach, but it failed to reap any rewards as Chelsea keeper Cech remained well protected by his defenders.

Indeed, it was Chelsea who had the better chances despite having less of the possession, with Valdes just beating Drogba to Lampard's long ball before diverting away the striker's angled free-kick with his knees.

Chelsea made the first of a series of penalty appeals when Malouda appeared to be hauled down by Alves inside the box, only for the referee to signal a free-kick just outside the area.

Drogba was the next to appeal when he was tugged back by Abidal, but Ovrebo ignored his claims - much to the obvious disgust of Chelsea's high-maintenance striker.

The home side, predictably, came under pressure in the opening exchanges after the break, but they broke away to great effect, only to see Drogba waste a perfect chance to double their lead.

Anelka set him up 12 yards out, but after cutting inside Pique, Drogba shot against the legs of Valdes, with Malouda striking the rebound into the side-netting.

Drogba was again left appealing in vain for a penalty after colliding with Yaya Toure, but Barcelona's giant midfield man looked to have just got a touch on the ball.

Referee Ovrebo was on the receiving end of Barcelona's anger after 65 minutes when he sent off defender Abidal after what only appeared to be an unwitting tangle of legs with Anelka.

And Ovrebo was in action again 10 minutes from time when Pique handled under pressure from Anelka, but once again the referee was in no mood to point to the spot.

As the game entered the final minutes of stoppage time, the one moment of magic Chelsea feared from this gifted Barcelona side arrived to steal their dreams of a second successive final away from them at the last gasp.

Essien sliced his clearance and the ball came to Iniesta, who sent a rising 20-yard drive past Cech into the top corner to spark chaotic scenes on the touchline.

More drama was to follow when Chelsea's players appealed one last time for a penalty when Michael Ballack's volley appeared to strike Samuel Eto'o's arm - and the German midfielder chased the referee back up the pitch to express his fury when the spot-kick never came.

And when the final whistle blew, Drogba marched on to direct his tirade at referee Ovrebo - it was an act that only increased the sense of anger and injustice on the air on a night of bitter disappointment for Chelsea.



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Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Lampard, Essien, Ballack, Anelka, Drogba (Belletti 72), Malouda.
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Ivanovic, Di Santo, Mikel, Kalou, Mancienne.

Booked: Essien, Alex, Ballack.

Goals: Essien 9.

Barcelona: Valdes, Dani Alves, Toure Yaya, Pique, Abidal, Busquets (Bojan 85), Xavi, Keita, Messi, Eto'o (Sylvinho 90), Iniesta (Gudjohnsen 90).
Subs Not Used: Pinto, Caceres, Hleb, Pedrito.

Sent Off: Abidal (66).

Booked: Dani Alves, Eto'o.

Goals: Iniesta 90.

Att: 37,857

Ref: Tom Ovrebo (Norway).

[Rasputin]

Barcelona outclass Man Utd to win 2-0 and lift the Champions League trophy at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8068355.stm

[Rasputin]

Spain now have 12 European Cups, to England's 11. That is Barcelona's third triumph in Europe's biggest club competition, Real Madrid have the other nine.

"Pep Guardiola is standing alone in front of the Barcelona fans raising the trophy. A true son of the club and an inspired appointment. Manchester United's players have left the stage to Barcelona and their supporters.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side can be proud of their efforts this season, but tonight they had to give best to the more accomplished team. Might be a long job getting all the Barcelona supporters out of the Stadio Olimpico tonight. Great scenes and they deserve to enjoy this victory."

[Rasputin]

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.

Manager 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 opportunities 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 playmaker 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 was 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 the 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 incursion 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.

In 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 creator with a cross that looked too high for Messi, but he expertly soared to 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.

Barcelona: Valdes, Puyol, Toure Yaya, Pique, Sylvinho, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta (Pedrito 90), Messi, Eto'o, Henry (Keita 72).

Subs Not Used: Pinto, Caceres, Muniesa, Gudjohnsen, Bojan.

Booked: Pique.

Goals: Eto'o 10, Messi 70.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Anderson (Tevez 46), Carrick, Giggs (Scholes 75), Park (Berbatov 66), Ronaldo, Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Rafael Da Silva, Evans, Nani.

Booked: Ronaldo, Scholes, Vidic.

Att: 72,700

Ref: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland).

Barcelona's Andres Iniesta 8.39 (on 90 minutes).