Barcelona completed an incredible treble of domestic league and cup and now Europe's top club after beating defending champions Manchester United 2-0 in the Champions League final in Rome's Stadio Olimpico.
United started brightly and they almost scored in the opening minute when Víctor Valdés failed to hold a stinging Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick and, just as Park Ji-Sung prepared to bury the rebound, former United defender Gerard Piqué made a superb challenge to deny the South Korean.
Then, out of nowhere, United conceded completely against the run of play.
Andrés Iniesta slipped a pass to Samuel Eto'o on the right. The Cameroon striker cut inside Nemanja Vidić far too easily and he prodded the ball past Edwin van der Sar.
Argentine star Lionel Messi then fizzed one left-foot shot just over from 20 yards.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson knew he had to change his tactics and he introduced Carlos Tévez at the interval in place of Anderson.
But Tévez's first act was to fell Iniesta just outside the area, giving a real for Barcelona to extend their lead. And United breathed a sigh of relief as Xavi smashed his free-kick of van der Sar's post.
The Catalans though did not have long to wait for their second.
Xavi floated a deep cross over the head of Rio Ferdinand and there was the smallest man on view, a 5ft 7in Messi, rising unmarked to head home from eight yards.
Barcelona could have added more but van der Sar saved twice from Carles Puyol.
Lineups:
Manchester United: Edwin van der Sar; John O'Shea, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidić, Patrice Evra; Anderson (Carlos Tévez 46), Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs (Paul Scholes 75); Park Ji-Sung (Dimitar Berbatov 66), Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Carles Puyol, Yaya Touré, Gerard Piqué, Sylvinho; Xavi, Sergio Busquets, Andrés Iniesta (Pedrito 90); Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o, Thierry Henry (Seydou Keita 72)
Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)
Statistics:
Barcelona v Man United goal & highlights
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United started brightly and they almost scored in the opening minute when Víctor Valdés failed to hold a stinging Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick and, just as Park Ji-Sung prepared to bury the rebound, former United defender Gerard Piqué made a superb challenge to deny the South Korean.
Then, out of nowhere, United conceded completely against the run of play.
Andrés Iniesta slipped a pass to Samuel Eto'o on the right. The Cameroon striker cut inside Nemanja Vidić far too easily and he prodded the ball past Edwin van der Sar.
Argentine star Lionel Messi then fizzed one left-foot shot just over from 20 yards.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson knew he had to change his tactics and he introduced Carlos Tévez at the interval in place of Anderson.
But Tévez's first act was to fell Iniesta just outside the area, giving a real for Barcelona to extend their lead. And United breathed a sigh of relief as Xavi smashed his free-kick of van der Sar's post.
The Catalans though did not have long to wait for their second.
Xavi floated a deep cross over the head of Rio Ferdinand and there was the smallest man on view, a 5ft 7in Messi, rising unmarked to head home from eight yards.
Barcelona could have added more but van der Sar saved twice from Carles Puyol.
Lineups:
Manchester United: Edwin van der Sar; John O'Shea, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidić, Patrice Evra; Anderson (Carlos Tévez 46), Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs (Paul Scholes 75); Park Ji-Sung (Dimitar Berbatov 66), Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Carles Puyol, Yaya Touré, Gerard Piqué, Sylvinho; Xavi, Sergio Busquets, Andrés Iniesta (Pedrito 90); Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o, Thierry Henry (Seydou Keita 72)
Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)
| 2 - 0 |
| ||||||
| Samuel Eto'o 10 | ||||||||
| Lionel Messi 70 |
Statistics:
| Shots on target : | 7 | - | 2 |
| Shots off target : | 4 | - | 7 |
| Ball possession (%) : | 53 | - | 47 |
| Corner kicks : | 4 | - | 7 |
| Offsides : | 1 | - | 5 |
| Fouls : | 7 | - | 10 |
| Yellow cards : | 1 | - | 3 |
| Red cards : | 0 | - | 0 |
Barcelona v Man United goal & highlights
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