FC Barcelona have won their second Champions League trophy under Pep Guardiola, third in club history after crashing Manchester United 3-1 in an electrifying final on Wembley. Pedro opened the score for the Catalans after half an hour, while Rooney brought the equalizer seven minutes later. The first half went 1-1, though the Spaniards could have gone much better hadn’t they missed plenty of opportunities. As for the second half, it brought two astonishing goals for the same Guardiola side, which helped Messi and Co. to hoist their second trophy in the last three years.
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After a 15-minuite drought, FC Barcelona started to build the possession and create dozens of chances. Villa was the first to miss the opener in the 12th minute. The striker was picked in good position, but his finish was blocked by Ferdinand who rescued the English side from an early disaster. Five minutes later, Pedro mocked another golden opportunity for the Catalans following a superb action from the right he finished with a wide volley in what should have been a much difficult test for keeper Van der Sar, if not an opener.
Villa got his second chance in the 20th minute after creating some space on the edge of the box. Unfortunately, his dangerous shot went just wide, but their first goal was just a matter of time. The world champion Spaniard failed to convert another tricky shot the Dutch veteran held at the death. Pedro brought the first lead for the Catalans in the 27th minute with a superb finish into the bottom left hand corner, action which was directed by Xabi who fed the striker with an incredible pass through the United defense for an easy formality.
Barca’s joy wouldn’t last but seven minutes as Manchester leveled back through Rooney. A throwing error from left allowed the English side to develop a lovely action which involved Giggs and Rooney. The Welsh veteran picked the striker inside the box for an outstanding finish into the top right hand corner past keeper Valdez. Messi failed to bring back the lead for the Spaniards. Villa beat his mark on the left, but his cross couldn’t be connected with the Ballon d’Or who missed the ball inches with one minute left.
The second half looked much better for the Spaniards who reached more than 60 percent of possession. Barca’s strong start brought them two back-to-back chances one of which leading to a 2-1 advantage. Alves penetrated the United box in the 52nd minute, but Messi’s header went as far as Van der Sar who was kept busy throughout the entire 90 minutes. The Argentine then converted the second one thanks to a powerful shot under the Dutch keeper for a crazy celebration. That was also his first goal on the island. The tense led to two cautions. Alvez was the first to collect a yellow card for a tough challenge on Evra. A couple of minutes later Carrick tripped Iniesta to be given another yellow.
Barcelona looked even for more, missing four successive opportunities starting with Messi whose individual exquisite was denied by Van der Sar in the 63rd minute. The Argentine mocked another big chance just two minutes later. Alvez fed Messi inside the box but his finish was cleared at the death by Fabio whose intervention led to an injury and his departure. Xabi fished the ball just outside the box to fire a strong shot the Dutch tipped away into the corner in what could have been a third one for the ‘visitors’. Finally, Messi beat his mark to play Iniesta inside the area, but his strike was saved by the same 40-year-old.
Fabio departed for Nani in the 69th minute, while Guardiola’s side were drawing the victory. David Villa got his name on the goal sheet just one minute later. Messi started a long distance drive on the right the finish of which provided smart back-pass for a screamer into the top left hand corner. Villa’s shot stunned the Dutch keeper who failed to make the save despite his length.
Alex Ferguson, who had declared before the game that the game would include a lot of goals, was right, but – unfortunately – his side would score just once. Paul Scholes replaced Michael Carrick in the 76th minute, but Manchester looked almost the same. Frustration brought the English a second yellow card through Valencia who took down Iniesta in the 80th minute. Valdez followed him five minutes later for time-wasting as Barca were preparing to celebrate. David Villa, Dani Alvez and Pedro were all given the standing ovation chance as Pep Guardiola replaced them with a few minutes remaining. Thus, Seydou Keita, Carles Puyol and Afellay were sent in to mark their presence in an historical meeting.
“Nobody’s given us a hiding like that but they deserve it because they play the right way and they enjoy their football… We tried to play as near to the way we normally play. For instance, it’s alien to us to try to man-mark players. We tried to play as normally as we can. It wasn’t good enough on the night, we acknowledge that,” said Manchester United boss Ferguson after the clash. Patrice Evra declared he would like to meet FC Barcelona in the next season in order to prove the English side, who have clinched the Premier League title, aren’t dead.
The Spaniards success led to 80 arrests. Barcelona fans were fined by the London Police for public order offences and other damages.
Recent meetings and results between FC Barcelona and Manchester United
1983-84 Cup Winner Cup
FC Barcelona 2 – 0 Manchester United
Manchester United 3 – 0 FC Barcelona
1991 Cup Winners Cup Final
Manchester United 2 – 1 FC Barcelona
1994-95 Champions League group stage
FC Barcelona 4 – 0 Manchester United
Manchester United 2 – 2 FC Barcelona
1998099 Champions League group stage
Manchester United 3 – 3 FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona 3 – 3 Manchester United
2007-08 Champions League semi finals
FC Barcelona 0 – 0 Manchester United
Manchester United 1 – 0 FC Barcelona
2008-09 Champions League final
FC Barcelona 2 – 0 Manchester United
