Barca masterclass seals
trophy
For the second time in three years, brilliant Barcelona denied Manchester
United Champions League glory with a sensational performance at
Wembley.
Although United could take some small consolation from the knowledge
they were more effective than that 2009 letdown in Rome and even
managed to level Pedro's first-half strike through Wayne Rooney,
once again the better team won.
On the ground where the Catalans lifted their first European
Cup, Lionel Messi also laid his personal ghost to rest, scoring
his first goal for Barcelona on English soil, belting home what
proved to be the winner nine minutes into the second half.
David Villa curled home an equally splendid third with just over
20 minutes to go to set the seal on Barcelona's fourth Champions
League win and end all arguments about their right to be regarded
among the truly great teams that have ever played the game.
It was a gut-wrenching night for United manager Sir Alex Ferguson,
who started it by making one of those brave decisions for which
he is so renowned. Not even finding a place on the bench for his
record signing and top scorer, Dimitar Berbatov, was a big call.
United could not have made a better start either. Park Ji-sung
set the tone, nipping in to whip the ball away from Dani Alves.
Just as Jack Wilshere advised, the white shirts got right in Barcelona's
faces, pressing them, allowing no room for them to settle.
Unlike two years ago, Ferguson's team did not create a clear-cut
chance. However, former Red Devil Gerard Pique was very fortunate
to get away with a back pass to Victor Valdes, when his goalkeeper
was much closer than he realised. With Javier Hernandez closing
in, Valdes scrambled the ball away.
It was the template United needed to follow. To have done it
for the entire 90 minutes would have required additional lung
capacity. And once Barcelona got into their stride, they were
relentless.
For once Ryan Giggs looked every one of those 37 years as Xavi
and Andres Iniesta flashed around him, holes appearing everywhere.
Pedro prodded wide at the near post. Villa hit exactly the same
point in the advertising hoarding with a 20-yard effort that had
Edwin van der Sar scrambling.
If there was one consolation, other than Nemanja Vidic's colossal
performance at the heart of their defence, it was that United
had prevented Messi running at them from deep.
Unfortunately, he soon started doing it, his close control near-perfect,
as was a Vidic lunge to stop the world's best player as he was
about to break clean through.
It was just a matter of time. Another hole for Xavi to chase
into. He looked. He looked again. He rolled the ball to Pedro,
who beat Van der Sar with ease.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola sat back, sensing United would
not be able to respond. His opposite number urged more from his
team, particularly Antonio Valencia.
The Ecuador wide man was not at his best. However, it was Rooney
who needed a performance on the biggest stage, having failed so
miserably at the World Cup.
And it was Rooney who delivered at the end of a move which saw
the Premier League champions carve Barcelona open with their own
game.
A quick pass from Fabio to Rooney, to Michael Carrick, to Rooney,
to Giggs, to Rooney, into the corner from 15 yards. Simple. Football
is never that. Not at this level, and not when Messi is involved.
You had to feel sorry for United. Barcelona were back into their
rhythm almost immediately after the break, the concentration required
to always be in the right place at the right time phenomenal.
After more stoic defending, Iniesta rolled a pass to the Argentinian,
a worthy heir to Diego Maradona.
Offered a couple of yards to dart into, he did exactly that,
then beat Van der Sar with a 20-yard shot that required barely
any back lift, the veteran Dutchman unable to get down to it.
Vidic was on hand to hack away when Van der Sar spilled Messi's
next effort, although, playing in his fifth final, the former
Ajax man redeemed himself when he brilliantly turned away a Xavi
shot that would have ripped away any hope.
By introducing Nani for Fabio and pushing Valencia to full-back,
the United boss was attempting to push Barcelona towards their
own goal. Before the strategy could be applied, Nani committed
suicide by gifting the ball to Messi by the touchline.
In attempting to atone for his error, the winger made it worse.
Sergio Busquets quickly laid the ball off to Villa, who took one
touch before curling a sublime shot into the top corner. From
that hammer blow, there was no way back.
MATCH SUMMARY
Man of the Match - Xavi: It's tempting to give it to Man United
keeper Edwin van de Sar for a making a string of saves in his
last match before retiring but, predictably, it has to go to Xavi.
The midfield maestro stepped up to captain his team in the absence
of Carles Puyol and laid on the all important first goal for Pedro
with a sublime pass. After a slow start he maintained that level
for the rest of the match, keeping United's defence bamboozled
while Messi and Villa wreaked havoc.
Barcelona verdict: Just like in Rome two years ago, Barca started
slowly but after ten minutes they settled down and after 20 minutes
it was obvious they were a class above United. A makeshift back
four were rarely troubled due to the trademark pressing by the
players in front of them and, when they had the ball, the Catalans
proved to be unstoppable. They cut through the United midfield
like it wasn't there and peppered Van der Sar's goal for the rest
of the match.
Man Utd verdict: They tried as hard as they could, but gave the
ball away too cheaply on too many occasions and as a result couldn't
put Barca under pressure. United had one shot on target and that
was the goal for Wayne Rooney. Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand
both made some great tackles and Van der Sar made a string of
great saves, but it still wasn't enough as their team-mates couldn't
carry a threat in attack.
Could do better - Ryan Giggs: He is a man in form but he struggled
at Wembley and was shifted out to the wing when United's central
midfield was overrun and was then skinned by Dani Alves. But his
worst moment came when he stopped to appeal for a penalty when
he still had possession of the ball in the Barcelona area.
Stat attack: Barcelona may only have won a record equalling 11th
European trophy tonight, but they have won more League and European
Cup doubles than any other team in history.
