• Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United, Champions League final

Brilliant Barcelona outclass United

ESPN staff
May 28, 2011
Lionel Messi celebrates firing Barcelona ahead © Getty Images
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Barcelona v Manchester United gallery

Barcelona lived up to all the hype as a sizzling display of attacking football secured them Champions League glory with a 3-1 win over Manchester United.

Pep Guardiola's side have been tagged the greatest of all time. It is tough to compare generations, but there is no doubt they are the greatest of this era as they gave a demonstration in attacking football.

Having been pegged back by a Wayne Rooney stunner following Pedro's opener, the Liga champions turned on the style in the second half. Lionel Messi fired Barca ahead for the second time in the match with a powerful drive before David Villa snuffed out any threat of a counter thrust from United with a glorious strike.

United proved they are the best side in England by winning the Premier League by nine points, but it is likely to be some time before they will be classed as Europe's top dogs as this Barca side look set to dominate for years to come.

United made the expected high-octane start, with their midfield swarming around Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Messi. A Barcelona defence without Carles Puyol looked shaky early on and were thankful to Victor Valdes who raced off his line to clear ahead of a rampaging Rooney.

Gerard Pique and Valdes got their wires crossed and almost gifted a chance to United, but Barca eased themselves into the game. Messi made a couple of bright bursts into the box and it took fine tackles from Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic to snuff out the danger.

The opening goal should have arrived on 15 minutes as Xavi flicked a glorious cross into the path of Pedro. The Barca forward dashed ahead of a static Fabio but somehow stabled the ball wide.

Villa went close on a couple of occasions, firstly shooting wide and secondly forcing a low save out of Edwin van der Sar.

Barca's pressure looked sure to tell and the breakthrough came on 27 minutes. Xavi was afforded space to advance and he picked out an exquisite pass with the outside of his right foot. It found its intended target to perfection and Pedro did not pass up the chance, as he stroked the ball beyond Van der Sar.

Wayne Rooney fires the ball beyond Victor Valdes © Getty Images
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If United were rocked, it did not take them long to clear their heads as within seven minutes they were level. Rooney exchanged passes with Giggs and struck the ball crisply beyond Valdes.

The threat of Barcelona was never far away and Messi passed up a fantastic chance moments before the interval. The world player of the year skipped clear from midfield and flicked the ball to Villa. The ball was stroked across the six-yard box into the path of Messi but he somehow failed to make any contact.

Van der Sar is heading into retirement and he proved how much he will be missed with a stunning save to deny Dani Alves. The full back galloped onto a ball and struck his shot crisply but the Dutch keeper stuck out a long limb to make the save.

But as good as Van der Sar is, he could do nothing about Messi's first goal in England. That stat has long been discussed, so if you are going to break it you might as well do it in style. The forward picked the ball up 30 yards from goal, skipped forward and barely broke stride in striking a swerving, low rocket that flashed into the net in the blink of an eye.

United came under further pressure, with Van der Sar saving from Messi before making an even better stop, diving at full length to his right, to keep out an effort from Xavi.

Pep Guardiola's side surrendered the lead once, they weren't likely to do it a second time. After peppering Van der Sar for what seemed like an age, the ball fell to Villa on the edge of the box and he took one touch before curling a stunning shot into the top corner.

To their credit, United continued to attack and Valdes had to be alert to race off his line and then saw a Nani shot drift wide, but they never looked like denying Barcelona the big European prize.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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