Rio: Goals preventable

Rio Ferdinand: "At 1-1 we genuinely thought we could win the game. But we got hit with a bit of a sucker punch. A couple of their goals were preventable, but you've got to give credit when it's due. We had a gameplan today that we thought could beat them. Tonight, it just wasn't to be."

Nemanja Vidic: "When you come to the final, you want to win. We didn't win today, but we have to say tonight that Barcelona played some good football. They had more chances than we did. And they were better than us tonight."

Edwin van der Sar: "We made one or two mistakes, and they punish you. It was one game too many for us I think. It's not nice to lose of course but they had the better chances. I don't know if I could have prevented (Lionel) Messi's goal. I thought I was positioned well but I think (David) Villa was blocking my sight. Messi tends to curl it to the far post and he just clipped it around Villa. They are very good. We started well in the first 15 minutes, same as we did (against Barca in the 2009 final in) in Rome, and you just have to try and score the first goal but we didn't do thatIt's not always given that your career ends on a good note but I thank everybody for the memories and we'll see each other again."

Michael Owen: "The lads are gutted but we have no complaints. Barcelona are an exceptional team and are worthy champions. We still had a great season."

David Villa: "I dedicate the goal to my whole family, my wife, my daughters, and maybe especially to two nieces. Very happy with the goal."

Javier Mascherano: "I think it was a really good game played by Barcelona. We played the final like we played all season. We are very happy because we played the way we know."

Dani Alves: "Winning this Cup again is wonderful. Manchester United were very classy in defeat, they're an example."

Eurosport

RPT-Soccer-Guardiola 'privileged' to coach Barca's invincibles

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, back celebrating at Wembley almost two decades after his first taste of European Cup success, said he felt privileged to coach matchwinners Lionel Messi and Xavi.

Guardiola was part of the team that helped Barcelona win the European Cup for the first time at the old Wembley in 1992.

On Saturday he returned to mastermind a 3-1 triumph over Manchester United that earned him his second Champions League as coach, though he himself refused to take much of the credit.

"I feel privileged to have these players," Guardiola said after goals from Pedro, Messi and David Villa gave the Catalans a second Champions League final win over United in three seasons.

"I don't feel like the boss of them. So many people have worked so hard to achieve this and I congratulate everyone."

Guardiola confirmed that he would stay on as coach for at least one more season, but as ever refused to commit himself any further.

While praising man-of-the-match Messi, who he described as "unique, a one-off", Guardiola said the most satisfying part of the night was seeing how much has team had improved from two years ago in Rome, when they beat United 2-0.

"When I looked again at how we'd played in Rome I wasn't that impressed," the perfectionist Guardiola said.

"But the match served its purpose. We trained harder and tonight we had more chances and used them better."

Looking to the future, Guardiola said he would look within himself to find motivation to continue.

"The challenge has to come from inside myself," Guardiola said. "I'm so happy to be here as a coach of these guys.

"I intend to continue one more year and we'll see. When the passion of the night has gone I'll go home, rest a bit and come back."

Guardiola's Barcelona were praised by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson as the best side he had come up against in his 25 years of management.

Asked how he would rate his own side against the great teams of the past, Guardiola was his usual circumspect self.

"It's impossible to say as I didn't see the Madrid of Di Stefano, the Santos of Pele or the Ajax of Cruyff," he said.

"I would just like people to remember us a team that are enjoyable to watch."

Brilliant Barca blow United away

Goals from Pedro, Lionel Messi and David Villapunctuated a mesmeric team display as the Catalan side lifted club football's biggest prize for the fourth time.

Wayne Rooney fired a superb first-half equaliser for United, cancelling out Pedro's opener, but the Premier League champions were eventually blown away by superior opponents.

Edwin van der Sar's final game before retirement ended in disappointment, with the Dutchman at fault for letting Messi's low strike scuttle past him early in the second half.

And Sir Alex Ferguson was unable to slow the Spanish team's super-slick passing, suffering a second final defeat to them within three years.

This repeat of the 2009 final, which Barca won 2-0, produced a similarly one-sided outcome and cemented Pep Guardiola's team's place among the great club sides.

Messi took his goal tally to 100 in the last two seasons, and produced yet another demonstration of skill, strength and devastating finishing.

Eric Abidal started at left-back after making a remarkable recovery from surgery on a liver tumour in March - in a wonderful touch, he was handed the captain's armband at the end and allowed to lift the triophy.

However, the Catalans' captain Carles Puyol - struggling with injury - was consigned to the bench with the diminutiveJavier Mascherano playing centre-back.

Ferguson fielded the same starting XI that won 2-0 away to Schalke in the semi-final first leg, but sprung a surprise by leaving Dimitar Berbatov out of the squad altogether.

As they did two years ago, United started positively, passing with intent and closing down. Then, just as in Rome, Barca took control of the game.

Xavi completed his first 40 passes before any United player had reached double figures, and the Liga champions' tiki-taka started to tell - especially in conjunction with the remarkable pressing job on the rare occasions Barca gave the ball away.

Rio Ferdinand had to slide in accurately on Villa as he prepared to pull the trigger, while his defensive partner Nemanja Vidic was equally precise when nicking the ball off the brilliant Messi.

Pedro might have opened the scoring after a quarter of an hour, and Villa fired two sighters, but there was no reprieve on 27 minutes when Xavi stabbed a majestic pass to Pedro in space on the right, and the finish was low past Van der Sar.

United were on the ropes, but Rooney responded superbly. After a brilliant one-two with Michael Carrick, he raced inside from the right and exchanged passes with Ryan Giggs - who looked marginally offside - before finishing into the top-left corner.

A brilliant goal from a player sometimes accused of going missing on the big occasions - though they hardly deserved it, United were level.

Barcelona do not get fazed easily, and pressed on undeterred - they might have re-taken the lead just before the break when the sliding Messi just failed to meet a Villa centre.

Messi blasted Barca back in front on 54 minutes with a low shot from the edge of the box. Van der Sar was out of position and will be disappointed to have let through a shot that did not find the corner.

By now, United were under siege, struggling to withstand wave after wave of attacks, with Messi absolutely rampant.

The coup de grace came just over 20 minutes from time, when Messi carried the ball into the box. United seemed to have the situation under control, but when recently introduced substitute Nani miscontrolled, Villa curled a beautiful shot into the top right corner.

Barca are so good at keeping the ball, there was no way back. Rooney continued to toil, but with Giggs and Javier Hernandez particularly quiet, they never looked like making their opponents sweat.

For a Barcelona side packed with players in their early and mi-20s, immortality beckons. On this form, it could be years before anyone knocks them off their perch.

Eurosport

Ferguson: United mesmerised by Messi

Like many before them, United had no answer to the wonderful passing of the players who did so much to help Spain become world and European champions and seemed powerless to get a grip on Messi as he danced through their defence almost at will.

"They do mesmerise you with their passing," Ferguson told a news conference in the bowels of Wembley to the background accompaniment of departing Barcelona fans celebrating their third European title in six years.

"We never really controlled Messi, but many people have said that. We never really closed the midfield well enough to counter them.

"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."

United actually started well but, just as they did when they lost the 2009 final to Barcelona in Rome, they quickly fell away.

Pedro put the Spaniards ahead after 27 minutes but there was a spark of hope for United when Wayne Rooney fashioned an excellent equaliser seven minutes later.

"When we got the lifeline I expected us to do better in the second half, but it wasn't to be," said Ferguson, whose hopes were blown away by second-half goals from Messi and David Villa.

"Nobody's given us a hiding like that but they deserve it because they play the right way and they enjoy their football."

Ferguson has led United to three Champions League finals in four years, winning in 2008 having also triumphed in 1999, and said he was now facing up to the task of finding a way to compete with Barcelona for the ultimate club honour.

"It's not easy but that's the challenge, we shouldn't be afraid of that," he said.

"The challenge is always to improve yourselves, to build your team, I think we have some very good players, we'll mull it over in the summer.

"We've been consistent in Europe in the last few years but maybe this might be the same sort of stepping stone as when they beat us 4-0 a few years ago," he added in reference to the group-stage Nou Camp drubbing in 1994.

"Great teams do go in cycles and the cycle they are in at the moment is the best in Europe.

"How long it lasts and whether they can replace that team, they certainly have the philosophy ... it's always difficult to say that you can find players like Xavi, (Andres) Iniesta and Messi, probably not, but they are enjoying the moment.

"In my time as a manager I'd say yes, they are the best team I've faced."

Reuters

Players check in to new hotel

he volcanic ash threat over Europe meant that Barça travelled to London ahead of schedule and they spent the extra time at The Grove in Hertfordshire, but today they have returned to the original schedule and have moved to the Wyndham Gran Hotel in Chelsea. 

Training session at Colney 
The players made the trip to their new hotel after training at Arsenal’s London Colney facilities this morning and will stay at the Wyndham until Sunday. 

Friday training at Wembley 
On Friday evening, both teams will train on the Wembley turf. United will train first, at 17.30, with Sir Alex Ferguson due to hold a press conference at 16.45. Barça will then have their own training session at 19.00 (local time), with Pep Guardiola, Víctor Valdés and Carles Puyol facing the press at 18.15.

Giggs strives to stay calm in the heart of a storm

If anyone can put off-field problems out of his mind and concentrate solely on the huge task of beating Barcelona at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, it is Manchester United veteran Ryan Giggs.

Instead of being allowed to prepare for a fourth Champions League final in relative peace, the 37-year-old has endured a tsunami of publicity because of his role in trying to prevent the world's media from exposing an extra-marital affair.

Giggs's case has become a cause celebre with his name mentioned in parliament and his photo on every front page. He was identified millions of times on the social netowrking platform Twitter.

His vast experience and his acknowledged calmn and maturity, built over the last 20 years and nearly 900 matches playing for his only club, cannot be under-estimated.

There is little doubt he will start on Saturday and every reason to believe that, if all goes according to plan for United, he will make a major contribution to their success.

He may have his troubles off the field now, but ever since he made his debut as a 17-year-old nearly 20 years ago, it has been glory, glory nearly all the way.

Remarkably, he was knocking on the first team door when Manchester United met Barcelona in the now defunct European Cup Winners Cup final in 1991 when United won 2-1 with two Mark Hughes goals in Rotterdam.

Naturally disappointed to miss out then, he has more than made up since, overtaking Bobby Charlton's United appearance record and become the most decorated footballer in the history of the English game.

After Giggs had set United on their way to their semi-final victory over Schalke 04 last month, United manager Ferguson, for the umpteenth time, was asked about the Welshman's contribution.

"It's strange because Ryan's peak years seem to have lasted so long," mused the Scot, who has seen key players come and go at Old Trafford while Giggs has remained a fixture.

"You would think, at 37, he would be showing signs of waning but I don't see any evidence of that.

"We look after him in terms of rest before games but when he gets that freshness he doesn't show any sign of fatiguing at all. He is an amazing man."

REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTION

He was an amazing boy when Ferguson first heard about his exploits and personally visited his parents' home on Giggs' 14th birthday clutching a signing-on form.

He turned professional on his 17th birthday in November 1991 and made his debut four months later.

Last week he picked up his 12th Premier League winners' medal to go with four FA Cups, four League Cups and two triumphs in the Champions League.

A key member of the 1999 treble-winning team, when his iconic solo goal won the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal, it was also Giggs who stroked home the decisive penalty in the 2008 Champions League final against Chelsea.

Those two moments encapsulate his development as a player as Giggs has managed against all odds to not only keep up with a game growing faster by the year and peopled by seemingly ever fitter players.

The youthful Giggs was a beautifully balanced left winger with brilliant control who could pass defenders inside and out with the drop of a shoulder.

Now he has become a wise old man of the game. He is more at home in central midfield where his eye for space, instinctive passing ability and vast experience make him the focal point of the team and where a penalty shoot-out in a Moscow deluge to win the Champions League is taken in his stride.

His remarkable contribution to the game was recognised when he was named player's player of the year in 2009 as well as being voted the country's BBC sports personality of the year.

Those awards have lost a little lustre since the emergence of the off-field issues that have dented his reputation as one of the game's leading role models.

However, when he runs out at Wembley on Saturday night to make his 876th appearance for his only club there is no gagging order in the world that could silence the welcome he is guaranteed from the United fans forever grateful for what he has done for them for almost 20 years.

Eurosport

Champions League final: Memories are made of this

Barcelona and Manchester United are each bidding for a fourth Champions League success on Saturday night at Wembley. Both clubs have special memories from the world's biggest club competition, but have come across each other at various times in various European tournaments. We have trawled through the history books to study a few of the images that have made these clubs what they are today. 

Hungarian Kassai to referee Champions League final

Hungarian Viktor Kassai will referee Saturday's Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium, UEFA said in a statement on Thursday.

The 35-year-old is an experienced official, haven taken charge of more than 60 UEFA fixtures since making his international debut in 2001.

He has refereed English champions Manchester United once in the tournament already this season during their 1-0 away victory at Valencia in the group stages.

Kassai, who will be assisted by compatriots Gabor Eros and Gyorgy Ring, also took charge of four games at last year'sWorld Cup in South Africa.

Reuters

Evra aims to learn lessons of Rome

Patrice Evra has claimed Manchester United paid the price for over-confidence in their Champions League final defeat to Barcelona two years ago.

Saturday's Wembley rematch between the European heavyweights has been depicted by some as a mismatch.

Gary Lineker is not alone in believing Barcelona's technical brilliance far outshines United's work ethic and barring any unforeseen developments, the Catalans will emerge victorious.

"Rome was a bad feeling," said Evra. "I am honest. I was confident in Italy. Maybe too confident. I thought we were going to win.

"Everyone says Barcelona are the best team in the world now. I respect that.

"But two years ago everyone said we were going to beat Barcelona easily in Rome. Maybe the opposite will happen this time."

Eurosport

Busquets: Barca's ever-willing villain

Ahead of Saturday's Champions League final, the pre-match hype is all built around the stars that will be on display.

Sponsors, broadcasters and UEFA themselves plan on making a pretty penny off the backs of the world's best player, Lionel Messi, and fellow Ballon d'Or nominees Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta rocking up at Wembley. And that David Villa isn't bad either.  For Manchester United's part, they will have big names like Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs in their ranks. An estimated audience of 100 million across Europe will tune in to see the best the game has to offer.

While the household names may be the ones who the cameras will be drawn towards, there are others whose graft in a supporting role will be components just as vital in making the match the final we all hope it will be.

Darren Fletcher could prove vital to United's chances of stopping Barca's metronomic midfield ticking over so smoothly. The Scot missed the 2009 final defeat to the same side in Rome, an absence which served to highlight his stoic efforts which often largely slip under the radar.

Fletcher has missed much of the last few months through illness, but played the full 90 minutes against Blackpool on the final day of the Premier League last weekend. His return could hardly be better timed.

If Fletcher is appreciated for his gutsy efforts as the strong, silent type in the heart of the United team, the view of his opposite number could not be more different.

Carles Busquets will forever be part of Barca's history for the decade he spent at the club as their reserve goalkeeper. His son and current Barca midfielder, Sergio, is infamous for using his hands in different ways.

The 22-year-old's role as the villain among Barca's virtuous heroes was inextricably cast when he went down clutching his face after the slightest of contact by Internazionale's Thiago Motta in last season's semi-final.  Busquets was caught on camera peeking through his fingers to see if his efforts in getting Motta sent off had worked. They had, but the rest of the world saw his concealed sneers as a disgrace.

That act was trumped in this year's semi-final when Real Madrid released slow-motion footage of him covering his mouth as he directed a few choice words at Marcelo. Real alleged that it was racist abuse aimed at their Brazilian full-back and made a complaint to UEFA, but the case was rejected.

The old saying goes that there cannot be true goodness without the existence of evil. While Barca's famed La Masia academy churns out a succession of supremely talented players, most of who are seen as paragons of virtue worthy of the 'Mes Que Un Club' legend the Barca have built for themselves, Busquets is a true villain. It is not hard to imagine him peering from the shadows twirling his long, thin moustache while sporting a top hat and cape.

The Metropolitan Police's efforts in maintaining order around Wembley on Saturday have been boosted by the presence of spotters from their Catalan counterparts, who will be on the look-out for trouble-makers from their own patch. However, neither the Met nor the Mossos d'Esquadra will be able to do anything about the inciter-in-chief who will be on the pitch.

All of this would probably be a lot easier to digest if it were not for the fact that he is also a very good player. Xavi and Iniesta may rightly hog all the plaudits (Xavi's 1167 passes so far this season are already a Champions League record), but Busquets is no mug with the ball at his feet. It was not for nothing that he was chosen as the man to replace Marcos Senna at the base of Spain's midfield following victory at Euro 2008, and he went on to start all seven matches in La Furia Roja's glorious World Cup campaign last summer.

He may not get forward very often, but when he does he knows where the net is, as he proved by netting a match-clinching third goal at Athletic Bilbao earlier in the season with a ruthless finish lashed into the top corner. Athletic themselves must see Busquets as something of a heel - his only other goal in La Liga came against them two years ago.

There is not much British football fans detest more than cheating in the game, while Spanish supporters may view the kind of leg-breaking tackles which routinely fly in during Premier League games as more of a problem than simply using your cunning to get one over an opponent.

Either way, Busquets is sure to get a hostile reception from the British contingent at Wembley on Saturday, even if he does little to provoke it in that match alone. Still, he will revel in such an atmosphere, and you wouldn't bet against him responding with a devious act that would wind the crowd up even more.

Every great story needs a villain, and if Saturday's final is to be such a story then Busquets is the perfect man to fill that role.

- - -

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I had a meeting with Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias and club secretary Lee Charnley and they have indicated Joey will not be offered a new contract. Joey will continue to be a Newcastle player next season and then he will leave on a free transfer at the end of his contract. Joey would have loved to have extended his stay at Newcastle, but unfortunately it is not to be. Joey has loved his time at Newcastle and nothing will change his commitment for the club next season." - Joey Barton's agent Willie McKay reveals that his client will be leaving St James' Park at the end of next season. What are Newcastle thinking? After all, isn't he the best midfielder in England? Well, that's what Barton himself claimed not so long ago, anyway.

FOREIGN VIEW: "The experience of this season has shown the need for a new organisational structure giving authority to the coach and avoiding dysfunctions with the directorate general. I do not want to hide the pain I feel at the exit of Jorge Valdano, but my feelings cannot be a reason for not taking the necessary decisions. There were two people filling a sporting role between whom there was no understanding." - Real Madrid president Florentino Perez announces the departure of director general Jorge Valdano, who had been at loggerheads with manager Jose Mourinho pretty much since the Portuguese arrived last summer. Strike one for Jose!

COMING UP: Champions League final build-up continues today, with all the latest news broken via our live news ticker. Armchair Pundit Alex Chick will also be weighing in with his two pennies' worth on the Wembley clash and we will be 

taking a look at some of the players who have graced this fixture in the past.

A look back at Wembley's five European Cup finals

Wembley Stadium will stage the European Cup/Champions League final for a record extending sixth time on Saturday when Barcelona play Manchester United.

No other stadium has staged as many as its five finals, all of which were played at the original Wembley with Saturday's the first there since it reopened after being rebuilt in 2007.

The previous finals were:

MAY 22 1963: AC MILAN 2 BENFICA 1

AC Milan became the first Italian club to lift the European Cup and ended Benfica's hopes of a hat-trick of trophies in front of 45,000 in a match played on a Wednesday afternoon.

Eusebio, who had scored Benfica's last two goals in their 5-3 win over Real Madrid, gave his side the lead after 18 minutes but Jose Altafini struck twice in the second half to give Milan victory. The Italians were skippered by Cesare Maldini, the father of future Milan legend Paolo.

MAY 29 1968: MANCHESTER UNITED 4 BENFICA 1

Ten years after his team were decimated by the Munich air disaster, Matt Busby led Manchester United to their first European Cup success and again Benfica lost at Wembley.

Munich survivor Bobby Charlton scored twice, George Best slotted home a superb solo effort and Brian Kidd claimed the other goal on his 19th birthday as United, in an all-blue strip, earned a memorable extra-time success.

JUNE 2 1971: AJAX AMSTERDAM 2 PANATHINAIKOS 0

Ajax's domination of Europe under Johan Cruyff began when they won the first of their hat-trick of titles against Panathinaikos. the unlikely finalists from Greece whose manager Ferenc Puskas was at the heart of Real Madrid's domination of the competition more than a decade earlier.

Dick Van Dijk scored after five minutes and Arie Haan struck three minutes from time as Rinus Michels guided Ajax to victory.

MAY 10 1978: LIVERPOOL 1 CLUB BRUGES 0

Kenny Dalglish, who had made his debut for Liverpool at Wembley in the Charity Shield against Manchester United the previous August, sealed a glorious first season at the club with the winner against Bruges as Bob Paisley coached Liverpool to successive European Cup triumphs.

Dalglish had a tough act to follow, succeeding fans' favourite Kevin Keegan who had inspired Liverpool to their first European Cup success the previous year before leaving for SV Hamburg. Thirty-three years on, Dalglish is still at the Merseyside club, in his second spell as manager.

May 20 1992: BARCELONA 1 SAMPDORIA 0

Unlike arch-rivals Real Madrid, Barcelona failed to make a real impact on the European Cup with defeats in 1961 and 1986 all they had for their efforts until Ronald Koeman blasted home an unstoppable extra-time shot after a quick Hristo Stoichkov freekick against Sampdoria to send the Barca fans into ecstasy.

Cruyff, who lifted the European Cup as an Ajax player at Wembley in 1971, managed the Barcelona side, which included current manager Pep Guardiola, to victory. Roberto Mancini, who managed Manchester City to victory in the FA Cup final at Wembley this month, captained the losing Sampdoria team.

reuters

Soccer-Barcelona and Manchester United previous finals

Barcelona and Manchester United have featured in 10 previous European Cup/Champions League finals between them including the 2009 final when Barcelona beat United 2-0 in Rome.

They also met each other in the 1991 European Cup Winners Cup final which Manchester United won 2-1.

A look at their previous appearances in the elite competition:

BARCELONA

Berne, May 31 1961: BENFICA 3 BARCELONA 2

Real Madrid ruled European soccer from the time the European Cup started in 1955, until their arch-rivals Barcelona beat them 4-3 on aggregate in a second-round tie in November 1960 to end their reign.

Barcelona, however, could not assume Real's mantle as European kings. Despite taking a 20th-minute lead against Benfica in the 1961 final through Sandor Kocsis, they ended up losing 3-2 to Benfica and had to wait more than three decades to emulate Real's success.

Seville, May 7 1986: STEAUA BUCHAREST 0, BARCELONA 0

(Steaua won 2-0 on penalties)

A quarter of a century on and this defeat still ranks as one of the greatest upsets in European soccer and one of the most galling for Barcelona fans to stomach.

Managed by Englishman Terry Venables, Barcelona had had a roller-coaster ride to the final, but had knocked out reigning champions Juventus along the way and were hot favourites to succeed in Seville.

However, Steaua goalkeeper Helmut Duckadam had the game of his life and Barcelona could not even find the net in the penalty shootout.

London, May 20 1992: BARCELONA 1 SAMPDORIA 0

Barcelona finally achieved the Holy Grail by lifting the European Cup in the last European Champions Cup final before the competition became known as the Champions League the following season.

Dutchman Ronald Koeman blasted home the only goal eight minutes from the end of extra time at Wembley Stadium as Barcelona lifted the yoke that had hung so heavily since Real Madrid won the first European Cup in 1956.

Athens, May 18 1994: AC MILAN 4 BARCELONA 0

Two years after being crowned European champions, Barcelona were humbled by Fabio Capello's AC Milan who overcame the absence of suspended defenders Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta, and ran riot in Athens, leading 3-0 after 47 minutes with two goals from Daniele Massaro and one from Dejan Savicevic.

Marcel Desailly put the outcome beyond doubt with Milan's fourth after 58 minutes as Johan Cruyff's "dream team" crashed to defeat.

Paris, May 17, 2006: BARCELONA 2 ARSENAL 1

With 14 minutes to play at the Stade de France, Arsenal, who had played most of the match with 10 men after goalkeeper Jens Lehmann became the first player sent off in a European Cup final, were on their way to becoming the first side from London to win the competition thanks to a first-half header from Sol Campbell.

Barcelona though, had been outstanding throughout the competition and clicked into top gear when Henrik Larsson came on as a substitute midway through the second half, creating the goals for Samuel Eto'o and Juliano Belletti, who squeezed in the winner from an acute angle nine minutes from time.

Rome, May 27 2009: BARCELONA 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 0

Barcelona became the first Spanish club to win a treble of the Champions League and the domestic double when they got the better of holders Manchester United at the Olympic Stadium after Eto'o's 10th-minute opener.

The match was billed as a showdown between Barca's Argentine genius Lionel Messi and United's Portuguese heroCristiano Ronaldo, and it was Messi who emerged victorious, scoring Barca's second with a rare header 20 minutes from time.

MANCHESTER UNITED

London, May 29 1968: MANCHESTER UNITED 4 BENFICA 1

One of European soccer's most famous matches ended in an emphatic 4-1 extra-time victory for United who were crowned kings of Europe just 10 years after the Munich air disaster all but wiped out the Busby Babes.

Manager Matt Busby spent the next decade re-building his club and his team and they emerged victorious with Bobby Charlton, who survived the plane crash, scoring twice, George Best once and Brian Kidd once, on his 19th birthday.

It could all have been very different though, if Eusebio, clean through on goal in the dying minutes, had not fired straight into the arms of United keeper, Alex Stepney.

Barcelona, May 26 1999: MANCHESTER UNITED 2 BAYERN MUNICH 1

United staged the greatest comeback in a European final as goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in stoppage time after the 90 minutes were up, gave them victory over Bayern who had led with a sixth-minute goal fromMario Basler.

UEFA president Lennart Johansson has told the story many times of how, when he left the VIP box to prepare to present the cup, Bayern were winning and by the time he got down in the lift to pitch level, he had missed both goals and United had won. It would have been Busby's 90th birthday.

Moscow, May 21 2008: MANCHESTER UNITED 1 CHELSEA 1

(Manchester United won 6-5 on penalties)

Another United win, another night of unrelenting drama in Moscow's rain-lashed Luzhniki Stadium as the first all-English final and the first in Russia ended in a stalemate after 120 minutes with Ronaldo and Frank Lampard both scoring in the first half.

The match was finally settled by penalties. After Ronaldo failed with his kick, Chelsea skipper John Terry only had to score his to give Chelsea victory, but he slipped as he shot and the ball went wide. Edwin Van der Sar finally sealed the victory when he saved Nicolas Anelka's effort.

Rome, May 27, 2009 BARCELONA 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 0

See above. Barcelona are looking for a repeat, United looking for revenge.

Eurosport