Awesome Barcelona win Champions League final in style

Champions League final

Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United

Barcelona are the champions of Europe after a typical display of their champagne football against a helpless Manchester United at Wembley Stadium.

It all looked very positive from the get-go as United looked the more comfortable of the sides inside the first ten minutes, despite not carving out any real goal chance.

Did Barcelona have the jitters? Were they even going to come out of their shells? Those questions were soon answered as they found their stride in midfield with Iniesta, Xavi and Dani Alves, raiding up the right flank, all catching the game by the scruff of the neck.

Deadlock broken

It was Barca, Barca, Barca for the next 15 minutes and chances came the way of Pedro before David Villa had two genuine opportunities to break the deadlock.

The inevitable goal came on 27 minutes when Pedro coolly slotted the ball past Edwin Van der Sar. Xavi was the architect with a sweet pass that stretched the United defence which, by that stage, was seriously under the cosh.

Seven minutes later, against the run of play, we were level.

Wayne Rooney answered the call while all was at sea for United. It began with Carrick’s fizzing pass to Giggs in the box, who relayed it to Rooney, and the finish was world class.

Maestro Messi

Six minutes into the second half Dani Alves was one-on-one with Van der Sar and it was the 40-year-old Dutchman who came out on top to deny the short-arse Brazilian.

Moments later it was advantage Barca yet again, however. Messi the maestro with a wonderful low curling shot from the edge of area that found the back of the net.

Again, on 62 minutes this time, Messi had Van der Sar hard at work and he just about did enough to push away a powerful effort. Xavi and Iniesta both had raspers on target also as United continued to wilt.

Best 'til last

Was the best saved for last? You bet it was. David Villa, from a similar position to where Messi struck the second, hit a curling shot into the top right corner which left Van der Sar helpless and hit the final nail in the coffin.

Manchester United rarely threatened throughout the second half but they did have a shout for penalty with 12 minutes remaining. The ball did strike the arm of David Villa inside the Barca box but it was not deemed deliberate.

Barcelona, the deserved Champions League winners for 2011.