SOCCER UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL: Barcelona 2 Manchester Utd 0: IT REALLY did turn out to be an unforgettable final. Manchester United, in particular, may fail to rid their minds of galling memories on the night when the European Cup was taken off them with unwavering technique and flair by Barcelona. Until this United had never lost one, but from early on here it looked as if the experience awaited them in Rome.
Perhaps there will be comfort in the knowledge that Pep Guardiola’s side had outdone itself. All the reservations about their back four evaporated on this hot night, because Barcelona simply would not allow themselves to be subjected to sustained pressure. Their midfield could always pass a way into the comfort zone.
United are a side awash with knowledge and confidence, yet those qualities are no protection against the shock that follows the loss of a goal so early on a night of this importance. There was bad news then, wherever Alex Ferguson’s players looked. In their ranks, Michael Carrick floundered in midfield, Wayne Rooney was marginalised and a customarily secure defence quaked.
Matters had turned out well for Barcelona, with the marvellous Andres Iniesta betraying no signs of the injury that had put his participation in question. He, in particular, outclassed United by himself at times, particularly when he set up a goal in the 10th minute.
United gasped, because that blow was landed on them just when they must have supposed there was pain to come for Barca.
The holders’ initial assertiveness was exactly as anticipated, particularly since there was an urgent desire to examine a Barcelona defence recast following the suspensions for Eric Abidal and Daniel Alves as well as Rafael Marquez’s injury. Yaya Toure, a holding midfielder press-ganged into centre-back, hinted at his shortcomings with an almost comic immediacy as he body-checked Anderson in bewilderment after a minute.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s free-kick was blocked tentatively by Victor Valdes and had to be hacked away for a corner. Then, with nine minutes gone, the Portuguese volleyed wide with his left foot.
But this spell was soon shown to be fraudulent in the promise it made United.
Then Barcelona crafted a superb goal. It was elementary for the hypnotic Iniesta to run free of Anderson and Carrick before picking out Samuel Eto’o. The striker’s run mesmerised Nemanja Vidic and Cameroonian was clear. The angle was unfavourable, but Edwin van der Sar was beaten by the near post.
It was a moment that showed Barcelona at their finest while revealing an incompetence in United ranks that had not seemed conceivable. In one revealing incident, Rooney rolled a pass that went out of play because Patrice Evra had delayed his run. The synchronicity that comes spontaneously when a team is flourishing had evaporated.
There was little surprise in the half-time replacement of Anderson by the forward Carlos Tevez. United’s initial scheme had floundered.
Park Ji-sung, who had not even been among the substitutes a year ago, started last night, but the South Korean’s work rate could not unsettle Barcelona.
Barcelona anticipated that and, if anything, re-emerged with even more desire to demonstrate superiority. There had been a plea for an incident even before Tevez registered his presence by felling Iniesta. From the edge of the area, Xavi then struck a post. Fear alone should have raised United’s tempo after that.
Turning the tide was a task that looked beyond Ferguson’s side as Barcelona swept over them. Fabio Capello’s contention that tiredness would not be a factor was a remark about the weather, but the opposition were a different kind of natural force that does take its toll.
United were, of course, committed to responding. Ferguson sought to have Ronaldo and Tevez as a pairing in central attack. That is a throwback strategy and it goes against the grain of the contemporary United. But the team had been markedly inferior when playing the match on the pass-and-move terms of Barcelona.
Park was removed so that the elegance of Dimitar Berbatov could be applied. Before that there had been stirrings, especially when Rooney, now on the right, came close to setting up Ronaldo in front of the posts. This effort, however, was not sufficient to deter Barcelona.
With 70 minutes gone, Xavi crossed deep and Messi headed back across the goal to beat Van der Sar. The mockery of the Argentine for his travails against Premier League clubs had been answered much as Barcelona had outclassed United.
There was a half chance almost immediately for United, but Ronaldo could not force the ball past Valdes. Ferguson’s team were helpless and Paul Scholes, a substitute, should have seen a red card rather than a yellow for his two-foot leap at Sergio Busquets.
GuardianService
BARCELONA: Valdes, Puyol, Toure Yaya, Pique, Sylvinho, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta (Pedrito 90), Messi, Eto'o, Henry (Keita 72). Subs not used: Pinto, Caceres, Muniesa, Gudjohnsen, Bojan. Booked: Pique.
MANCHESTER UTD: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Anderson (Tevez 46), Carrick, Giggs (Scholes 75), Park (Berbatov 66), Ronaldo, Rooney. Subs not used: Kuszczak, Rafael Da Silva, Evans, Nani. Booked: Ronaldo, Scholes, Vidic.
Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland).
