Barcelona 2 - 0 Man Utd: Brilliant Barcelona outclass United to rule in Rome

MANCHESTER United discovered what it is like to lose a European Cup final as brilliant Barcelona ruled Rome.

If there is any consolation in failure to become the first side to retain the trophy in the Champions League era, it is that they lost to a side as fluent and brilliant to watch as they are.

Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi scored the goals either side of half-time but to single those two out for special praise would be unfair on their team-mates, and particularly Xavi, who was simply awesome.

For once Cristiano Ronaldo could provide no magic of his own, instead getting increasingly frustrated as defeat loomed.

It was a shame really. Although having done so much damage to others down the years, he does now know how it feels.

Twenty-four hours earlier, Sir Alex Ferguson had spoken of reaching into the far corners of his brain for an inspiring word or two prior to kick-off.

As half-time approached, that same grey matter might have preferred a word or two about Barcelona's performance.

Sublime would have been one. Bewitching, mesmerising would do equally as well. For a football man like Ferguson it would have been a joy to watch if his side were not the ones trying to stop it.

The kind of football that allowed the Catalans to hit six goals past Real Madrid at the Bernabeu Stadium last month was not in evidence for the first eight minutes or so as United held sway.

However, once it began to emerge, Ferguson's side had precious few answers.

The shape of the contest might have been so different had Park Ji-sung been able to snaffle the rebound after Victor Valdes had failed to hold a stinging Ronaldo free-kick.

Instead, former United man Gerard Pique raced across to block what proved to be his old club's best opportunity of that opening period.

Like his team, Ronaldo was clearly in the ascendancy in his personal duel with Messi.

How rapidly things changed. In the twinkling of an eye Andres Iniesta, one of the brightest starts in the Barcelona firmament, slipped a pass to Eto'o.

The Cameroon striker cut inside Nemanja Vidic, then held off Michael Carrick as he prodded the ball goalward with enough strength to take it past Edwin van der Sar.

Suddenly the strategy of containment and hitting at pace on the counter-attack suggested by the inclusion of Park and the exclusion of Carlos Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov did not look such a good idea.

Ferguson's team shot across the pitch, able to do little more than firefight as Messi, Iniesta and Xavi lit bonfires all around.

Had a Messi flick found Eto'o in the area, it would have probably brought Barcelona's second. Rio Ferdinand's agility saved his team.

Xavi curled a free-kick just wide, Vidic pumped the ball away after Van der Sar had failed to hold a cross shot, the slick passing wearing United down all the while.

The arrival of Tevez at half-time had to come, and with it a more overtly offensive approach.

Yet in taking such bold action, Ferguson knew he was playing right into Barcelona's hands.

Xavi picked out Thierry Henry with a brilliant pass. The former Arsenal star cut inside Ferdinand with ease but could not find the finish, a similar mistake to the one that proved so costly for Arsenal in Paris three years ago.

Tevez's first contribution to the game of real note was to concede the foul from which Barcelona almost doubled their advantage.

When Xavi saw his free-kick come thumping back off a post, memories of 1999 and the mauling United nearly took at the hands of Bayern Munich sprang to mind.

Yet this was different. Ferguson's team were poor until the unforgettable ending. This time they were simply ripped apart by the only team on the planet who can match them.

The introduction of Berbatov midway through the second half was effectively Ferguson throwing his book of tactics out of the window and not worry about the consequences if it all went wrong.

Sadly it did. Quite quickly as Xavi's curling cross dropped perfectly for Messi, who guided his header over Van der Sar.

The diminutive Argentine, one of the smallest players on the park, did not have to worry about scaling either of the twin peaks of Ferdinand or Vidic – both were posted missing as a perfectly timed leap ended with a perfect header.

Ronaldo's world player of the year crown was slipping and Valdes managed to get in the way of a close-range effort that would have given United some hope, as would the volley from Berbatov that followed.

Berbatov had another chance too, although by then Carles Puyol had seen two efforts saved by Van der Sar.

In truth, the Dutchman was his side's best player, which just about says it all.

A privilege to see Guardiola's gifted side crowned worthy champions

WHEREVER you turn in the Eternal City there are relics of glorious times. Reminders of great battles.

Now you can add the night of 27 May, 2009. The night the two mightiest football clubs on the planet, Manchester United and Barcelona, came to the banks of the Tiber and a brilliant Barcelona side departed with their third Champions Cup.

True, United were not at their best in the 2-0 defeat. Far from it. But this was not a night for critics to bury United. It was a time to praise Barcelona.

Rarely has a Champions League final been laden with such adventure and spirit. Seldom has one been blessed with two sides whose first instinct is to attack. And who's second is to attack some more.

So forget for a moment the flaws of Sir Alex Ferguson's side. And let us salute Josep Guardiola's team.

There is no shame in losing to Barcelona, who had won two European Cups previously and contested six finals. No disgrace in being pipped for European football's greatest prize by a club whose shirt bears the word 'Unicef'. Barcelona are part football club, partly a driving force for good, as proved by their copious works of charity.

They just do not show many on the football field. It is not just the sweet passing and the flowing movement of Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta and Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi which catches the eye.

It is the way they worry the opposition. The way they keep the ball and work tirelessly when they lose it.

All great sides work hard. But Barcelona, and Xavi in particular, deserve a Nobel prize for industry.

Once Samuel Eto'o had opened the scoring after nine minutes, Barcelona settled into their rhythm.

Xavi and Iniesta weaved their patterns, probing patterns always with the threat of incision. On another day Sir Alex Ferguson would have appreciated those midfield brush strokes. They had so much in common with the ideals of Sir Matt Busby, for whom 16,000 United fans held up a mosaic proclaiming 'For you Matt' before kick-off to commemorate what would have been his 100th birthday.

From that moment history was in the air, especially as this was a stadium which held momentous memories for English football fans.

It was here Liverpool won the first of their European Cups against Borussia Moenchengladbach in 1977. Here where Liverpool toppled Roma in their own backyard in 1984. Here where a Paul Gascoigne-inspired England clinched qualification for the 1998 World Cup.

Here where United were hoping to make it four Champions Cups and climb a rung on the ladder of greatness alongside Bayern Munich and Ajax.

Defeat means United, who equalled Liverpool's record of 18 league titles this season, still lag two behind Liverpool's tally of five European Champions cups. And Ferguson still trails Bob Paisley by one.

Could Ferguson have done more? It is doubtful. He threw on Carlos Tevez for Anderson at the start of the second half in an attempt to inject energy. A bid to wrest some control from a midfield which was being swamped by the creativity of the men in blue and red.

He threw on Dimitar Berbatov for Ji-Sung Park and there were times when his Fab Four – Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez and Berbatov – looked as if they might find a route to salvation.

Xavi's brilliant cross and Messi's wonderful header eventually put paid to any thoughts of a 1999-style comeback.

But it is no time for recriminations, though it is a defeat which will hurt Ferguson deeply, if only because he has confirmed this as his best ever squad and repeated endlessly: "This club should have won more European Cups."

Yet sometimes you just have to bow in the face of superior talent.

This was such a night. A night all football lovers on the planet will have appreciated. A night when it was a privilege to be in Rome to hail the champions.

Frank Malley

How they rated

BARCELONA

Victor Valdes 7/10

Recovered well after spilling Ronaldo's early free-kick, always alert and made a brave close-range save from the same player at 2-0 up.

Carles Puyol 8

Calm, strong leadership from the veteran who deserved a goal but headed straight at Van der Sar.

Yaya Toure 7

Presented with little hard work he nevertheless knuckled down and did the necessary.

Gerard Pique 7

Showed great early awareness to block Ji-Sung Park's follow-up shot from Ronaldo's free-kick. Solid throughout.

Sylvinho 8

A big influence in the first hour, providing plenty of dangerous overlaps and a constant outlet on the left.

Xavi 9

Superior display. Excellent in possession, he curled a free-kick against the post and picked out Messi with a superb cross for the second.

Sergio Busquets 7

Unfussy and unflappable, made plenty of tackles and laid off possession astutely.

Andres Iniesta 9

Showed great close control, a wide range of passing and ensured United could barely get a look in in midfield. Always on hand in defence and attack.

Lionel Messi 8

Oozed stature throughout, he will draw satisfaction from outperforming Ronaldo and, after a dazzling run on the stroke of half-time was well worth his second-half goal.

Samuel Eto'o 7

Fully deserves the plaudits for putting paid to United's promising start with a wonderfully-taken goal after ten minutes. Not at his best from then on but still a match-winning contribution.

Thierry Henry 7

Delighted to get one over on his old adversaries, was just denied by Van der Sar after fine close control in the box.

SUBSTITUTES

Seydou Keita (for Henry 71) 6

A leggy United already looked beaten by the time Keita arrived on the scene.

Rodriguez Pedrito (for Iniesta 90)5

MANCHESTER UNITED

Edwin Van der Sar 7/10

Made some important stops and saves, not least from Henry and Puyol, but will be unhappy to be well beaten by Eto'o at his near post.

John O'Shea 6

A solid outing by the Irishman who held firm and could not be blamed for either goal.

Rio Ferdinand 5

Struggled with his distribution in the first period and never once looked on top of Barca's free-flowing forward line

Nemanja Vidic 6

Avoided humiliation against an attacking trio who have shredded lesser defenders but made little impact

Patrice Evra 5

Appeared redundant at times as his task of keeping Messi quiet was rendered moot by the forward's constant drifting into central positions.

Anderson 5

Started well but faded to anonymity after Barca's opener. Replaced at half-time.

Michael Carrick 5

Failed to find his runners and had no answer to a superb opposition midfield.

Ryan Giggs 6

Not one of his best displays but was cooler in possession than most of his team-mates.

Park Ji-Sung 6

No magic moments from the South Korean.

Cristiano Ronaldo 6

Looked set to have one of his special nights when he went close in only the second minute, but he was bested when it mattered.

Wayne Rooney 5

Looked unhappy to be out on a limb instead of his favoured central position and spent 90 minutes trying – and failing – to get involved.

SUBSTITUTES

Carlos Tevez ( for Anderson 45) 5

Sent on for the second period but it was an uninspired shift.

Dimitar Berbatov (for Park 66) 5

Typically laconic cameo with little or no end product.

Paul Scholes (for Giggs 75) 5

Only succeeded in earning a booking for a trademark foul.