Wednesday, May 27th
UEFA Champions League Final:
Barcelona Crowned Champions of Europe:
On the surface it had all the elements of a delicious match, including a plethora of tasty subplots. In the end it turned out to be a fitting game showcasing two of football’s legendary sides, Barcelona and Manchester United.
The Questions:
Many pundits billed the game as a showdown between the world’s two best players: Manchester United’s brilliant, Portuguese superstar and current World Player of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona’s diminutive, Argentine magician, Lionel Messi. Which of these two tremendous players would impose his will on the game?
Manchester United, reigning European Champion, was attempting to become the first team to win back-to-back Champions League titles in the history of the competition. Could the defending champions do what no other team previously accomplished?
Barcelona was attempting to achieve an elusive treble. Having already won their domestic, Spanish league championship and the annual Copa del Rey competition, was there enough gas in the tank for Barcelona to win the Champions League?
Legendary Barcelona player and current manager Pep Guardiola was a three-year-old when Sir Alex Ferguson began his coaching career. Could the Catalan’s first-year manager match wits with one of the games most brilliant tacticians?
Even at their best, Barcelona’s strength is not defending. With four regular defenders missing—either to injury or suspension—could Barcelona piece together a patchwork defense to blunt United’s potent attack?
Barcelona, while attacking well, looked defensively vulnerable and a bit frail against Chelsea in their Champions League semifinal. Only a miracle strike at the death by Spanish international Andres Iniesta secured Barcelona’s place in the championship game. Many, including Barcelona’s players and supporters, considered themselves fortunate to escape the Chelsea game. How would this play on the psyche of the Barcelona team and Pep Guardiola?
Entering the championship game Manchester United appeared to be the more balanced team: potent in the attack, solid throughout midfield and stout defensively. Would this balance trump what is the best attacking club football team in the world? In La Liga play alone, Samuel Eto’o, Messi and Thierry Henry combined to score an amazing 71 goals. And Barcelona’s goal differential in domestic league play was 70 goals. Their closest competitor, Real Madrid, had a goal differential of 32.
My Prediction:
I believed the team scoring first would win. I thought if Barcelona scored first it would open the game, which suits Barcelona’s offensive style. If Manchester United scored first, I thought United could play a more tactical game and concentrate on defending, looking to catch Barcelona on quick counterattacks, an area in which Manchester United excels.
The Game:
For the first 10 minutes of the game United was the hungrier of the teams, dominating play and controlling possession. Watching those initial minutes primed me for what appeared to be the pending “Ronaldo Show.” A blazing free-kick by Ronaldo befuddled Barcelona keeper, Victor Valdes, and Park Ji-sung narrowly missed shuffling the ball into the Barcelona net.
Ronaldo had several other close attempts, once dragging the ball just wide of the goal and a diving Valdes and again shooting wide from distance. In the first 15 minutes alone, Ronaldo had no less than five tries on goal. Had this pattern continued, United were sure to secure the first goal and take control of the game.
Against the early run of play, however, Cameroon international, Samuel Eto’o, took a perfectly weighted pass from Iniesta, cut inside of United defender, Nemanja Vidic, and then held off Michael Carrick as he pushed the ball with just enough pace to beat united keeper, Edwin van der Sar. Barcelona 1, Manchester United 0.
Suddenly buoyed by Eto’o’s goal, Barcelona seized control of the game. For the remainder of the first half and for the rest of the game, Barcelona held the lion’s share of possession.
Down a goal, United were unable to focus on a counterattacking strategy. In the second half Ferguson introduced Carlos Tevez, Dimitar Berbatov and Paul Scholes, hoping to generate a greater scoring threat, but Barcelona’s defense was up to the task. My Man of the Match, Barcelona captain, Carlos Puyol, was seemingly everywhere, supporting the attack and snuffing out United’s few chances.
Meanwhile, the slick, flowing passing for which Barcelona is known was evident all over the pitch. Whether it was Messi, Xavi or Iniesta creating opportunities, Barcelona outplayed United in every facet of the game. When Messi headed in a superb cross from Xavi at the seventy-minute mark, the game was all but over. Barcelona 2, Manchester United 0.
For a competition typically characterized by caution and conservative play, this match deviated from the norm. Congratulations to both Manchester United and Barcelona for presenting a game worthy of these two great sides.
Early commentary from pundits following the game had United not playing its best football. This may be so; however, United showed spirit and courage in playing attacking football. Barcelona deserves the championship and was clearly the better team. The Catalans took the game by the throat and executed a football clinic.
On their game, Barcelona plays—without a doubt—the most entertaining brand of football in the world. They play the game the way it should be played, the way most teams can only dream of playing. Yes, Barcelona play technically brilliant, flowing, attacking football, and they are the best club team in the world.
Congratulations, Barcelona! Viven de largo los campeones!