He had unperturbed collaboration from his peers like Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi, Ivorian Yaya Toure, Malian Seydou Keita, Andres Iniesta, Xavi, whom many observers have described as the organizer of the Barça play style.

One goal up, the Spanish team will play with a lot of confidence. All attempts by a Manchester team backed by Cristiano Ronaldo, Tevez, keeper Van Der Saar, Wayne Rooney, Evra and Paul Scholes were put to naught. Keeper Victor Valdez of Barça, had a good day. He neutralized heartbreaking moves from the Manchester attack machinery lead by Ronaldo and Rooney.

Valdez and his defensive set up, composed of Carles Puyol, Dani Alves, Piqué and Yaya Touré succeeded on containing the Manchester onslaught. This will last until the first segment of the match, with the team of President Joan Laporta, taking a one goal lead into the dressing room.

In the second half, the Catalan club from Spain, resumed with an extra verve. Thierry Henry, Frenchman and donning jersey number 10, came close to increase tally at the 48th minute, when he hit the ball on Van Der Saar, in a one-on-one action. Messi, noted for his ‘egoism’ on the green turf, missed another scoring chance at the 50th minute.

He will not concretize a precise pass from striker, Eto’o. At the 52nd minute, Barça lost another golden opportunity, when the goal post of Van Der Saar, helped him, avoided an embarrassment, when playmaker, Xavi, took a spot kick. They guys from the Nou Camp Stadium in Barcelone will not be dampened in spirit.

A killer header will come from the smallish but daring Argentinean, Messi. It was at the 70th minute, after benefiting from a smooth connection from Xavi. The San Siro Stadium will be inundated with the blue and gold colours of the Spanish giants.

The team of the trainer, Pepe Guardiola, was two goals up, while Sir Alex Ferguson, the iconic manager of the Red Devils or call them Manchester United was been dragged into mud.

Logically, Eto’o and his peers, kept to their rhythm of consolidating their gains and subsequently grabbing victory on the platter of Gold. At the last blast of the refereee’s whistle at the 93rd minute of the final, it was Barça 2 Manchester United 0.

For the second time in four years, the Catalans were winning the European Champions League Final. In 2006, they beat another English Club, Arsenal, 2-1 to take home the Cup to Barcelone. 2009, it is another team from England, being humiliated by Barça.

Records

Winning the Champions League in the night of Wednesday, May 27, FC Barcelone was adding another feather on their cap for the 2008/2009 football season. They had earlier won the Spanish Cup and the Spanish League title.

Eto’o was also enriching his football career with another trophy to his credit. He had won the European Champions League with Real Madrid and now the second time with Barça.

Guardiola also joined the club of players and now coaches, who have won the European Champions League. He is the 7th person to have attained that fit in the circles of European football.

Henry did put another spice in his football career by winning another significant title. Records have it that he is a player, who has won all the major football trophies in the world.

Messi’s 70th minute dazzling header, which swayed Van Der Saar was his 9th goal in twelve matches at the 2008/2009 European Champions League.