Filed under: Manchester United, Champions League, Football, Match Reports
Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona to new heights in a thrilling repeat of their 2009 Champions League final triumph over Manchester United, ensuring Sir Alex Ferguson's attempt to lift the trophy for a third time ended in failure.Messi scored his side's second goal, restoring the Spanish club's lead after Wayne Rooney had cancelled out Pedro's opener before David Villa's goal confirmed the gulf in class between the two sides.
Barcelona were simply outstanding with their incisive passing and movement reducing Ferguson's side to the role of bystanders for much of the match.
And while United were given hope they might triumph at Wembley by Rooney's well worked goal, they once again left the pitch knowing they had been utterly out-played by a side that reinforced its claims to be one of the best sides ever to have won this trophy.
Ferguson was deperate to avenge the defeat in Rome and revealed his intentions to attack the Catalans by opting for a line-up that included two forwards, Rooney and Javier Hernandez. Dimitar Berbatov, the Premier League leading scorer, wasn't even named among the substitutes, raising doubts about the Bulgaria international's future at Old Trafford.
With Javier Mascherano pressed into service at centre back because of an injury to Carles Puyol, United were given hope they might make inroads against a weakened Barca defence and for the opening ten minutes they looked capable of taking to the game to the Catalans.
But once Guardiola's side picked up the rhythm of the game, the Premier League side were relegated to a supporting role, chasing the shadows of the red and blue shirts of their opponents who moved the ball around the field with exhilarating speed.
A 16th minute shot from Pedro flew narrowly wide, quickly followed by a similar effort from Villa and the pressure began to build on Edwin van der Sar's goal before the United defences were finally breached in 27th minute.
Xavi, the Barcelona captain, inevitably laid off the decisive pass to Pedro and the winger wrong-footed Van der Sar with a right footed shot that flew in at the keeper's near post.
Already it seemed as though United would face a daunting task if they were to get back into the game but they levelled against the run of play seven minutes later when they finally produced an incisive attacking move.
Rooney exchanged passes first with Michael Carrick and then with Ryan Giggs before sending a right foot shot beyond Victor Valdes.
Level at half time, United were entitled to harbour hopes of winning the trophy even though they had been second best to the Spanish champions. Their prospects faded quickly after the restart, however, with Barcelona stepping up the tempo to an extent that bewildered Ferguson's side.
Messi in particular was able to run at the United defence at will and the Argentine took full advantage when Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic both stood off the forward, allowing him to place a left foot shot beyond Van der Sar in the 54th minute.
The English side again needed to respond quickly but there was no intervention from Rooney on this occasion.
A last ditch tackle from Fabio Da Slva denied Messi's close range back heel in the 65th minute but United were unable to prevent Villa curling a shot beyond Van der Sar after the Argentinian had again torn apart the United defence.
That signalled game over, a fourth Champions League triumph for Barca and more disappointment for United that will barely be tempered by the knowledge they had been beaten by a team that currently has no equal.
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/05/28/barcelona-3-man-united-1-llionel-messi-inspires-barca-win/
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