Top scorer Messi matches Van Nistelrooy mark
Lionel Messi is once again the UEFA Champions League’s most prolific marksman ©Getty Images
UEFA.com features
Piqué on the men who make Barcelona tick

Piqué on the men who make Barcelona tick
Central defender Gerard Piqué aspires to be “the funniest one” in Josep Guardiola’s FC Barcelona squad – UEFA.com finds out what he feels about the rest of his team-mates.

A week to remember in London
FC Barcelona made a winning return to the scene of their first success of 1992 but Wembley week was about so much more than just Saturday’s final as UEFA.com’s video review shows.

Former winners speak from experience
Victors with Manchester United FC and FC Barcelona, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Dwight Yorke, Andoni Zubizarreta and Giovanni van Bronckhorst tell UEFA.com their thoughts on the final.

Star names recall Barcelona’s first Wembley win
FC Barcelona won their first European Champion Clubs’ Cup against UC Sampdoria in 1992. Two of the main actors and one interested observer remember a tense evening at Wembley.

Hernández’s Hollywood season approaches final act
Describing his first campaign at Manchester United FC as “something you don’t even see in a movie”, Javier Hernández talks to UEFA.com about his roots, his doubts and his dreams.

Piqué on the men who make Barcelona tick
Central defender Gerard Piqué aspires to be “the funniest one” in Josep Guardiola’s FC Barcelona squad – UEFA.com finds out what he feels about the rest of his team-mates.

History shows United’s gift for drama
Manchester United FC have contested four previous European Champion Clubs’ Cup finals. UEFA.com looks at the three-times winners’ knack of doing it the hard way.

Barcelona’s nights to remember … and forget
From joy in London, Paris and Rome to pain in Berne, Seville and Athens, FC Barcelona have had mixed fortunes in club football’s showpiece game as UEFA.com discovers.

Hernández feeling ‘very lucky’ at United
Speaking about exceeding expectations, playing with a smile and Sir Alex Ferguson’s advice, Manchester United FC’s Javier Hernández told UEFA.com he feels a “very lucky man”.

Allegri, Deschamps and Fernandez on Barça v United
Coaches’ view: Having coached in this season’s UEFA Champions League, Didier Deschamps, Massimiliano Allegri and Jean Fernandez offer their opinions on Saturday’s final at Wembley.

Mascherano looks to make amends at Barcelona
A losing finalist in his first season at Liverpool FC in 2007, Javier Mascherano hopes to go one better at the end of his debut campaign with FC Barcelona, noting “with a bit of luck we can win”.

* Piqué on the men who make Barcelona tick
* History shows United’s gift for drama
* Barcelona’s nights to remember … and forget
* Hernández feeling ‘very lucky’ at United
* Allegri, Deschamps and Fernandez on Barça v United

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Published: Saturday 28 May 2011, 22.00CET
Top scorer Messi matches Van Nistelrooy mark
FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi has finished as the UEFA Champions League’s leading scorer for the third year running on 12 goals, equalling Ruud van Nistelrooy’s competition record.
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Lionel Messi has finished as the UEFA Champions League’s leading scorer for the third season running, scoring his 12th goal in the Wembley final against Manchester United FC.

The FC Barcelona forward also equalled Ruud van Nistelrooy’s competition record of 12 in a single campaign after firing in his team’s second tonight – and duly finished four goal clear of his peers in this season’s standings.

FC Bayern München’s Mario Gomez and Samuel Eto’o of FC Internazionale Milano had each managed eight goals, one more than Chelsea FC’s Nicolas Anelka, while three players registered six: Real Madrid CF pair Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, and Roberto Soldado of Valencia CF.

Messi becomes the third player after Gerd Müller and Jean-Pierre Papin to top-score in three successive European Champion Clubs’ Cup campaigns. Müller was the leading marksman for Bayern in 1972/73 (11 goals), 1973/74 (eight) and 1974/75 (five, joint with FC Ararat Yerevan’s Eduard Markarov). The German was also the five-goal joint top scorer in 1976/77, making him the only man to reach the peak on four occasions.

Olympique de Marseille striker Papin never ended up as the outright leading scorer, his three season-leading tallies in 1989/90, 1990/91 and 1991/92 being matched by Romário (PSV Eindhoven, six goals), Peter Pacult (FC Tirol Innsbruck, six) and Sergei Yuran (SL Benfica, seven).

Eusébio was also the competition’s hottest gun three times with Benfica – in 1964/65, 1965/66 and 1967/68 – while Milan’s José Altafini holds the record for the highest number of goals scored in a European Cup campaign, 14 in 1962/63.

In the UEFA Champions League era, Van Nistelrooy alone can touch Messi’s achievement of top-scoring in three different campaigns. Now, of course, the Dutchman also shares the seasonal record with Barcelona’s No10, having struck 12 for Manchester United in 2002/03.

UEFA Champions League top scorers 2010/11
12 Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
8 Samuel Eto’o (FC Internazionale Milano), Mario Gomez (FC Bayern München)
7 Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea FC)
6 Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo (both Real Madrid CF), Roberto Soldado (Valencia CF)
5 Raúl González (FC Schalke 04)

UEFA Champions League top scorers by season
1993/94 8 Ronald Koeman (FC Barcelona), Wynton Rufer (SV Werder Bremen)
1994/95 7 George Weah (Paris Saint-Germain FC)
1995/96 9 Jari Litmanen (AFC Ajax)
1996/97 5 Milinko Pantić (Club Atlético de Madrid)
1997/98 10 Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus)
1998/99 8 Andriy Shevchenko (FC Dynamo Kyiv), Dwight Yorke (Manchester United FC)
1999/00 10 Mário Jardel (FC Porto), Rivaldo (FC Barcelona), Raúl González (Real Madrid CF)
2000/01 7 Raúl González (Real Madrid CF)
2001/02 10 Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United FC)
2002/03 12 Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United FC)
2003/04 9 Fernando Morientes (AS Monaco FC)
2004/05 8 Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United FC)
2005/06 9 Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan)
2006/07 10 Kaká (AC Milan)
2007/08 8 Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United FC)
2008/09 9 Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
2009/10 8 Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
2010/11 12 Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)

Barcelona Vs Manchester United UEFA Champions 2011 Final Video

The Reds could hardly have prepared better, and even dominated the game’s early stages, but at Wembley on Saturday night Barcelona proved why so many regard them as the best footballing team on the planet.

They’re certainly champions of Europe. That much is certain now. Not even Wayne Rooney’s first-half equaliser, after Pedro had put the Spanish side ahead, blunted their relentless passing game for long.

And yet there can be no shame in defeat. Not to this Barcelona side, a group of players that will surely go down as one of the most talented sides ever assembled.

This is a team that boasts, arguably, three of the best five players in the world, a side that battered Real Madrid 5-0 earlier this season in a performance that prompted Rooney to stand and applaud in his own living room.

Perhaps in years to come Rooney will admire Barcelona’s performance in this match, too. At Wembley on Saturday there was only disappointment, punctuated briefly when he curled home from 15 yards to ignite hope. After that, though, Rooney, like most of his team-mates, struggled to make an impact.

ust as in Rome two years ago, the Reds started brightly and spent the majority of the opening 10 minutes in the Barcelona half. United’s midfield made early challenges and pressed high up the pitch, with Ji-sung Park and Michael Carrick proving particularly effective at disrupting the Catalans’ rhythm.

Barcelona almost appeared shell-shocked. The Spanish champions were uncharacteristically wasteful in possession – even Lionel Messi – and nervy at the back. It wasn’t until the 16th minute, when Pedro ghosted in front of Rio Ferdinand at the near post to poke wide from Sergio Busquet’s right-wing centre, that Barcelona showed any signs of settling.

Messi’s first flash of magic arrived shortly afterwards, although his pass at the end of a mazy dribble was slightly over-hit and Reds skipper Nemanja Vidic booted the ball to safety. David Villa flashed a long-range shot wide of Edwin van der Sar’s left-hand post and then, a minute later, forced a smart save from the Dutchman as Barcelona began to take control.

Vidic then showed why he’s ranked amongst the best defenders in the world, stretching out a long leg to halt another Messi run inside the penalty area, but it was further proof that United’s grip on the game was slipping.

And then Barcelona struck. Playmaker Xavi burst forward, drew two defenders and slipped the ball to Pedro on his outside. Vidic couldn’t reach

him quick enough and the 23-year-old kept his cool to beat van der Sar at the near post.

The Reds stopper, playing in his fifth Champions League final and his last ever professional game, will have been disappointed with the concession, and United minds must have rolled back to 2009. Then, after scoring first, the Spaniards held onto the ball superbly and barely gave United a kick.

Lessons were learned that night, though, and within seven minutes at Wembley the Reds were back on level terms.

It was Rooney, at the end of a tumultuous season both on and off the pitch, who found the net, Rooney who dragged United back into the game, exchanging passes with both Carrick and Giggs before curling the ball past Victor Valdes from 15 yards.

There was elegance in the move and grace in the finish – proof that Barcelona aren’t the only side who can do justice to the beautiful game. And although Andres Iniesta tried his luck from distance and Messi was mere inches from Villa’s cross on the stroke of half-time, Sir Alex’s men went into the break at 1-1.

Barcelona remained in the ascendency when the second period began. Xavi twice found space on the edge of the area to shoot, only to be denied by blocks from Vidic and Carrick, while Dani Alves blasted at van der

Sar after finding space down the right; Messi’s follow-up was headed clear by Patrice Evra.

A minute later, Messi restored the Catalans’ advantage, stroking the ball home from 20 yards. Nobody was surprised the ball found the net – it was his 12th goal in 13 Champions League games this season – but even the little boy-wonder must have have raised an eyebrow or two at the amount of space he was afforded.

There was no United player within five yards of the no.10 when he received the ball. Evra and Vidic made tentative moves toward him, but by the time either had committed Messi had advanced and picked his spot, guiding the ball past van der Sar from 20 yards.

At the other end, United struggled to involve Javier Hernandez, a player who so much seemed to rest upon before kick-off. The Mexican was often isolated, or caught offside – certainly, opportunities for him to unsettle Barcelona with his blistering pace were few and far between.

A cheeky Messi flick was cleared off the line by Fabio just after the hour-mark, before Xavi and Iniesta drew smart stops from van der Sar.

Barcelona’s third arrived on 69 minutes and in spectacular fashion. Again Messi was the architecht, wriggling his way into the area and drawing defenders like bees to honey. The Reds did nick the ball, but only briefly. When it was rolled back to David Villa on the edge of the area,

he took one touch to trap it dead before his second delivered the killer blow. With minimum backlift he achieved maximum impact, curling the ball sumptuously into the top corner.

And that was it. There was no coming back from there. Not from 3-1 down. Not against Barcelona. (manutd.com)

Precisely Sunday (5/29/2011) early morning local time, United will challenge the Catalan giants at Wembley Stadium, London, England, for the sake of gaining the most prestigious trophy in Europe. Iker, an octopus with a weight of 16 kilograms tried to analyze its predictions.

As reported by the Super Sport, on Friday (27/05/2011), octopus from the Pacific waters is stimulated to eat sardines in a glass cylinder adorned with a picture symbol of United and Barcelona, ​​held at the Sea Life Aquarium in Benalmadena resort, the province of Malaga. As a result, Iker choose foods in a picture tube the Red Devils logo.

Which means, octopus forecasters sponsor United’s victory at Wembley, as well as the best team won on the European continent this season. The extent to which accuracy of prediction Iker? Indeed, Barca do not need to bother, because the forecast Iker fumble when appointed as one of Madrid’s Champions League finalists.

However, accurate predictions when Iker 1-1 draw between Real Madrid El Clasico against Barcelona in La Liga on 16 April. Before Iker, an octopus, named Paul, had predicted the number of matches in the last 2010 World Cup.

Octopus who lives in Oberhausen, Germany, Spain precisely predict a 1-0 win against the Netherlands in the final. Unfortunately, Paul breathed last on October 26, 2010.

UEFA Champions League Final

Final to be held on 28 May 2011 in Wembley Stadium is a UEFA Champions League Final Deuteronomy 2009 where at that time Barcelona champion by defeating Become Successful Mancherter United with the score 2-0.

But now Barca have been experiencing rapid growth, although the stickers leave samuel Eto’o, but barca arrival of David Villa. plus the strength of their midfield Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi. As if Barcelona become an unbeatable team.

Manchester United no less good they have Cicarito Hernandez, who was on top of his game, besides that Park Ji Sung, Wyne Rooney, Ferdinand, Vidic and Edwin Van De Sar recording will reduce attacks from Barcelona. and Manchester United Few Benefits For Final Matches take place at Wembley Stadium in London where they feel like playing at home.

Who will be Team of the Year. whether Barcelona or Manchester United?. and we already have predicted that Barcelona will be the winner. Barca will beat Manchester United with the score 2-1.

But UEFA Champions League history when the two clubs had never met before in the Club Laga previous Final losers will become winners So time is Manchester United will win against Barcelona, ​​what you pernyaca it? we prefer Barcelona .

Liverpool manager

“Saturday is a huge game for both clubs. Obviously, Barcelona, ​​as you can imagine, will be the favorite,” said Dalglish.

Dalglish who has been poor across dozens of years in English football coach assess Fergie is not haphazard. According to him, Fergie concocting clever strategy. This has been evidenced by the number of achievement trophy which he donated to the MU, including the previous two Champions League titles.

“I’m sure Fergie has identified several gaps in Barca’s defense, but they (Barcelona) is a fantastic team to watch. They must be stopped, and before they have been discontinued. It is difficult to assess what will be. One can cast the first minute, or someone can play fantastic in the game, “said Dalglish.

Barcelona has a row of the best players this season. Three star, Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi are the three candidates for World Player of the year. However, Manchester United also have players of quality.

“When you have three players from one team in an entry in the list of world player of the year, you have a team that is useful. Wayne Rooney is not a bad player and Javier Hernandez also has had a great season. So, we can sit back and watch action later, “said Dalglish

Players check in to new hotel
The volcanic ash threat over Europe meant that Barça travelled to London ahead of schedule and they spent the extra time at The Grove in Hertfordshire, but today they have returned to the original schedule and have moved to the Wyndham Gran Hotel in Chelsea.

The players made the trip to their new hotel after training at Arsenal’s London Colney facilities this morning and will stay at the Wyndham until Sunday.

Friday training at Wembley

On Friday evening, both teams will train on the Wembley turf. United will train first, at 17.30, with Sir Alex Ferguson due to hold a press conference at 16.45. Barça will then have their own training session at 19.00 (local time), with Pep Guardiola, Víctor Valdés and Carles Puyol facing the press at 18.15.

As the big game approaches we begin to turn our attention to just how our team will manage this most difficult of tasks ahead, and despite the abundant confidence from most Barca corners it is important not to forget the many threats this talented Manchester United team still pose us. Sure they are not as revered or well thought-of as United teams of old but to overlook the quality they do have would be to do them a huge disservice and only serve to put their hands closer to that most sought after trophy.

Still it has to be said that this is not a Manchester United team filled with the kind of huge names and superstars we have become familiar with over the years. No this is a team built more on hard-work and self-belief than individual brilliance or creative genius. Sure they have one of the worlds best in Wayne Rooney and yes Dimitar Berbatov and Nani are capable of wonderful things, whilst new-boy Javier Hernandez offers some much needed charisma and magic, but personally speaking it is two of United lesser praised, more pragmatic stars whose input I fear most come Saturday evening – namely the pace and intelligence of Antonio Valencia and the work-rate and pure quality of Ji Sung Park.

Now I’m sure there are those out there who will scoff at the comments I am about to make considering the more charismatic and dynamic players United have at their disposal but if you hear me out hopefully you will understand just why I think both Valencia and Park may be the real danger men we need to look out for if we are to leave Wembley with that trophy once again under our arm.

So let’s begin with Antonio Valencia shall we? A natural winger if ever there was one, Valencia’s qualities are ten-fold but most importantly from a Barca perspective the things to fear are his pace, trickery and ability to stretch defences with his clever movement. If on form, and allowed to play, he can tear even the sternest back-line to shreds as he has shown countless times this season. He is a creative player the kind of which is not seen very often – a silent assassin; working away quietly, creating opportunities for others whilst getting scant recognition for the huge part he plays. He is clever, determined and very good with the ball at his feet – as such, he must be allowed as little time and space as possible otherwise we are likely to see the young Ecuadorian celebrating at some point, even if he isn’t the man who gets the goal.

If, as expected, Barca see a lot more of the ball on Saturday than their counterparts then we must surely expect Fergie to try and utilise Valencia’s speed to keep our back line on their toes, and most importantly to try and stop our wing-backs getting as much freedom as they would like. We can expect quick, sharp, balls fired deep into the channels, with Fergie asking Valencia to run at his man, keeping him honest and testing him to go pace for pace with him in a foot race. Whether it be Abidal, Adriano or even Alves he comes up against (he is likely to switch flanks throughout the game) it is safe to say our defence will certainly know they’ve been in a game.

With this in mind it is crucial that Barca get their offside trap set perfectly for if they get it wrong it could end up being a rather horrible evening. Play too high of a line and you run the risk of Valencia getting in behind with only grass between him and Big Vic’s goal. Play too deep and you invite extra pressure from the likes of Berbatov and Park whilst also losing the creative qualities of our full-backs in the process. So while I’m sure Pep has his tactics already tightly structured on how to stop such threats it is always worth remembering that we have come unstuck in situations like this before (The Emirates, Copa del Rey final, Hercules) and if we are to finish the season on a high we must not allow yet another tricky, pacey winger to catch us off guard. We have already been warned. Let us hope we have learned our lesson.

Now for a player who I personally think is criminally under-rated, Ji Sung Park. I love to watch Park at work. In fact in a recent interview I did for a Manchester United blog I stated that if Barca could take any United player no matter what the cost then the Korean would be the man I’d take, so highly do I consider his talents. Here is a player so full of endeavour and determination that often his actual footballing ability goes completely unnoticed. Just look at the goal he scored against Blackpool at the weekend. A goal that showcases not only his hard-work but also his clever movement and deft ability to find the back of the net. He is, for me, a class act and one that could finally make his name on such a huge occasion as Saturday’s game.

Positionally speaking Park is a strange bird. He is neither destroyer, winger, or midfield maestro, but rather a mix of all three with a touch of false forward thrown in for good measure. From a Barca perspective I can see similarities between Park’s style and that of Seydou Keita, Pedro and, yes, Andres Iniesta. Is he that good? Maybe not but he is certainly far better than many give him credit for. Sure he didn’t show up in Rome but neither did any of his teammates so we can’t judge him on that non-performance alone.

Instead we must prepare ourselves to see a totally different Ji Sung Park. One that has found favour (and more consistency) with his manager of late, and whose job will be to stop Gerard Pique venturing too far forward with the ball whilst also serving as the connection between a rather lacklustre centre midfield and a strangely unpredictable, if still excellent, forward line. He gives United the spark and belief they often lack when they haven’t got the ball and works so hard that I like to call him Dirk Kuyt with quality. Basically he is the player who, along with Valencia, will work to stop Barca players getting too comfortable when we have the ball, whilst also looking to do us real damage when we don’t.

Perhaps this is not the most vintage of United teams, arriving as it does in a period of transformation and adjustment, but it is due to the hard-work, endeavour and technical quality of the likes of Ji Sung Park and Nuno Valencia that this side is still winning trophies, already preparing to knock us off our pedestal. So yes, let’s prepare for the unpredictable brilliance of Rooney, Nani and Berbatov but let us not forget the quiet magic of The Red Devils real danger men. They’ve been over-looked for such a long time already, maybe we should be the team who finally keeps a close eye on them. Only then will Wembley remain a special place for us all.(totalbarca.com)

Club photographers John and Matt Peters were on hand to capture the action and the emotion as the players celebrated with the Old Trafford faithful and their families during a lap of honour after beating Blackpool 4-2.

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