• Barcelona wins Champions League 2011
    14 replies, posted
[quote]LONDON — With the fans at one end of Wembley Stadium singing and dancing, and those at the other sulking and leaving, the public-address announcer made the most obvious of proclamations: Barcelona was the winner of the Champions League. The match’s result had been decided long before, about the time that Lionel Messi began his cat-and-mouse toying with Manchester United defenders, and certainly by the time that his go-ahead goal skipped past goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar in the 54th minute. Barcelona beat Manchester United, 3-1, staking claim to the most prestigious club title in the world, and fueling a debate about whether it is one of the best teams in soccer history. Such a question was posed to Manchester United Manager Alex Ferguson, who took control of his club in 1986 and began his coaching career more than a decade earlier. “In my time as a manager, yes,” Ferguson said. “I’d say it’s the best team we’ve faced.” It was Barcelona’s second title in three years, and more dominating than its 2-0 win over Manchester United in Rome in 2009. The victory was not unexpected, although it pitted two clubs widely considered the best in the world. Barcelona, the champion of the Spanish league for three years in a row, was favored by oddsmakers and onlookers. But Manchester United, the proud juggernaut that recently won its record 19th English title, liked its chances in a one-match duel in its home country. Yet Barcelona dominated with its usual panache. No team works better in cramped spaces. If the game were played in a closet or on a pool table, Barcelona would still find a way to keep the ball away from its opponent. Barcelona found its footing after a few sloppy minutes, and settled into its brand of keepaway. By game’s end, Barcelona had held possession for 63 percent of the time. It had 12 on-target scoring attempts. Manchester United had one. Barcelona had a few early chances, including one in which the playmaking midfielder Xavi Hernández punched the ball outside to Pedro Rodriguez, whose shot went wide. He did not miss the second time. Xavi moved the ball straight upfield, as if it were attached to him by an invisible string, before lacing it wide to his right for Pedro again. His low punch, in the 27th minute, caught goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar — playing his final game — uncharacteristically flat-footed. A moment later, Van der Sar stood with his face in his hands. The announced crowd of 87,695 sensed that it was witnessing something magical and historic. Manchester United fans were peculiarly quiet, as if resigned to the club’s fate as a foil to Barcelona’s legacy. But Wayne Rooney unexpectedly reignited the passion, in the 34th minute, on a charge that began as an innocuous give-and-go along the right sideline. Rooney burst diagonally toward the goal, obstructed by nothing but open space, as Ryan Giggs settled in a spot to his right. Rooney tapped the ball to Giggs with the outside of his right foot, and Giggs, with a brief bobble, finessed a perfect return pass. Rooney one-timed the ball into the left corner of the goal, well past goalkeeper Victor Valdes’s right shoulder, and turned to celebrate before the shot slapped the net. He ran and slid on his knees as United fans temporarily awakened from their worry. It was a simple reprieve from an inevitable outcome. And it was Messi, named man of the match, who made sure Barcelona left with the championship it seemed to deserve. Manchester United, unlike some Barcelona opponents, opted not to assign a defender to shadow the slippery Messi, the two-time world player of the year from Argentina. In the 54th minute, with Barcelona lulling Manchester United with its passing, Messi found himself alone in the middle of the field. He moved quickly toward the goal and, just as defenders converged, sent a skipping shot to Van der Sar’s left. The goalkeeper could not corral what became Messi’s 12th goal in 13 Champions League games. “They do mesmerize you with the passing, and we never truly controlled Messi,” Ferguson said. “But many people have said that.”[/quote] Source: [url]http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/29/sports/soccer/in-dominant-display-barcelona-wins-champions-league.html[/url] In my opinion they deserved it.
3-1
CONTENT! this thread has none.
I was in Nau Camp stadium (Barcelona stadium) like 3 days ago. Alot of people there saying Barcelona has a good chance in winning (I don't really watch football.)
barcelona outplayed man u by far, but the english barca fans who practically think they're spanish do make me laugh
[QUOTE=Mr.T;30105147]Title says it all Barcelona has won their 4th Champions League with 4-1 over Manchester United. In my opinion they deserved it.[/QUOTE] In my opinion. I don't care. The better team won.
[QUOTE=cr2142;30105553]I was in Nau Camp stadium (Barcelona stadium) like 3 days ago. Alot of people there saying Barcelona has a good chance in winning (I don't really watch football.)[/QUOTE] Nou Camp*
I rarely watch soccer (American, etc.), but I watched this game and was thoroughly impressed with how well Barcelona played. They dominated.
Well played, they really deserved the win.
good win. good match. would've been annoyed if man u got the double
Here OP, a news source: [quote=NYT] LONDON — With the fans at one end of Wembley Stadium singing and dancing, and those at the other sulking and leaving, the public-address announcer made the most obvious of proclamations: Barcelona was the winner of the Champions League. The match’s result had been decided long before, about the time that Lionel Messi began his cat-and-mouse toying with Manchester United defenders, and certainly by the time that his go-ahead goal skipped past goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar in the 54th minute. Barcelona beat Manchester United, 3-1, staking claim to the most prestigious club title in the world, and fueling a debate about whether it is one of the best teams in soccer history. Such a question was posed to Manchester United Manager Alex Ferguson, who took control of his club in 1986 and began his coaching career more than a decade earlier. “In my time as a manager, yes,” Ferguson said. “I’d say it’s the best team we’ve faced.” It was Barcelona’s second title in three years, and more dominating than its 2-0 win over Manchester United in Rome in 2009. The victory was not unexpected, although it pitted two clubs widely considered the best in the world. Barcelona, the champion of the Spanish league for three years in a row, was favored by oddsmakers and onlookers. But Manchester United, the proud juggernaut that recently won its record 19th English title, liked its chances in a one-match duel in its home country. Yet Barcelona dominated with its usual panache. No team works better in cramped spaces. If the game were played in a closet or on a pool table, Barcelona would still find a way to keep the ball away from its opponent. Barcelona found its footing after a few sloppy minutes, and settled into its brand of keepaway. By game’s end, Barcelona had held possession for 63 percent of the time. It had 12 on-target scoring attempts. Manchester United had one. Barcelona had a few early chances, including one in which the playmaking midfielder Xavi Hernández punched the ball outside to Pedro Rodriguez, whose shot went wide. He did not miss the second time. Xavi moved the ball straight upfield, as if it were attached to him by an invisible string, before lacing it wide to his right for Pedro again. His low punch, in the 27th minute, caught goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar — playing his final game — uncharacteristically flat-footed. A moment later, Van der Sar stood with his face in his hands. The announced crowd of 87,695 sensed that it was witnessing something magical and historic. Manchester United fans were peculiarly quiet, as if resigned to the club’s fate as a foil to Barcelona’s legacy. But Wayne Rooney unexpectedly reignited the passion, in the 34th minute, on a charge that began as an innocuous give-and-go along the right sideline. Rooney burst diagonally toward the goal, obstructed by nothing but open space, as Ryan Giggs settled in a spot to his right. Rooney tapped the ball to Giggs with the outside of his right foot, and Giggs, with a brief bobble, finessed a perfect return pass. Rooney one-timed the ball into the left corner of the goal, well past goalkeeper Victor Valdes’s right shoulder, and turned to celebrate before the shot slapped the net. He ran and slid on his knees as United fans temporarily awakened from their worry. It was a simple reprieve from an inevitable outcome. And it was Messi, named man of the match, who made sure Barcelona left with the championship it seemed to deserve. Manchester United, unlike some Barcelona opponents, opted not to assign a defender to shadow the slippery Messi, the two-time world player of the year from Argentina. In the 54th minute, with Barcelona lulling Manchester United with its passing, Messi found himself alone in the middle of the field. He moved quickly toward the goal and, just as defenders converged, sent a skipping shot to Van der Sar’s left. The goalkeeper could not corral what became Messi’s 12th goal in 13 Champions League games. “They do mesmerize you with the passing, and we never truly controlled Messi,” Ferguson said. “But many people have said that.” [/quote] Source: [url]http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/29/sports/soccer/in-dominant-display-barcelona-wins-champions-league.html[/url]
Thanks IGN
they deserved it. they ran rings around Man U. by far the better team of the night.
So that's why I heard fireworks yesterday
Barcelona <3 Messi <3 Argentina <3
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