The two best sides in the world met each other yesterday to decide who will claim the greatest prize in club football and to decide who will undoubtedly be the best team on the planet and who will be no2.
It was also a battle between Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona's Lionel Messi as to who is the world's best player.
Both battles were won by Barcelona and Messi, as the Catalan giants lifted the European Cup for the third time, as the Spanish champions beat the English champions 2-0.
It is the first time that Manchester United have lost in a European Cup Final or a Champions League Final (the old European Cup became the Champions League in 1992)..
2-0 is, for some reason, a rare scoreline in a European Cup Final/Champions League Final. The last time a European Cup Final/Champions League Final finished 2-0 was back in 1975, and an English team were defeated on that occasion, too - Leeds United, against Bayern Munich.
There have now been 54 European Cup Finals and only six of them - in 1957, 1959, 1971, 1972, 1975 and 2009 - have finished 2-0.
Manchester United, who have won the tournament three times - 1968 (4-1 against Benfica), 1999 (2-1 against Bayern Munich), 2008 (1-1 against Chelsea; aet, winning 6-5 on penalties) were hoping to become the first team since AC Milan in 1990 to win it two years in succesion but, apart from the opening 10 minutes, they were never really in it.
Barcelona have now equalled Manchester United in number of wins, having won it in 1992 (1-0 against Sampdoria), 2006 (2-1 against Arsenal) and this year.
Prince William, who is the president of the English Football Association, was at the game. Both he and the UEFA president, Michel Platini, sat together, and seemed like old pals!
BBC Sport
European Champions: Carlos Puyol, the Barcelona captain, holds aloft the European Cup after his side beat Manchester United 2-0 in the Olympic Stadium, Rome, as the Catalan side completed an historic treble
EUROPEAN CUP FINAL
(At the Stadio Olimpico, Rome. Attendance: 72,200)
Barcelona 2-0 Manchester United
Eto'o 10
Messi 70
Barcelona: Valdes, Puyol, Toure Yaya, Pique, Sylvinho, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta (Pedrito 90), Messi, Eto'o, Henry (Keita 72).
Subs Not Used: Pinto, Caceres, Muniesa, Gudjohnsen, Bojan.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Anderson (Tevez 46), Carrick, Giggs (Scholes 75), Park (Berbatov 66), Ronaldo, Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Rafael Da Silva, Evans, Nani.
Manchester United's attempt to make history and become the first club to defend the Champions League ended in failure against Barcelona in Rome's Stadio Olimpico.
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson's hopes of repeating last year's triumph against Chelsea barely got off the ground as they ended well beaten by a Barcelona side inspired by the genius of Argentine superstar Lionel Messi.
United started the final, played in stifling heat, as if retaining their crown would be little more than a formality, creating a host of early chances against the nervous-looking Catalans, with Cristiano Ronaldo a constant threat.
But once Samuel Eto'o scored at Edwin van der Sar's near post in the 10th minute after escaping Nemanja Vidic, the credits were rolling on their bid to add the Champions League to the Premier League for the second successive season.
First blood: Barcelona took the lead with their first attack on Edwin van der Sar's goal
Barcelona's peerless midfield pair of Andres Iniesta and Xavi ruled midfield with a display of passing perfection, starving United of further opportunities to strike at a defence weakened by injuries and suspension.
Xavi hit the post with a free-kick and Thierry Henry was denied by Van der Sar before Messi crowned a glorious personal performance with a stunning header to clinch victory with 20 minutes remaining.
EUROPEAN CUP/CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FACTS AND FIGURES
Before last night, the last time a European Cup Final/Champions League Final finished 2-0 was in 1975, when Bayern Munich beat Leeds United.
And before last night, Manchester United were unbeaten in their last 25 Champions League games.
Last night's defeat was Manchester United's first ever defeat in a European Cup Final/Champions League Final.
London and Paris have hosted the most European Cup/Champions League Finals (5 times each). Rome, which hosted last night's final, is next, having hosted it four times.
Real Madrid have won the European Cup nine times, more than any other team. They were winners in 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000 and 2002. Next are AC Milan (7 wins), Liverpool (5), Bayern Munich and Ajax (4) and Barcelona and Manchester United (3). Five teams have won it twice, and nine teams have won it once.
Only two players have ever been sent off in a Champions League Final - and both of them played for English teams. Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was sent off in the 2006 Final against Barcelona for fouling Eto'o, and Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was sent off in the 2008 Final against Manchester United for slapping Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic.
Before last night, English and Spanish clubs had won the competition the joint most times - clubs from both countries had won it 11 times. Now, Spanish clubs have the outright lead, with 12 wins.
The first British winners of the European Cup were Glasgow Celtic, in 1967 (the only time a Scottish team has won it). In 1968, Manchester United became the first English winners.
English teams to have won the European Cup - Manchester United (1968 ), Liverpool (1977), Liverpool (1978 ), Nottingham Forest (1979), Nottingham Forest (1980), Liverpool (1981), Aston Villa (1982), Liverpool (1984), Manchester United (1999), Liverpool (2005), Manchester United (2008 ).
English teams were banned from the competition from 1985-1990, following the Heysel Stadium disaster. During the 1985 European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus (which Juventus won 1-0), the English fans charged and attacked the Italian fans, leaving 39 of them dead. Current UEFA president, Michel Platini, scored the game's only goal.
The manager to have won its most times is Bob Paisley, who won it three times with Liverpool (1977, 1978, 1981).
Liverpool's Rafael Benítez is the only manager to have won the UEFA Cup and the Champions League in consecutive seasons with two different clubs, winning the UEFA Cup in 2004 with Valencia and the Champions League in 2005 with Liverpool.
The fastest ever Champions League goal was scored by Bayern Munich's Roy Makaay in 10.3 seconds against Real Madrid in 2007.
The youngest player to score a hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League is Wayne Rooney aged 18, on his Champions League debut for Manchester United, in a 6-2 home win against Fenerbache in 2004. This achievement was even more special, given the fact that it was also his first ever appearance for Manchester United!
He made a mockery of his tiny stature to rise and head home Xavi's cross - and in that magical moment any hopes United harboured of a recovery were snuffed out.
If the showdown between Messi and Ronaldo was billed as the spectacular sub-plot within this showpiece, there was only one winner as Barcelona's playmaker terrorised United throughout.
Ronaldo, for all his obvious frustrations that ended almost inevitably in a yellow card for a late barge on Carles Puyol, never stopped running but this was not to be his night or United's.
Ferguson warned in the build-up that Iniesta - arguably the game's most influential performer - and Xavi could put opponents "on a carousel" with their passing, and his prediction proved ominously correct as United were on a rough ride after the optimism of those opening 10 minutes.
Once Barcelona had settled after the early goal, there was no way back for United as several changes in formation failed to produce a spark and Wayne Rooney was unable to exert any influence on events, first from the left flank and then from the centre.
And as Barcelona's name was carved on the giant trophy at the final whistle, with the celebrations of the Catalan fans a sharp contrast to the subdued Manchester United supporters, there was no doubting their right to claim Europe's elite trophy for the third time.
Ryan Giggs took the place of the suspended Darren Fletcher in the United line-up - and for the first 10 minutes they penned a nervous Barcelona back in their own territory.
The game was only two minutes old when Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes fumbled Ronaldo's free-kick, and only the crucial intervention of former United defender Gerard Pique prevented Ji-Sung Park turning in the rebound.
Ronaldo was then twice narrowly off target before Barcelona made their first serious incursion into United territory. And it was to devastating effect as they turned the opening exchanges upside down to take the lead.
Ronaldo shows his frustration as United stumble to a limp defeat
Barcelona will credit the brilliance of Eto'o, but it was a cheap shot from United's viewpoint as the Cameroon striker was allowed to escape by Vidic and keeper Van der Sar's effort to block the effort at his near post was flimsy, to put it kindly.
It was against the run of play, but gave Barcelona a visible injection of confidence and adrenalin, allowing Messi to pull the strings up front and Xavi and Iniesta to take control of midfield.
Iniesta may have been an injury doubt prior to this final, but there was little evidence of fitness problems as he produced a virtuoso demonstration of the modern midfield arts, leaving United to chase in vain in an attempt to regain possession for the latter stages of the opening half.
In one magical moment, all three of Vidic, Michael Carrick and Rooney were foiled in an attempt to take the ball away from Messi, with the Argentine eventually forcing a foul.
Head of the class: ultimately the pressure toll and Lionel Messi headed over the hapless Van der Sar
Rooney was a peripheral figure, pushed to the margins of the game on the left flank. He was too important a figure to be starved of possession and influence in this system, and it was no surprise when Ferguson pushed him inside as half-time approached.
Ferguson made another switch during the interval, sending on Carlos Tevez for the ineffective Anderson, a positive move that reflected United's failure to build on their early domination.
Kings of Europe: Carlos Puyol, the Barcelona captain, holds aloft the European Cup after his side beat Manchester United 2-0 in the Olympic Stadium, Rome, as the Catalan side completed an historic treble
It was not a quick fix as Barcelona simply continued in their imperious stride after the break, Thierry Henry tricking his way inside Rio Ferdinand only to be denied by the legs of Van der Sar.
Xavi then almost doubled Barcelona's lead with a 20-yard free-kick following Vidic's foul on Messi. He beat Van der Sar with his curling effort, but it rebounded off an upright to safety.
United were struggling to get a clear sight of Barcelona's goal, and in a bid to remedy this problem Ferguson sent on Dimitar Berbatov for Park with 25 minutes remaining.
The change had no chance to take effect before Barcelona deservedly went two up five minutes later. Xavi was the creator with a cross that looked too high for Messi, but he expertly soared to send a header over Van der Sar.
United looked to mount an instant response, with Valdes blocking crucially from Ronaldo, but there was no way back and it was Barcelona who looked more likely to add to their lead.
Van der Sar saved well from Puyol as Barcelona dominated until the final whistle - and not even the most partisan Manchester United follower can doubt that Pep Guardiola deserved to round off a dream first season in charge by adding the Champions League to the La Liga title and the Spanish Cup.
Hat-trick hero: not only did Pep Guardiola, the Barcelona manager, guide his club to the pinnacle of European football, but he also wrested the Spanish league title from Real Madrid and won the Copa del Rey
Olé: the Barcelona supporters were in confident mood ahead of the big match
Red rovers: the United fans also savoured the atmosphere in the Italian capital
For Sir Matt: the United fans paid tribute to Sir Matt Busby, their former manager, a day after the 100th anniversary of his birth
Heavy hitters: Michel Platini (left), Uefa president, Prince William (centre), FA president and Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian president, all managed to get tickets for European football's biggest game
Left back: there was no place in Sir Alex Ferguson's squad for club captain Gary Neville (left)
Free rein: Cristiano Ronaldo's early free-kick tested the Barcelona defence
Key moment: Ji-sung Park (right) caught the rebound after the shot hit the goalkeeper but failed to convert
Turning point: after United's early onslaught Samuel Eto'o, Barcelona's Cameroon forward, collected a pass from Andres Iniesta before cutting inside from the right channel towards United's goal
Statuesque: Eto'o left Nemanja Vidic in his wake as he dazzled United's defence
Head over heels: as the ball went goalwards Eto'o lost his balance
First blood: Barcelona took the lead with their first attack on Edwin van der Sar's goal
In pursuit of greatness: Eto'o, chased by Iniesta, reeled away in celebration
Underwhelmed: Ronaldo was not impressed
Screen gem: spectators in Barcelona's Maremagnum Square started to celebrate . .
. . . their opposites in Manchester did not share their enthusiasm
Not tonight: a minute later Ronaldo fluffed a chance to begin United's fightback
Reality check: but the die was cast and United lost to the better side
Kings of Europe: Carlos Puyol, the Barcelona captain, holds aloft the European Cup after his side beat Manchester United 2-0 in the Olympic Stadium, Rome, as the Catalan side completed an historic treble
news.bbc.co.uk/sport
telegraph.co.uk
It was also a battle between Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona's Lionel Messi as to who is the world's best player.
Both battles were won by Barcelona and Messi, as the Catalan giants lifted the European Cup for the third time, as the Spanish champions beat the English champions 2-0.
It is the first time that Manchester United have lost in a European Cup Final or a Champions League Final (the old European Cup became the Champions League in 1992)..
2-0 is, for some reason, a rare scoreline in a European Cup Final/Champions League Final. The last time a European Cup Final/Champions League Final finished 2-0 was back in 1975, and an English team were defeated on that occasion, too - Leeds United, against Bayern Munich.
There have now been 54 European Cup Finals and only six of them - in 1957, 1959, 1971, 1972, 1975 and 2009 - have finished 2-0.
Manchester United, who have won the tournament three times - 1968 (4-1 against Benfica), 1999 (2-1 against Bayern Munich), 2008 (1-1 against Chelsea; aet, winning 6-5 on penalties) were hoping to become the first team since AC Milan in 1990 to win it two years in succesion but, apart from the opening 10 minutes, they were never really in it.
Barcelona have now equalled Manchester United in number of wins, having won it in 1992 (1-0 against Sampdoria), 2006 (2-1 against Arsenal) and this year.
Prince William, who is the president of the English Football Association, was at the game. Both he and the UEFA president, Michel Platini, sat together, and seemed like old pals!
BBC Sport
European Champions: Carlos Puyol, the Barcelona captain, holds aloft the European Cup after his side beat Manchester United 2-0 in the Olympic Stadium, Rome, as the Catalan side completed an historic treble
EUROPEAN CUP FINAL
(At the Stadio Olimpico, Rome. Attendance: 72,200)
Barcelona 2-0 Manchester United
Eto'o 10
Messi 70
Barcelona: Valdes, Puyol, Toure Yaya, Pique, Sylvinho, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta (Pedrito 90), Messi, Eto'o, Henry (Keita 72).
Subs Not Used: Pinto, Caceres, Muniesa, Gudjohnsen, Bojan.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Anderson (Tevez 46), Carrick, Giggs (Scholes 75), Park (Berbatov 66), Ronaldo, Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Rafael Da Silva, Evans, Nani.
Manchester United's attempt to make history and become the first club to defend the Champions League ended in failure against Barcelona in Rome's Stadio Olimpico.
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson's hopes of repeating last year's triumph against Chelsea barely got off the ground as they ended well beaten by a Barcelona side inspired by the genius of Argentine superstar Lionel Messi.
United started the final, played in stifling heat, as if retaining their crown would be little more than a formality, creating a host of early chances against the nervous-looking Catalans, with Cristiano Ronaldo a constant threat.
But once Samuel Eto'o scored at Edwin van der Sar's near post in the 10th minute after escaping Nemanja Vidic, the credits were rolling on their bid to add the Champions League to the Premier League for the second successive season.
First blood: Barcelona took the lead with their first attack on Edwin van der Sar's goal
Barcelona's peerless midfield pair of Andres Iniesta and Xavi ruled midfield with a display of passing perfection, starving United of further opportunities to strike at a defence weakened by injuries and suspension.
Xavi hit the post with a free-kick and Thierry Henry was denied by Van der Sar before Messi crowned a glorious personal performance with a stunning header to clinch victory with 20 minutes remaining.
EUROPEAN CUP/CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FACTS AND FIGURES
Before last night, the last time a European Cup Final/Champions League Final finished 2-0 was in 1975, when Bayern Munich beat Leeds United.
And before last night, Manchester United were unbeaten in their last 25 Champions League games.
Last night's defeat was Manchester United's first ever defeat in a European Cup Final/Champions League Final.
London and Paris have hosted the most European Cup/Champions League Finals (5 times each). Rome, which hosted last night's final, is next, having hosted it four times.
Real Madrid have won the European Cup nine times, more than any other team. They were winners in 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000 and 2002. Next are AC Milan (7 wins), Liverpool (5), Bayern Munich and Ajax (4) and Barcelona and Manchester United (3). Five teams have won it twice, and nine teams have won it once.
Only two players have ever been sent off in a Champions League Final - and both of them played for English teams. Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was sent off in the 2006 Final against Barcelona for fouling Eto'o, and Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was sent off in the 2008 Final against Manchester United for slapping Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic.
Before last night, English and Spanish clubs had won the competition the joint most times - clubs from both countries had won it 11 times. Now, Spanish clubs have the outright lead, with 12 wins.
The first British winners of the European Cup were Glasgow Celtic, in 1967 (the only time a Scottish team has won it). In 1968, Manchester United became the first English winners.
English teams to have won the European Cup - Manchester United (1968 ), Liverpool (1977), Liverpool (1978 ), Nottingham Forest (1979), Nottingham Forest (1980), Liverpool (1981), Aston Villa (1982), Liverpool (1984), Manchester United (1999), Liverpool (2005), Manchester United (2008 ).
English teams were banned from the competition from 1985-1990, following the Heysel Stadium disaster. During the 1985 European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus (which Juventus won 1-0), the English fans charged and attacked the Italian fans, leaving 39 of them dead. Current UEFA president, Michel Platini, scored the game's only goal.
The manager to have won its most times is Bob Paisley, who won it three times with Liverpool (1977, 1978, 1981).
Liverpool's Rafael Benítez is the only manager to have won the UEFA Cup and the Champions League in consecutive seasons with two different clubs, winning the UEFA Cup in 2004 with Valencia and the Champions League in 2005 with Liverpool.
The fastest ever Champions League goal was scored by Bayern Munich's Roy Makaay in 10.3 seconds against Real Madrid in 2007.
The youngest player to score a hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League is Wayne Rooney aged 18, on his Champions League debut for Manchester United, in a 6-2 home win against Fenerbache in 2004. This achievement was even more special, given the fact that it was also his first ever appearance for Manchester United!
He made a mockery of his tiny stature to rise and head home Xavi's cross - and in that magical moment any hopes United harboured of a recovery were snuffed out.
If the showdown between Messi and Ronaldo was billed as the spectacular sub-plot within this showpiece, there was only one winner as Barcelona's playmaker terrorised United throughout.
Ronaldo, for all his obvious frustrations that ended almost inevitably in a yellow card for a late barge on Carles Puyol, never stopped running but this was not to be his night or United's.
Ferguson warned in the build-up that Iniesta - arguably the game's most influential performer - and Xavi could put opponents "on a carousel" with their passing, and his prediction proved ominously correct as United were on a rough ride after the optimism of those opening 10 minutes.
Once Barcelona had settled after the early goal, there was no way back for United as several changes in formation failed to produce a spark and Wayne Rooney was unable to exert any influence on events, first from the left flank and then from the centre.
And as Barcelona's name was carved on the giant trophy at the final whistle, with the celebrations of the Catalan fans a sharp contrast to the subdued Manchester United supporters, there was no doubting their right to claim Europe's elite trophy for the third time.
Ryan Giggs took the place of the suspended Darren Fletcher in the United line-up - and for the first 10 minutes they penned a nervous Barcelona back in their own territory.
The game was only two minutes old when Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes fumbled Ronaldo's free-kick, and only the crucial intervention of former United defender Gerard Pique prevented Ji-Sung Park turning in the rebound.
Ronaldo was then twice narrowly off target before Barcelona made their first serious incursion into United territory. And it was to devastating effect as they turned the opening exchanges upside down to take the lead.
Ronaldo shows his frustration as United stumble to a limp defeat
Barcelona will credit the brilliance of Eto'o, but it was a cheap shot from United's viewpoint as the Cameroon striker was allowed to escape by Vidic and keeper Van der Sar's effort to block the effort at his near post was flimsy, to put it kindly.
It was against the run of play, but gave Barcelona a visible injection of confidence and adrenalin, allowing Messi to pull the strings up front and Xavi and Iniesta to take control of midfield.
Iniesta may have been an injury doubt prior to this final, but there was little evidence of fitness problems as he produced a virtuoso demonstration of the modern midfield arts, leaving United to chase in vain in an attempt to regain possession for the latter stages of the opening half.
In one magical moment, all three of Vidic, Michael Carrick and Rooney were foiled in an attempt to take the ball away from Messi, with the Argentine eventually forcing a foul.
Head of the class: ultimately the pressure toll and Lionel Messi headed over the hapless Van der Sar
Rooney was a peripheral figure, pushed to the margins of the game on the left flank. He was too important a figure to be starved of possession and influence in this system, and it was no surprise when Ferguson pushed him inside as half-time approached.
Ferguson made another switch during the interval, sending on Carlos Tevez for the ineffective Anderson, a positive move that reflected United's failure to build on their early domination.
Kings of Europe: Carlos Puyol, the Barcelona captain, holds aloft the European Cup after his side beat Manchester United 2-0 in the Olympic Stadium, Rome, as the Catalan side completed an historic treble
It was not a quick fix as Barcelona simply continued in their imperious stride after the break, Thierry Henry tricking his way inside Rio Ferdinand only to be denied by the legs of Van der Sar.
Xavi then almost doubled Barcelona's lead with a 20-yard free-kick following Vidic's foul on Messi. He beat Van der Sar with his curling effort, but it rebounded off an upright to safety.
United were struggling to get a clear sight of Barcelona's goal, and in a bid to remedy this problem Ferguson sent on Dimitar Berbatov for Park with 25 minutes remaining.
The change had no chance to take effect before Barcelona deservedly went two up five minutes later. Xavi was the creator with a cross that looked too high for Messi, but he expertly soared to send a header over Van der Sar.
United looked to mount an instant response, with Valdes blocking crucially from Ronaldo, but there was no way back and it was Barcelona who looked more likely to add to their lead.
Van der Sar saved well from Puyol as Barcelona dominated until the final whistle - and not even the most partisan Manchester United follower can doubt that Pep Guardiola deserved to round off a dream first season in charge by adding the Champions League to the La Liga title and the Spanish Cup.
Hat-trick hero: not only did Pep Guardiola, the Barcelona manager, guide his club to the pinnacle of European football, but he also wrested the Spanish league title from Real Madrid and won the Copa del Rey
Olé: the Barcelona supporters were in confident mood ahead of the big match
Red rovers: the United fans also savoured the atmosphere in the Italian capital
For Sir Matt: the United fans paid tribute to Sir Matt Busby, their former manager, a day after the 100th anniversary of his birth
Heavy hitters: Michel Platini (left), Uefa president, Prince William (centre), FA president and Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian president, all managed to get tickets for European football's biggest game
Left back: there was no place in Sir Alex Ferguson's squad for club captain Gary Neville (left)
Free rein: Cristiano Ronaldo's early free-kick tested the Barcelona defence
Key moment: Ji-sung Park (right) caught the rebound after the shot hit the goalkeeper but failed to convert
Turning point: after United's early onslaught Samuel Eto'o, Barcelona's Cameroon forward, collected a pass from Andres Iniesta before cutting inside from the right channel towards United's goal
Statuesque: Eto'o left Nemanja Vidic in his wake as he dazzled United's defence
Head over heels: as the ball went goalwards Eto'o lost his balance
First blood: Barcelona took the lead with their first attack on Edwin van der Sar's goal
In pursuit of greatness: Eto'o, chased by Iniesta, reeled away in celebration
Underwhelmed: Ronaldo was not impressed
Screen gem: spectators in Barcelona's Maremagnum Square started to celebrate . .
. . . their opposites in Manchester did not share their enthusiasm
Not tonight: a minute later Ronaldo fluffed a chance to begin United's fightback
Reality check: but the die was cast and United lost to the better side
Kings of Europe: Carlos Puyol, the Barcelona captain, holds aloft the European Cup after his side beat Manchester United 2-0 in the Olympic Stadium, Rome, as the Catalan side completed an historic treble
news.bbc.co.uk/sport
telegraph.co.uk
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