Barcelona vs Manchester United LIVE Commentary

90′ +3

It's all over! Barcelona are the champions of Europe...

90′ +3

Yellow Card Nemanja Vidic

90′ +2

Vidic is booked for a rash tackle on Messi. No need for that at this stage. A frustrated challenge!

90′ +2

Substitution

Andrés Iniesta Luján

Pedro

90′ +1

Messi could have had another, following Iniesta's lofted pass! But Vidic recovered to hook the ball away for a corner. Surely Barcelona will run the clock down now!

90′

Three minutes of injury time. It's all but over for Ferguson and company...

89′

We move into the final minute. The early goal from Barcelona took the wind from Manchester United sails and they could not recover. Barca deserve the lead they take to the 90th minute!

88′

Tevez! He took the ball away from Toure really well, but Pique was there to halt the Argentinian's progress! Vital stuff!

87′

United have some pressure now; a corner from the left makes a corner from the right thanks to the intervention of Puyol. Berbatov could not control his header from the resultant kick and Barca escape again!

84′

Excellent stuff from Barcelona! Their passing allows Puyol to run-into. He tries to chip over Van der Sar but the Dutchman saves...

82′

Barcelona go forward again, with Iniesta on the ball. He's been the man of the match tonight, without question. His passing is just so unerringly accurate.

81′

Nine minutes to go. United win possession. Evra stretches for a pass and clatters into Messi.

80′

Yellow Card Paul Scholes

80′

Iniesta misses an opportunity by picking a ball on the left, cutting in and hitting straight to Van der Sar.

78′

Yellow Card Cristiano Ronaldo

77′

Barcelona managing to hold onto the ball quite well now. Under no pressure from United at the moment...

75′

Substitution

Ryan Giggs

Paul Scholes

75′

It could have been 3! It was Puyol with the close-range header from the free-kick! Good, solid save from van der Sar!

73′

Ronaldo guilty of fouling Puyol in a crucial area; there could be a crossing opportunity for Barcelona here... Ronaldo cuts a frustrated figure with the game almost past United!

72′

What a chance for Ronaldo immediately! The ball was rolled across the six yard area and Ryan Giggs missed his kick. However, the ball found its way to Ronaldo, only four yards from goal, and he was denied by a point blank save by Valdes! An escape for Barca!

72′

Substitution

Thierry Henry

Seydou Keita

70′

IT'S 2-0 FOR BARCELONA!!! IT'S LIONEL MESSI WITH A CRUCIAL HEADER!!! Carles Puyol came forward and the ball eventually found Xavi, 20 yards from goal, at the edge of the box. Xavi let in a sumptuous cross for Messi, who had peeled away from Ferdinand! He guided a wonderful touch on target and beat van der Sar with a fine effort! What a time to score!

70′

Goal Lionel Messi

69′

There's encouragement for United now; another corner is won and Ryan Giggs comes across to provide the in-swinger... Barcelona clear again....

66′

United switch their formation to a 4-2-4, with Dimitar Berbatov replacing Park Ji-sung. It's all out attack stuff now for Ferguson's team!

66′

Substitution

Ji-Sung Park

Dimitar Berbatov

65′

Iniesta adjudged to have gone down too easily against Rio Ferdinand after tore United's midfield to shards. No decision and the Devils come clear!

64′

United win a corner after finding space in the Barca back-line; Rooney broke the line and found a track to run on the right. His cross for Ronaldo was low, but was blocked out. Nothing comes of it

61′

What a chance for United! Michael Carrick, finding Ronaldo's pass treads a ball through to Rooney, but the ball beats the no.10 to the touchline before he has a chance to cross!

58′

Ronaldo flagged offside again; he was played off by Puyol as United sought to get a quick free-kick back into play! United still have not have any joy here in the second half...

56′

Rooney's cross comes all the way through the box! What a delivery from the Englishman! Ronaldo just missed the flight of the ball and the bounce evaded Park! Good attempt from Rooney to inspire something!

55′

Better from United. Rooney sends in another cross from the right. Ronaldo misses while Park is beaten by the bounce...

54′

United come forward against a wall of boos! Pique nods away a Rooney cross as the team in white finally lift the pressure!

53′

It's Rooney and Park on the flanks instead with Ronaldo joining Tevez upfront. Rooney sends in a cross where none of his team-mates are present...

52′

Barcelona win a free-kick. Xavi's shot is kept out by Van der Sar for a corner. Manchester United look in trouble

50′

Barcelona players appeal for a penalty as Messi goes down under a John O'Shea challenge. Ref Bussaca thinks otherwise...

49′

ETO'O!!! The Cameroonian found himself on the end of Sylvinho's cross but van der Sar managed to block!

48′

Henry comes to haunt Manchester United. Henry cuts inside Ferdinand and shoots straight at Van der Sar from 10 yards.

46′

Giggs could join Carrick in the middle with Ronaldo and Park on the flanks. Rooney shall join Tevez upfront

45′

Substitution

Anderson

Carlos Tevez

Sir Alex Ferguson decides to substitute Anderson for another South American in Carlos Tevez. Can United equalize or even win it?

Iniesta again pulling the strings, with a lofted ball narrowly failing to find Henry in the box. It's half-time...

45′

Lionel Messi crossed from the left and van der Sar, under no pressure, inexplicably dropped the ball. Luckily, it was Vidic following up!

44′

Messi and Iniesta almost combine immaculately on the edge of the box; possession was given to them by an errant O'Shea clearance. Iniesta's back-heel was close to setting Messi away, even though he was in close proximity to Ferdinand. Barcelona's key strength in attack is finding passes in limited spaces...

41′

United's attempted break, given to them by a Busquets mistake, is ended abruptly by Xavi's tackle on Park. Ronaldo led the break, but the Portugal forward is having a more limited impact just now, following a personally encouraging opening period..

40′

Busquets gives the ball away to Giggs, who sends Park skipping down the left flank, only to be dispossessed by Yaya Toure.

37′

Messi almost found Henry with an audacious through-ball, but Ferdinand intercepted. United come clear but there is evidence of the Barca attack finding space between the midfield and defence. Messi, in a free-role of sorts, is pulling the strings high up the field. Iniesta is matching his efforts deeper in midfield...

35′

From that corner, Barca win another one, from which Vidic just beats the onrushing Pique.

34′

Vidic cuts in a low cross by Puyol and Barca earn a corner. Henry was lurking in the middle should Vidic not have cleared it...

33′

It's United playing keep-ball now; they are trying to match Barcelona fire-with-fire and are having a modicum of joy. No doubt, the Red Devils can make use of the ball when they have it, but Barcelona do like to hog it...

31′

The early dominance seems to have fizzled out for Manchester United...The goal of Eto'o has cut their confidence.

29′

United's mid to long range passing has yet to bear fruit for them. They are attempting to locate the space behind Puyol, but are having no luck as yet...

27′

Lionel Messi is fouled, but he looked like he wanted to keep going. It was Vidic with the foul mid-way inside the United half. Barcelona have ridden out the early pressure but are a confident prospect now...

26′

Anderson ends the run of 50 odd passes with an uncompromising foul on the edge of the box. Iniesta was his victim and Barca have a dead-ball chance. From 30 yards out, Xavi curls and it's not wide off the upright.

25′

Barcelona look to keep the possession as Xavi is looking for the killer through ball. Ferdinand cuts the imminent danger

23′

We have reached mid-way through the first half and Barcelona are leading. United have had the better chances but have nothing to show for it.

21′

That was Ronaldo's fifth attempt in the last 20 minutes or so. But United are trailing...

21′

Carrick's diagonal ball to Rooney ses the United number 10 earn a corner. Ronaldo heads it over amidst some poor marking from Barcelona...

20′

Ronaldo decides to go for goal instead of the more viable option of passing it to Wayne Rooney. Apology from the Portuguese star to the English international...

18′

Barcelona are attacking from the right. Eto'o finds Messi, who rifles the ball over. Van Der Sar is a little annoyed with Ferdinand...

16′

Pique is booked early. Ryan Giggs steps up and the ball goes over the bar...

16′

Yellow Card Gerard Piqué

14′

Barcelona midfield are seen in stroking the ball in the middle. A misplaced pass by Messi gives the possession to United. Ronaldo breaks free and Pique fouls him. Free-kick to United.

13′

United hope to recover from the sucker punch. Eto'o's goal has been a shocker after their bright start...

13′

Ronaldo finds Giggs on the left-wing, but the experienced player was fractionally offside!

12′

Barcelona look better and that's what a goal can do to your confidence. Anderson would rue allowing Iniesta to get the ball and Vidic would wonder where did he leave his best form?

10′

There's no respite for United as Barcelona win a corner. Messi swings and misses.

10′

Goal Eto'o

9′

WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT!!! SAMUEL ETO'O HAS SCORED FOR BARCELONA!!!! IT'S BARCELONA'S FIRST ATTACK AND THEY'VE SCORED!!! He drove easily past Nemanja Vidic following Iniesta's pass and toe-poked through the legs of Edwin van der Sar! What a sucker punch to the English team!

7′

Ronaldo has another shot from distance! A volley from a dropping ball diagonally across the face of the goal.

6′

Ferdinand sends a cross-field ball towards Rooney, who traps it perfectly on the left wing. He plays a pass to the byline for Giggs to chase, but there's too much weight on the ball and it rolls wide.

5′

Barcelona players aren;t given a moment to settle. It's all United for now. Rooney's crossfield pass is a little over-hit and Park cannot manage to control it over the top inside the Barca area.

3′

The world champions have started on a positive note...Valdes spills a Ronaldo free-kick and Pique denies his ex-mate Park from scoring. Rooney's volley goes over....

2′

Too early to give a free-kick Barcelona. Anderson has been fouled and the referee whistles. It's going to be Cristiano Ronaldo to shoot from 35 yards... Can United score?

AND WE'RE OFF!!! Barcelona kick-off from right to left and an early error from Victor Valdes gives United a throw-in on the right flank!

Despite having Tevez and Berbatov at his disposal, Sir Alex Ferguson has decided to keep them on the bench. Park is the first Asian to feature in the Champions League finals! The good news for Barcelona is that Henry and Iniesta are fit to start.

Boy! There's so much at stake here! Sir Alex Ferguson would be looking for his third title which would equal Bob Paisely's three triumphs with Liverpool. Pep Guardiola would become the third individual to win the trophy first as a player and then as a coach of the same club after Miguel Munoz of Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti of Milan.

The two teams have met in European competitions nine times. United have won three, Barca two and four matches have ended in draws. Their only meeting in a final came in the 1991 Cup Winners Cup final which the English side won 2-1.

Man United have a perfect record in Champions League (previously called European Cup) finals, winning three out of three finals. Barcelona have won only two out of five finals. Can they add to it?

The D-Day has come! The champions of Spain will square-off against the champions of England! Many feel that this is a dream final and we believe it is. Catch all the action from Stadio Olimpico only on Goal.com...

	Goals	Penalties
Mario Gomez Striker FC Bayern München	7	0
Lionel Messi Striker Barcelona	6	2
Bafetimbi Gomis Striker Olympique Lyonnais	6	0
Alexander Frei Striker Basel	5	2
Roberto Soldado Striker Valencia	5	1

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