Greetings from the Stadio Olimpico in Roma... I mean an Irish bar in New York City... I mean my couch, with a doped-up cocktail of cold medicine! But enough about me, your not-so-humble, meekly constituted liveblogger. Today is the Day of Days. The most exciting evening of this footballing season is upon us. United and Barca, champions of their respective domestic leagues, have been the best in the world (see: UF Power Polls) for the better part of a year. Now in just minutes they shall settle it all on the Roman turf.
Could there have been a better matchup? Has there ever been? Simon Kuper, author of Football Against the Enemy, and a columnist for the Financial Times, posits that just maybe, this is as good as it's ever been.
More questions, quotes, predictions, lineups, then the action... all after the jump.
First and foremost, we put our sacred honor on the line:
Lingering Bursitis says... "2-1 Barcelona in extra time"
Precious Roy: "3-2 Blaugrana on a 89th minute strike from Titty"
Autoglass adds, "I'm going 3-2 Barca as well"
ian is bold: "5-4 Barca hattie for Titty final of the decade"
u75 is bland: "1-0 Man U"
The Liveblog Lad is hopeful: "3-1 Barca. Remember Eto'o."
Bigus Dickus reports from The South, "1-1, pens." No indication of what he believes will transpire in the lotto.
Here are the teams:
United:
Van der Sar
O'Shea, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Park, Ronaldo, Rooney
Subs: Kuszczak, Berbatov, Nani, Scholes, Rafael, Evans, Tevez.
Barca:
Valdes, Puyol, Toure, Pique, Sylvinho, Busquets, Iniesta, Xavi, Messi, Eto'o, Henry.
Subs: Pinto, Caceres, Gudjohnsen, Krkic, Keita, Rodriguez, Muniesa.
Per Lingering Bursitis: I'm thinking 4-3-3s for everyone!
Quotes from Rome, courtesy BBC:
The Players...
Lionel Messi: "Cristiano Ronaldo is a player I'd pay to watch. He and I are very different, but he is unbelievable, very special. As for me, I have no desire to ever leave Barca. I owe them so much. The doctors at home in Argentina told my parents I would never grow past 4ft 5in. Nobody took a chance on me apart from Barcelona. I want to repay them for the rest of my career."
Cristiano Ronaldo: "It's normal that people speak about me but I am 100% focused on this game. I will try to help my team 100%, score a goal and win the game. That's it."
Wayne Rooney: "Barcelona are one of the most attractive and exciting teams in Europe so it'll be a difficult night. Lionel Messi is an amazing player. He's so quick, his control is unbelievable and he scores goals. In my eyes he's one of the best."
Thierry Henry: "I've definitely changed opinions about me this season. Now I feel the affection of the Camp Nou fans. This is a club where, to triumph, you have to understand not only the fans but the club., the city and the fact that Catalonia is not Spain. That took me too long to realise when I arrived."
Patrice Evra "You can be the best in Europe but when you beat a team like Barcelona you can be more proud... I have respect for Chelsea but against Barcelona it will be an amazing final."
"You will remember it every day for the rest of your life if you win a Champions League final against Barcelona... This is not only the Champions League final, this is something else."
The Legends...
Sir Bobby Charlton: "I've seen Sir Alex at close quarters more than anyone else, so I think with his record I would have to say yes. Not only what he's done at Manchester United but the influence he has on other young managers - there are lots and lots of young managers who dream of achieving what Sir Alex Ferguson has done."
Johan Cruyff: "Manchester United play good, daring football and it will be a great spectacle. The suspensions of Daniel Alves and Eric Abidal hurt Barca more than Darren Fletcher's hurts United because if you look at the English team's bench, you can see they have the stronger squad."
The Peanut Gallery...
Fabio Capello: "You are talking about two teams loaded with top-class players, all of them capable of deciding the outcome with a single move. They are the two most entertaining teams in the world and let's hope that the final will be entertaining too."
Henry Winter: "It'll be Wayne Rooney's sort of game. He will probably play wide left against Carlos Puyol, who is an ageing right-back and I think it'll be Rooney's final. If Manchester United win, I think they will be the greatest British team of all time, eclipsing the Liverpool team of 1984."
2:05 PM-- First ESPN eyesore! In SC rundown, they swap Champions League for "UEFA Cup" as if they are one and the same. As if!
2:24 PM: One minute to the Chaaaaaampions!
2:26 PM: Our Preeeecious, Roy, is at Chi-town's Fearon's to watch. By 30 mins to kick he reports that not only is the place less full than last year, he's the only one not in United gear. Might seem odd, but when you figure that a United-Chelsea final was the gloryhunter convention of the decade, it kinda makes sense.
2:33 PM: So do we need an expert to tell us United are looking to clog up the midfield, in an effort to stifle Xavi & Iniesta, and cut them off from Messi, Eto'o, and Henry? Of course, with United, most of those "stifling" midfielders are perfectly capable of potting one from 30 yards. Head vs. Heart here...
2:38 PM: Lingering Bursitis reports:
pick of the twitter #championsleague
kingjbell: Funyuns and pineapple fanta got a n***a on!!! Chillin bout to watch the champions league final flippin between dat and the french open!
Indeed, kingjbell, indeed. Funyuns and Pineapple Fanta. WHO CAN TOP THAT???
2:41 PM: Terrifying Bjork-esque Gold-plated Mermaid character carries CL trophy onto field as teams emerge from underneath.
Gladiator reference #3 is registered by Mr. Rae. Over/Under for the match? I think 17.
2:43 PM: Oh really, Derek Rae? Haaaad to make the Swiss ref/neutrality joke? Neeever saw that coming. Someone studied their playbook last night.
2:45 PM ET: We're off! (Sounds looooud!)
1: United look like Real in their silky whites. Barca should hope...
2: Ronaldo free kick knuckles under Valdes, who just gets a hand to it... deflection pushed out for a corner, which is cleared.
4: Rooney wheels around to find Park shooting down the right. Alas, it's a bit tall for the Korean. Goal kick.
5: I too am trying digest this "Ronaldo alone up front" business. He's either drifted left, or ESPN is just fuckin' with us.
7: United are owning possession so far. No meaningful touches for any of Barca big boy, thus far.
8: Ronaldo with his second shot. Off-target, but nooot by much.
9: Evra sends in Ronaldo, who settles a bouncing ball, only to pull it just left of Valdes's post. That might have been 1-0...
10: 1-0 Barcelona!! Iniesta feeds Eto'o, who snaps one under Edwin's left hand
Go check the predictions, please... I really need to start gambling
12: So this whole "first goal" thing seems to have had an effect on the Catalans. They have taken the initiative.
13: Messi pulled down after a comedy of errors by United (Carrick then Anderson)... no whistle.
16: Gerry Pique blocks a freewheelin' Ronaldo after giving up possesion. He sees yellow. Ronaldo has another shot from steps outside the box.
Giggs takes it with the left foot... aaaaand.... sends a balloon into the crowd. Goal kick.
Bigus just saw Giggs miss the target on this television, in lovely Lake George, NY
19: Messi cuts in from the right, his shot just barely over vdS's glove and the crossbar.
21: Ronaldo take his chance now. His comes from a bit further out, but misses by just as narrow a margin. Balls skips wide right on slick turf.
22: Valdes is a bit nicked up after Park runs into him. Looks like he's done taking goalkicks.
United corner now...
23: Giggs into a well-marked Ronaldo, who heads way over the bar.
Pique takes the goal kick.
25-26: Barca hold possession, look more and more threatening. Look like European champions...
26: Iniesta dragged down by Anderson.. free kick for Xabi, 25 yds out.
Goes two feet wide of the upper 90. Goal kick.
28: Messi grabs Carrick's penis as they go tumbling about the middle of the pitch.
(over the shorts, excuse me)
29: United going to the loooong ball. They fail, at first. Trying to spring Rooney...
32: Rooney feeds Evra on the left wing, his high cross is nodded clear by Pique, with Ronaldo stalking nearby. United are a bit cautious, but starting only now to recover from the shock of 0-1.
33: Barca again dancing around the midfield. I keep counting passes, juust in case they pull an Argentina and string together 27(?) before scoring the deuce.
35: Puyol with a hard low cross that Vidic punches out for a corner.
Evra heads out for another.
Pique just misses. Defender on his back hurt the cause. Throw in now for United.
37: Rio sets Ronaldo on a run up the left wing. He loses possession, THEN runs into Barca defender. Looking for a blocking call? Closer to a charge anyway. The Swiss fella is unimpressed.
39: Ronaldo and Rooney look a bit confused about who belongs where. Ronaldo dumps off to Wayne, who promptly looks for Evra to his left. Everyone wants that left side. The pass, by the way, goes out into touch. Recriminations!
40: United threaten again. Offside, now.
41: Park looking out of his depth. Berbatov or Tevez on to start the 2nd half, or soon thereafter?
44: Barca are just chipping away... buzzing around the Manc box. We await, the shoe drop...
45: Messi outruns entire United right side, cross is intercepted by vdS, who bobbles, but sees it cleared by Rio.
45 + 1: There'll be only 1 added minute, a testament to the brisk pace so far.
45+2: Iniesta looks for Henry to slither in... just missing.
AAAnd that's the half.
United have got to be glad to trail by JUST one.
Barca probably displeased to have JUST one.
Can't imagine United sends out the same XI as walked off.
HALFTIME nap. Seeya in a few.
Jesus! I'll buy some Heineken, ok?
I enjoyed those few legit commercials here on ESPN 1... then we got back to the hair plugs, soccer.com, and 87 Chaaaaaampions sing-alongs. (actually, how much to rent the pool choir??)
2nd Half:
46: Tevez on for Anderson. No surprise. Languish DImi, languish! Hahahha.
46: From Precious Roy, in Chicago:
"Shirt count [at the bar]: 15 United. 2 Barca. And one confused Mexican in an Arsenal shirt."
Why not a confused Arsenal fan born in Mexico?
47: This is it for United. No games left to play. No need to rest or rotate. Their whole season will be judged, fair or not, on how they respond this last 45 mins. So far, it's all in hand for Barca.
49: Henry set off running down the left, takes a step inside, then out-- spins around the defender-- then it's only VdS to beat. But the Dutchman is up for it.
Barca on the attack again.
50: Now it's Sylvinho pikcing out Eto'o, but again VdS snuffs it out, this time from the air.
51: Barca are running roughshod thru the United defense. Eto'o nearly finds Messi, who may have been tripped-- so he claims-- barreling down the middle.
Barca back in possession.
52: Messi wasn't touched till after the miss, anyway, Barca with another free kick from right at the top of the box... Iniesta dragged down.
53: OOOOOOOh my! Xabi rattles the post. Surely it's a matter of time before Barca strikes again.
Yet, the longer they wait, the more United would be set up for a shocking retaliation.
60: I'm not just slacking. I mean, I am, but not much has happened. United are listless.
One note: if you're watching, ignore me. But Valdes is injured. He's slowed and wearing a big wrap. Sideline reporter has reminded us of this 11x
62: Scholes is warming up.
63: Tevez is taking this "play anywhere" thing to his mongrol heart. He's a ball of energy in the midfield.
Rooney runs in on the right, but Pique defends. Out for a corner.
64: Berbs warming up now. Hmmmm.
He's called "languid" for the 87,436th time this year.
66: Henry gets a stulted shot off from the left side. Saved, easily enough.
66: Berbatov on for Park.
67: Ronaldo delivers a severe elbow to Puyol's hideous melon as they leap together... whistle? Non.
68: Carrick looks for Ronaldo, on a long run down the left, he over-kicks him. (Can I say that? Over-kicks?)
69: Pique knocks another cross out for another corner.
Giggs...
short, and picked up by Messi, who runs the byline until he runs out of space
70: Messi!!!!! Barcelona 2 - United 0 Xabi picks out Messi, who heads easily past VdS
72: Keita on For Titty. Berbatov comes flying back for United, and it's only a swell (get it) save from Valdes that preserves the lead
74: Ronaldo goes into that marauding right back CARLES PUYOL... it's a free kick from just to the left of the box for Barca.
Xabi picks out Puyol who heads a rocket right into VdS's craw.
Scholes on now for the invisible man, Ryan Giggs. A tough way to go out, if he does go out, which he won't. PFA my bollocks.
77: The traveling Catalans are in full throat. SAF looks lost. His work is done, with no subs left. Ronaldo is winding around lookng for 40 yard potshots. This looks... no! I won't say it.
78: Speaking of the devil... Ronaldo races Puyol to the baseline, then body checks him clear at the moment. Yellow for Crissy.
80: The thugs are out, as Scholes does his best to break Busquets leg. He fails. Earns yellow card for his trouble.
83: Read the silence. Nothing is happening. Not as far as United are concerned. Time bleeds away.
84: Ole Ole Ole... Barca are playing keep away in the midfield. Puyol finds a hole eventually, but VdS beats him to it. Alves, what?? Puyol has been a beast on the right!
86: I do wonder, for once, how many KM the Languid Dimitar Berbatov has travelled during his brief spell...
Puyol is officially the opposite of Franco. My point being, he seems popular with the Barca fans... :)
87: Oh, it just gets better. Berbatov scuffs a header, his and probably United's best chance of the half. He looks, emmm, nonplussed. No, no... Laaaanguid.
90: Matter of time now. Whistle! Caaaaahmon!!!!!
3 mins added.
90+2: Pep is pulling a Roy Williams and running out his benchwarmers
Iniesta off for someone. Standing oooooooh!
90+3: It is over in Rome! Barcelona are the new champions of Europe. Hugs all around. And why not? United never had a chance. Xabi and Iniesta win their second straight major title in tandem. They are legends now, if there was any doubt.
Posts
125 comments:
palpable tension!
3-0 United. Highly depressing, but I can't shake the feeling that it's gonna be ugly.
O'Shea?! FUCK!
Ok, I'm leaving now. I've seen too much already. I'll be back later tonight after I've watched the match to either gloat mercilessly or congratulate Barcelona mercilessly. Everyone, enjoy the match.
One more prediction: If United win, there will be stabbings. If United lose, there will be stabbings.
United in PK's. sadly.
Stabby McStabbington.
And who were those comely ladies in the tight bodices and skull caps?
CR alone up front?
I'll repeat my comment from two posts below because I'm so witty:
"Holy shit, ESPN shelled out to send Tommy to Rome. Hopefully, they've neglected to provide his return ticket."
Also, 2-1 ManU. Barca will pull one back late to make it interesting but I fear for the worst. Perhaps I've been watching the Cavs too much.
Funyuns are awesome. Easily my favorite onion ring-shaped snack.
I concur with Mike...0-0 AET, ManUre wins on PKs 5-4. All this talk of a classic will surely force both teams into playing a goalless draw.
Hope I'm wrong.
Teek-I think I had a nightmare about that thing last night, no doubt fueled by late night Funyun consumption.
Wow. Ronaldo up front by himself? Not sure about that, dear SAF.
I've got dark chocolate covered peanut M&Ms, GOAT.
Also, anyone want to write a thousand word critique on American conservatism since 1964 for me? By 5:30?
Christ, this is not starting well.
Puyol=Phish bassist and possible child molester Mike Gordon:
http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/1/3/2/9/21089231-21089232-slarge.jpg
Jesus that was not good. "It was a little nubbler" says our Irishman. WTF is a nubbler?
EF--how much you willing to pay?
Just type Ronald Regan=Jesus a bunch of times.
@GOAT: Probably not enough. Its a critical review of Edsall's "Chain Reaction." Interesting book, but there's only so much bullshit I can put forth in a thousand words and still manage at least a 90.
@Teek: that's literally the thesis behind the book. Oh, and blacks are lazy, and racial division means electoral victories. It's funny because it's true.
Wwwwwwait . . . ESPN has a sideline reporter at the CL final?!
So is CRon getting 3 or 4 goals today?
This is really not looking good. Barca can't get anything going.
That's how many good chances for ManU thus far?
EF--don't be so sure--I work cheap. Although that book seems somewhat outdated.
ETOO!!!!
HAHA YES! I guess they did get something going.
Wow. This is incredible. What a tandem between Iniesta and Eto'o! And the finish? Sublime.
If anyone actually got the that corner, it would have been in.
Ohmygosh Eto'o, what a champ.
*to that corner. I'm kind of amped up now.
Sarah you back Stateside? Or you watching this in some wonderful pub?
Jugadors, Seguidors
Tots units fent forca
son molts anys plens d'afanys
son molts gols que hem cridat
Hi s'ha demostrat, s'ha demostrat
Que mai ningu no hens podra torcer
Blaugran al vent
un crit valent
tenim un nom el sap tothom
BARCA BARCA BARCA
Derek McRae has some nice broadcasting phrases: "Barcelona have their tails up."
So what's the over/under on the time when CRon starts whining?
I would love to be in that stadium right now. It sounds amazing.
I don't like the looks of this free kick
Nah EF, I get back to the states next month. I'm watching on itv. Commentators are in the tank for Manure of course. They know nothing about Spanish football but keep spewing out random facts like "Iniesta hasn't played in 11 days" to make it sound like they know what they're talking about.
Ronaldo will have at least 15 shots tonight.
Victor Valdes sounds like the name of a Mexican gun-runner, right? Like Rico McCoy or Peyton Manning.
Woah. Rooney is actually in this game?
Barca pass better than any English team I've watched this season.
Glendenning of the Guardian claims that Ronaldo is trying to win the match by himself, perhaps to cement his legacy?
Sarah, cover you ears?
United are going with the "gang rape" technique for marking Messi
uh-oh, Rooney getting chippy with CR. Is he entering the meltdown zone already?
Lake Minnetonka, Teeknuts, Lake Minnetonka.
Did someone sayPenis over shorts?
That's very NSFW by the way
Where is Henry?
Barca's back line is gonna get burned if they aren't careful
VdS looking very average, as well.
Tevez comes on and scores at least one goal, mark my words.
Here's my criticism of SAF: he has Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez. If he wants to play a 4-3-2-1, with Rooney playing wide on the left, why not have CRon play on the right, with Tevez the striker? Am I missing something?
Berbatov would work well in the lone role, too.
I spent the last 20 minutes of the first half explaining to my groggy 2 1/2 year what was going on while he continuously asked "Where's Barcelona?" and "Is that Arsenal?"
How, HOW did Henry not put that in?
Tevez and CR up front now, with Rooney on the right and Carrick and Most Undeserving POY Ever in the middle.
I wonder if SAF isn't overmanaging a bit.
Well, that probably made chelsea fans happy
Tommy with the rare criticism of ManU.
These replays are showing absolutely nothing
C'mon Barca!
Phil: Yeah, reverting to the 4-4-2 is a little drastic for this point; there was nothing wrong with the 4-3-2-1, it was the personnel, not the formation.
It seems counter-intuitive, but the best thing to happen to Barca was not being able to select Dani Alves. While he's great and all, his insistence on joining the attack would destroy the discipline of his backline, and Rooney would be having a field day down that left wing.
As it stands, the calming influence of Puyol at RB has kept the back 4 very well organized.
Teek-agreed. Messi seemed to be saying he was held back but for some reason the camera operator felt that Messi streaking into the box was not worthy of a look.
Legit penalty call from Messi. O'Shea pulled him back.
That's the Tommy we all know and hate--clear foul on Henry and Tommy claims it should be ManU's throw.
Agreed on Pyuol, LB. He's been a rock at the back today, and MnaU were clearly targeting him at the otuset.
http://d.yimg.com/i/ng/sp/empics/20090527/19/4116975456-soccer-uefa-champions-league-final-barcelona-v-manchester-united-stadio.jpg
Iniesta has been a delight to watch; he never seems out of control, always bossing the midfield.
Boobatov and Scholes warming up.
Who comes off? I say Carrick and Anderson
The only word Rae uses for Berbatov is languid, I've never heard him call Berba anything else
Berbatov on. Who is off? With the way Barca has been controlling the midfield, can SAF sacrifice in that area of the field?
I forgot Anderson was even playing.
Dimitar Boobatov
He plays with a cig in his hands
A tart painted him with her cans
Dimitar Boobatov
Sooooo . . . SAF is doing a 4-2-4?
You could say that about a lot of United's players tonight
Does the ref's shirt have the breast panels?
Messi with the second!!!
Holy fuck what a header by Messi! That was beautiful
Surely everyone thought Messi would score with his head.
I love Messi. Love.
I just got hard.
Is that gay?
EF--you're an American commenting on a soccer blog. Do you really need to ask?
Blau-grana al vent,
un crit valent,
Tenim un nom,
el sap tothom:
Barça! Barça! Baaarça!!!!
I don't think Tommy understands what bookmakers do.
I like seeing CRon self destruct.
Aren't they the ones that make the match programs?
What I wouldn't give for a good groin stomping right now
And now CR resorts to petty thuggery. Classy.
I wonder if this game gets a mention on PTI and if so, what inane thing Kornheiser will say.
How does Scholes not earn a red for that one? That was filthy.
To be fair, the guys on PTI make sure they know what competition they're talking about.
I always get O'Shea and Carrick confused. But then all white people look the same to me.
I really, really wanted Puyol to score there.
Teek-that's only because it's written down the right side of the screen.
They do that on SportsCenter too but I kept hearing about how United won the Champions League a couple of weeks ago. What I'm really scared of is this coming up on Around the Horn.
Teek - where Woody and Mariotti argue about the better looking uniforms?
Thankfully nobody watches Around the Horn. Also, you'd think Tevez could afford a good dermatologist.
Boobatov blows a sitter. LMAO
3 more minutes. I'm not taking anything for granted here, I can't wait until this is over.
I like seeing a sad SAF. I wonder what he's gonna say post-match? Some bullshit about not getting a penno or something.
When did David Seaman start playing for Barca?
Goat, I don't know anyone who watches Around the Horn, including the camera crew.
As for Fatalist being gay, how do you look in Barca's home kits?
Ok, I'm taking it for granted now.
I happy for Henry. Good for you, Thierry.
I look FABULOUTH, Moonshine. To die for . . .
Condolences, WSR.
where "to die for" means pouring bleach in my eyes?
I'm stoked for Barca. They played amazing ball. Like how Arsenal could play if they stayed healthy.
Man, I was dead wrong with my prediction. Shows what I know I guess.
Condolences to WSR. Congrats to Barca. Actually congrats to both sides for playing a real football match, unlike last year's CL final.
Yeah, Phil, this was an excellent match. Barca was dominating, but United had their chances, especially early.
Good work by the refs too, no Ovrebo crap tonight.
Yes, Teek, I never thought about the refs until you brought them up. That's phenomenal. Great job by them.
Great point, Teek. This was a great Cl final. One of the better in recent memory.
Excellent stuff!
So is it better to be Hleb this year (barely play but get trophies) or last year?
Scholes too, PR. Man U started to come unglued towards the end. Ronaldo looked to still be shaking his head like "no fair" during the trophy presentation.
"the only way this would be sweeter is if arsenal had done it"
Well, Henry, Sylvinho, and Hleb were inolved so it's like part of Arsenal did it.
I wouldn't go so far as to say Henry was "involved," if only in this particular match. Or Hleb, for that matter, in most of the matches.
omg what a match, our squad was so close to 10/10. you wouldn't even believe iniesta just came back from injury, pique > rio & vidic, eto'o came back to life, xavi is the best midfielder in the world, messi shut up the critics and scored on the big stage, puyol made rooney and ronaldo look like babies and even 35 year old sylvinho owned it. no other team but barca coulda dethrowned manutd like they did. best team in europe!
Nice jobe EF! You called the 2-0!
And props to me for calling "the Alves loss doesn't matter" after the semifinal, LB...
What a beautiful deconstruction of a weaker side that couldn't deal with Xavi and Iniesta in any way, shape, or form, and had a back line that didn't go nuts in attack...
Congratulations to Barcelona and their fans. They were definitely the better team.
To MG, and others:
I took the CL Final off/vacation last year, and went to a bar with maybe 30 (best case) people there to see the game.
Today, I did the same, and we were near 200 people(bar max), and looking at kicking people out. Given the Barcelona fandom, rather than a 5th ManU-Chelski match, I expected more than 30. But we're talking turning people away at the door...
Classy, WSR...
WSR-tough luck tonight. Until Eto'o scored, I thought MU would get 5. But then it was like they had no idea they could ever be behind and had no idea what to do.
Happy for Henry, but a little ticked too. Hleb can EABOD.
Guess which network called this game the 'UEFA Cup Final' on Sportscenter today?
Oh shit I gave away the answer!
jjf3.... Where was that? The British Arms (or whatever that place is called).
PR - Bull & Bear on the west side. The place almost never shows Spanish games, but the fans were about 50/50 between United and FCB...
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