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.
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