UEFA Champions League Final

Highlights

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Manchester United are Champions!

When Sir Alex Ferguson walked through the door at Old Trafford in 1986 he memorably defined his job at Manchester United as "knocking Liverpool off their fucking perch."

Twenty-two and a half years years later, the Scot finds himself on the brink of being able to declare "mission accomplished".




Manchester United were crowned Premier League champions after a goalless draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford.

United only needed a point to secure a third consecutive Premier League title and that is what they achieved with a cautious performance that ensured that the title was decided at Old Trafford for only the second time in Sir Alex Ferguson's glittering reign.

It was the 11th title of Sir Alex Ferguson's reign and means United have finally matched Liverpool's record haul of 18 in the top-flight.

Manchester United won the league today because they­ wanted it more than any other team in the league. The­ desire and the hunger to win trophies is what has got­ them another one today.



See the DEFINING MOMENTS of the Premier League 08/09 seasons.

Manchester United rule, and that's a FACT

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UEFA Champions League Dream Final Manchester United vs Barcelona

UEFA Champions League Final
Stadio Olimpico Rome
27th May 2009


Manchester United FC VS FC Barcelona









Road To Final :


Manchester United

Manchester United booked their place in the Champions League final thanks to two early goals against Arsenal at the Emirates which helped them to a 4-1 aggregate victory.

Ji-Sung Park's eighth minute opener and Cristiano Ronaldo's 11th-minute free kick put the tie almost beyond the home side in the opening few minutes, while Ronaldo's second just after the hour mark put things beyond doubt.

Robin Van Persie's late penalty gave the home side a consolation goal in a 3-1 scoreline on the night - but Darren Fletcher's red card in the spot kick incident took the shine off a superb night for United.

More info on the match HERE

Goal Highlights




Barcelona

Andres Iniesta's injury-time leveller sent 10-man Barcelona into the Champions League final after a dramatic 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The Spain international struck a screamer in the 93rd minute to cancel out Michael Essien's equally, if not more, stunning early strike to win the tie on the away goals rule following last week's goalless stalemate at the Camp Nou.

Chelsea were left to reflect on what might have been, although initial reaction to defeat was one of anger after referee Tom Ovrebo denied the hosts several strong penalty appeals.

More info on the match HERE

Goal Highlights

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Arsenal 1-3 Manchester United

Manchester United crush Arsenal, reach Champions League final in Rome

Manchester United swept back into the Champions League final as the holders produced a stunning 3-1 win over Arsenal in their semi-final second leg.



















Alex Ferguson's side arrived at the Emirates Stadium holding only a slender 1-0 lead from last week's first leg, but United scored twice in the first 11 minutes to set up a 4-1 aggregate triumph that booked their place in the final against Chelsea or Barcelona, who meet in their decider Wednesday.

For once the normally subdued Emirates crowd were at fever pitch, but Ferguson had talked up United's intention to press for a crucial away goal and they were true to his word.

Goal Highlights

In the eighth minute, Anderson slipped a pass to Ronaldo down the left and the Portugal winger proved he had
adapted to his new role as a lone forward by finding space in the penalty area to whip in a low cross.

Even then Arsenal should have cleared the danger but Gibbs, a teenage midfielder pressed into service at left-back in the absence of Gael Clichy, slipped over and could only watch from a prone position as Park took a touch before guiding his shot past Almunia.

As Ferguson and his staff danced a jubilant jig you could feel the momentum draining from Arsenal. There was worse to come three minutes later.

When van Persie fouled Ronaldo way out on the right flank, there appeared little danger.

But Almunia had reckoned without Ronaldo's flair for the unexpected. Ronaldo had scored from 40 yards to beat Porto in the last round and, from a similar distance, he took aim and launched a thunderous strike towards Almunia, who appeared to lose sight of the ball as it flashed past him at the near post.

Wenger sat ashen-faced on the bench as Arsenal's proud record of 27 home European matches without defeat fell apart, and the match had barely begun.

United were rampant and it took a superb finger-tip save from Almunia to stop Wayne Rooney curling in a third goal.

The visitors continued to counter-attack imperiously after half-time and in the 61st minute Ronaldo capped a sublime break in clinical style.

He started the move with a backheel to Park, who cleverly spread play wide to Rooney on the left. Rooney's cross was perfectly weighted for Ronaldo to drive past Almunia.

Game over, and Ferguson could even afford the luxury of substituting Rooney and Patrice Evra to ensure the duo didn't earn a booking which would have ruled them out of the final - Fletcher was not to be so lucky.

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El Clasico Real Madrid vs Barcelona 2-6

All goals and highlights in the match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu in La Liga. 2/5/09 finished Real Madrid 2-6 Barcelona

Lineups:

Real Madrid:
Casillas, Ramos, Cannavaro, Metzelder, Heinze, Robben, L. Diarra, Gago, Marcelo, Higuain, Raul (c).
Subs: Dudek, Gomez, Drenthe, Garcia, Van der Vaart, Huntelaar, Faubert.

Barcelona:
Valdes, Alves, Puyol (c), Pique, Abidal, Toure, Xavi, Iniesta, Henry, Messi, Eto’o.
Subs: Hleb, Sylvinho, Keita, Krkic, Cáceres, Gudjohnsen, Busquets.

Real Madrid (Higuain 14′, Ramos 56′) 2-6 Barcelona (Henry 18′,58′, Puyol 20′, Messi 36′, 75′, Pique 83′)



P/S : Chelsea beware XD

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