MESSI'S DANCE AND BARCA'S WINNING SHOW

Europe's most stable clubs in recent years, Barcelona and Manchester United, came face to face in the Champions League final in the magnificent Wembley stadium. The two teams are considered the best not only in Europe but in the whole world, which further elevated the importance of the final. Effectively, the winner would gain the right to be called the world's strongest club.

Barcelona, who have been playing the beautiful game in recent years, have won over millions of fans. However, they have also earned some enemies. An ordinary European football fan may see Barcelona as the strongest club in the history of football but cannot stomach them winning all the time.

The beauty of football lies also in unexpected defeats and sensational wins. In other words, no-one should be able to predict who will get the upper hand. But Barcelona's performance of recent years has reduced this unofficial rule to zero. The club's fans expect Barca to win every single game, and the players live up to their expectations. Pep Guardiola's team look as though they're made up of extraterrestrials who can easily beat any club. This is what has compelled the fans of other clubs to want Barca to lose. Everyone could see that the only team capable of stopping Barcelona's victorious march was Alex Ferguson's Manchester United. But that didn't happen either. The Catalans put on such an amazing show at Wembley that Ferguson himself had to acknowledge his team's helplessness.  

It was clear from the early minutes of the match that the English club had prepared very well. Manchester United had control over the ball and didn't allow their opponent to play their usual game. Barcelona, bearing no resemblance to their usual selves, could barely cross into the Manchester United half for over 10 minutes. It seemed that the real Red Devils were wearing white on the night (Manchester United's away strip). But the game showed that the Barcelona machine is unstoppable. The English club failed to remain at their best and put up proper resistance to Barca. The only MU player to confirm his skill was Rooney, who kept on fighting selflessly even after United conceded a third goal. Unfortunately, the club's fans weren't at their best either. Having a worldwide reputation for their amazing ability to power their team to victory, the English fans could not make a change this time. We all remember the recent Champions League final between Liverpool and Milan in Istanbul, when the Merseyside fans refused to give up even after their team fell 3:0 behind, eventually leading Liverpool to an amazing comeback and victory.

In contrast, complete silence set in among English fans at Wembley after Barcelona's third goal. Maybe the price of tickets had deterred the most ardent and loyal supporters of United, which effectively deprived the club of decent support. It would also be wrong to blame Sir Alex for the defeat. The famous coach's team has often gratified its supporters in recent years. This time too, expectations were very high. But neither the footballers nor the fans lived up to them at Wembley. No doubt, Barcelona is an amazing team. But let's not forget that a team can only play to the extent their opponent allows them to. In the Champions League final, United gave up possession to Barca after 10 minutes. Only Rooney continued showing his combative spirit. Ryan Giggs shone only intermittently. And it is completely unclear what Park and Hernandez were doing on the pitch. The rest of the team were defending, which eventually became one of the reasons for the defeat.

Of course, Barcelona deserve praise. Going through the season with an incredible level of play, the Catalan club has proved that they are indeed the strongest. Thanks to their wonderful performance the 90 minutes of the final flew by. Having contained United's opening attacks, Guardiola's team was the first to score, when Pedro netted the ball to complete a neat attack started by Iniesta and Xavi. United responded with an attack of their own, as Rooney put the ball past keeper Valdez. Rooney could have scored again, but lack of support from his teammates left him all by himself against the opponent. One man does not make a team.

Barcelona's second goal was even better. After some hair-splitting passing from Xavi and Iniesta, Messi created yet another masterpiece, scoring despite being surrounded by several defenders. This was the Argentine star's 12th goal in 13 League matches. Even Van der Sar, who was playing his last game for Manchester United (the keeper is expected to sign a deal with Turkey's Galatasaray), could do nothing to parry the ball. The last goal of the match came from David Villa. 

Barcelona recorded a 3:1 victory at Wembley, while Ferguson was left with no option than to acknowledge defeat. The Scottish manager has faced many clubs in his day, but Guardiola's Barcelona was just too strong.

The Champions League final will also be remembered for a number of records: Barcelona won the Champions Cup for the fourth time; Lionel Messi caught up with Raul and Shevchenko for the number of goals scored in the Champions League (18) and with Cristiano Ronaldo for the number of goals scored in all competitions in one season (53). He has also overtaken Ruud van Nistelrooy who scored 12 goals in the Champions League.

Barca's glorious victory, Messi's amazing shot and the wonderful goal from Villa will be talking points for a long time to come. The fans have had the opportunity to see a football machine called Barcelona, made at the Camp Nou, whose players love to play football and delight the fans.