Barcelona won their third European Cup last night after they beat Manchester United 2-0 in Rome. It was a thoroughly efficient and dominant display and United had no answer to Barcelona’s superiority. Goals from Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi were enough to see the Catalan club home, as United could not convert any thing that came their way.

It was United who started the better and Cristiano Ronaldo looked like a man on a mission, surging forward time after time and going close with a couple of efforts. It was after this ten-minute spell however that Barca started to come into the game. They scored completely against the run of play and it was a bitter blow that United never recovered from.

United cannot argue against the result. There were no bad decisions from the referee and any glaring misses or personal errors, they were simply outplayed by a team who were a lot better than them. Every time Barca got the ball after someone in a red shirt had sloppily given it away, it was about ten minutes until United had it back again.




Sir Alex Ferguson said after the final whistle: “We did not play as well as we can but you have to give Barcelona credit. Lionel Messi was not the problem, Xavi and Andres Iniesta kept the ball all night and made it difficult for us.”

It really was as simple as that. Barca’s midfield was so dominant that United had to work all the time off the ball to try and win it back, this clearly took a lot out of them physically and win they did eventually win possession they were not as sharp as they can be and they gave it straight back.

Many sides would have struggled to cope with the way Barca played so for United to think they are not good enough is the wrong thing to think. They clearly have it in them to make it all the way to the final not playing well so the next time they hit their straps in all stages of the Champions League, they will probably canter to victory.

Barca showed to everyone just how much they have improved from when they met United in the Champions League last season. They have a young and hungry manager who has a well-balanced side, who clearly want to go and win everything they can. The way they played was pretty much close to perfection and United are now left scratching their heads after what they thought was a well thought out game plan and good start.

Sir Alex is old and wise enough to know how to deal with disappointment and he will lift the team over the coming days. United now know what it feels like to suffer the heart break that Chelsea were feeling this time last year and they will want to do what they can to rectify it. This does not prove they aren’t good enough to win another Champions League, it could be the thing that gives them a kick in the backside.

It is time again for one of the most historic and passionate derbies in world football as Barcelona make the trip to the Bernabeau to take in Real Madrid in La Liga.

With just four points separating Barca at the top and Madrid in 2nd then we are likely to see all of the aggression and quality that this match up can bring to the football table.

Religion and history have marked this match for the history of the derby so there is also an added spice for the fans. Barca may have one eye on Wednesday’s Champions League return leg against Chelsea and therefore it could be the perfect time for Madrid to cash in and get vital points back on the board.

Madrid will be relying on their passion and team spirit to get them through this one as Barca arguably have the edge in terms of quality within their squad. The only injury for Barca is the loss of defender Rafael Marquez who went off with a knee problem in the 0-0 draw with Chelsea.

Madrid will be drawing on all of their experience and will look for a big performance from Raul. Whether or not their manager, Juande Ramos, decides to bring back Arjen Robben after a spell out of the side remains to be seen but his inclusion will not doubt add the smallest amount of fear into the Barcelona full backs.

Madrid will have to counter the influence of Xavi and Yaya Toure in the middle of the pitch if they are to impose themselves on this game. This is without mentioning Barca’s attacking line up of Theirry Henry, Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto’o. However, Barcelona manager, Guardiola, may decide to rest one or two with Europe in mind. Bojan may well get a start, which will suit the Madrid defence regardless of his potential, and ability.

No doubt the home support for Madrid will be a big factor. Barca have what it takes to easily boss this game in the same manner as they did against Chelsea. However, Madrid will be lifted by the fact that they don’t really have any right to be in the position they are having looked out of the title race at the turn of the year.

A victory for Madrid will put them within another victory of gaining top spot from Barca and every single Madrid fan will be taking this one as passionately and importantly as any other El Classico match in recent times. Bookings are guaranteed but hopefully goals will be the talking point and not injuries or gamesmanship.

This arguably the best Barcelona side there has ever been but the fact this match is in between their European campaign could prove the difference. Barca may have the edge in terms of man-to-man match ups but with such an important trip to London this week it will be easy for them to take their eye off the ball and allow Madrid in for what could be a decisive victory.

There can be no big surprises at the fact that Real Madrid captain, Fabio Cannavaro, reportedly turned down the chance to go and earn some big money at Manchester City.

Cannavaro is just the latest rumoured target for the City merry go round in a football reality where money quite clearly doesn’t talk. Cannavaro’s decision comes without massive shock because once again City are trying to punch above their weight before they have solidified the foundations of the club.

After losing a regular starting place at Real Madrid under their manager, Juande Ramos, Cannavaro’s future has become uncertain. It seems a lot more likely that he will return to Juventus this summer to rejoin the club where he formed his reputation as one of the best defenders in the world.

He made just fewer than 100 appearances at Juventus and should he decide to return then it may turn out that it feels to the club like he had never been away. This personal satisfaction could be just the thing that sways the eventual decision.

You have to admire City’s ambition. Kaka, Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o and now Cannavaro have all been approached with unrealistic financial figures being offered to sway a decision they would otherwise not even think about.

Cannavaro said in the Italian media: “I didn’t want to have start from scratch again, not in a World Cup year. That’s why I rejected offers from Bayern Munich and Manchester City.”

The move once again defies the comments made by Manchester City defender, Nedum Onuoha, last month that players will join City this summer for football reasons. Well this instance proves that no amount of money or solid football foundations can prevent a player from going to where he wants to go.

City could have offered Cannavaro the same figures they were reported to have offered Kaka to leave AC Milan and he still would not have thought seriously about joining.

It all points to the fact that City will have to sign less high profile and more experienced players to build the success that will get the attention of better quality players.

This news comes just days after City were reported to be trying to draw Eto’o away from Barcelona in what was quite literally a nonsense attempt. Fair enough City have massive financial backing at the moment but the club’s owners have to realise that the football transfer market is not a candy shop where they can go and buy who they want.

Despite the financial influence in the modern game, money is not what makes day to day club routine tick. Comfort and job satisfaction are clearly valued by players such as Cannavaro a lot more than hundreds of thousands of pounds per week. Far from it, Cannavaro probably has a good couple of million in the bank to fall back on once he retires from the game in Italy.

There will be many more stories like this one but if City sign any big names this summer it will be because those players display more mercenary tendencies than a large amount of sporting ambition.