Champions 2011: Barcelona wins crushing Man.U

In the final of the 2011 UEFA Champions League, Barcelona defeated Manchester United (3-1) to win its 4th Champions cup in a re-match of the same final makeup 2 years ago. The Spanish team (photo) led by Messi on the pitch and Guardiola on the bench dominated match taking the lead early on and conceding little to a highly ineffective English side never able to generate much offensive, except for the initial tie goal. The Italian clubs were a disaster as they have been for the last several seasons exiting early on except for last year’s Champions Inter which exited after a disastrous quarter final round.

Champions 2010: Inter wins Champions, 3rd title

In the final match of the UEFA Champions League played in Madrid, Inter defeated Bayern Munich (2-0) with a superb performance. The match was not spectacular but Mourinho’ strategy once again led his team to victory, the clinching 3rd title this year after also winning within weeks the national cup (Coppa Italia) and the national serie A title. Inter controlled the match with the usual combination of strong defense and fast counter offensive leveraging the experience and solidity an already winning team (top photo). The lead in the match arrived just after half hour mark with the usual Sneijder serving Milito (2nd photo) the ball that would set Inter on its path to victory. Bayern seemed unable to break through Inter’s defense and its keeper so the match was virtually over in the second half when Milito again found the net scoring the second and winning goal crowning a record season for the aging Argentinian striker. At the end of the match captain Zanetti (3rd photo) raised the much desired Champions trophy, the 3rd won by Inter after a long dry spell (1964 and 1965) and completing a record season with a broad team (4rd photo) built patiently over the years by president Moratti to win every competition.

INTER – Bayern Munich 2-0 (Goals: 34′, 70′ Milito)
INTER: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu (23′ st Stankovic), Zanetti, Cambiasso, Pandev (33′ st Muntari), Snejider, Eto’o, Milito (46′ st Materazzi). (Toldo, Cordoba, Mariga, Balotelli). Coach: Mourinho.

Champions 2009: Messi’s Barcelona wins final

In Roma’s stadium, Barcelona defeated Manchester United (2-0) and won its third Champions League trophy. The match was quickly taken over by Barcelona with Eto scoring only after 10 minutes. Manchester United never seemed able to recover and, although it came close to scoring, it never really was able to lead the match. Early in the second half, once Argentinian star Messi doubled the score with an header, the match seemed over allowing Barcelona’s team (photo) to celebrate a victory that seemed improbable only a few weeks ago when it just eliminated Chelsea with a goal scored in the semifinal’s injury time.

Champions 2008: Man U wins on penalties

In the final of the UEFA Champions League, Manchester United and Chelsea were forced to settle the contest on penalties after being unable in extended time to break the (1-1) tie that was established in the first half with goals by C. Ronaldo and Lampard. Chelsea actually came closest to finding the winning goal seeing the ball stopped twice by the post but then crumbled on penalties. Manchester United won its third continental title by scoring most penalties (6-5) sealing the victory when its keeper Van Der Sar saved the last penalty.

Champions 2007: Milan’s 7th cup

In the final of the UEFA Champions League, Milan beat Liverpool (2-1) after a difficult match. Liverpool started the match well and pressed consistently coming close to scoring but it was Milan that found the lead with Inzaghi taking advantage of a Pirlo set piece. In the second half Liverpool tried to tie the match but Dida and his defense did not leave much to chance and when Milan seemed in trouble Inzaghi scored again on a Kaka’s assist closing the match. Liverpool scored in the final minutes but the experienced Milan’s squad (photo) held tight and won in the end the 7th Champions League title for the glorious italian red and black team.

MILAN-LIVERPOOL 2-1
MILAN: Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Maldini, Jankulovski (39′st Kaladze); Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Seedorf (47′st Favalli), Kakà; Inzaghi (43′st Gilardino). (Subs: Kalac, Serginho, Cafu, Brocchi). Coach: Ancelotti. Goals: 45′pt and 37′st Inzaghi, 44′st Kuyt.