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FC Barcelona Takes UEFA Champions League Trophy

UEFA Champions League final`s clash between FC Barcelona and Arsenal FC proved a display of football mastery. Arsenal, with only ten men on the field, took a first-half lead over Barcelona, but managed to keep its lead for only 40 minutes. Barcelona got its reward for a patient display with two goals in less than 15 minutes. Samuel Eto`o and Juliano Belletti gave Barcelona the trophy for the second time.

Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann brought down Eto`o to become the first player to be sent off in a European Champion Clubs` Cup final. Incredibly, Sol Campbell headed the English side in front in the 37th minute and Arsenal had a number of opportunities to extend their advantage but were unable to take them. Then their tired legs finally gave way in the concluding quarter of an hour. Bar?a substitute Henrik Larsson was the catalyst, creating goals for Eto`o and Belletti to turn the tie and take the title to Catalonia.

Arsenal squandered an even better opening moments later as Henry broke clear only to fire straight at the Barcelona custodian. Fourteen minutes from time the Londoners were made to pay for that profligacy as Larsson - on his farewell appearance before returning to his native Sweden - undid the Arsenal back line and Eto`o made no mistake, prodding past Almunia at the near post. The goal visibly lifted Bar?a and nine minutes from time they snatched a decisive second with Larsson again instrumental, playing a clever reverse ball for another substitute, Belletti, to drill in from an acute angle and send thousands of Catalan fans into raptures.