Source: Daily_Mail
Barcelona v Manchester United: Neil Ashton's tactics board
Key plays
Messi's jinking runs
At times he was unplayable. Started on the right, then went left, but played most of the match through the centre. Twinkle-toes was at his best, shrugging off two disappointing performances against Chelsea and sealing victory with his head.
Formation confusion
United started the game playing 4-3-3, changed to 4-4-2 when Barcelona began to slice them apart after the goal and changed yet again at the start of the second half to accommodate Tevez. Too many changes in too short a timeframe.
Iniesta's all-round genius
Tidied up brilliantly in defence then popped the ball between team-mates Xavi and Sergi Busquets. Possibly the best display of his career. At times, United were chasing his six o'clock shadow.
Key clashes
Rooney v Puyol & Sylvinho
Puyol is far from happy at right back, but the Barca captain was on his game in the same way he was against Arsenal in the 2006 final. Rooney switched to the right after the break and got more joy out of Sylvinho, but United could not capitalise.
Tevez v Pique
The final appeared made for El Apache, who was detailed to pressurise Pique after coming on at the break. Instead, he immediately gave away a free-kick for fouling Iniesta and Xavi's shot cannoned off Van der Sar's left-hand post.
Key moments
1 min
United settle straight into their rhythm, forcing Yaya Toure into a foul on Anderson near the area. Ronaldo takes responsibility, but Valdes somehow keeps out his dipping free-kick. Park follows up and his effort is deflected wide. Great start, United.
8 mins
Anderson is on his 'A' game. Barca's defence can't read his back-flick into Ronaldo's path, but the world player of the year's effort is wide.
10 mins
GOAL. Eto'o shows great footwork, evading the cumbersome challenge of Vidic, then toe-poking the ball beyond Van der Sar to make it 1-0 to Barca.
16 mins
Ronaldo shrugs off a series of challenges, but is stopped in his tracks by a brutal body-check from Pique. Much to Ronaldo's frustration, Giggs curls the resulting free-kick harmlessly over the bar.
46 mins
Henry is through, tricking his way beyond O'Shea, but Van der Sar comes to United's rescue with an outstanding save using his outstretched right foot. Moments later, Xavi's free-kick rebounds off a post.
55 mins
Rooney finally steps it up, sending in a right-wing free-kick which narrowly eludes the heads of Ronaldo and Park. This is better from United.
66 mins
Berbatov comes on for Park as Fergie throws four up front, leaving Giggs and Carrick to do all the leg work.
70 mins
GOAL. It's all over as Messi scores for the first time against an English club. Xavi picks out the little man with a cross from the right and Messi escapes Ferdinand to loop an exquisite header beyond Van der Sar.
71 mins
Ronaldo is denied at the far post as United throw everything at Barcelona, then Berbatov volleys over.
Wish you were here?
Heads you lose: Vidic does just enough to stop Pique threatening United's goal
They tease the teams when they walk out, planting the cup of cups within touching distance of the 22 gladiators selected by Manchester United and Barcelona to take the trophy home. Oh, so tempting.
Maybe some of the players were already thinking about party time, when the European Cup traditionally has its own seat on the plane back, with the wild-eyed winners posing enthusiastically for pictures.
Four years ago in Istanbul, Steven Gerrard traded it for his missus Alex Curran, sleeping with it after Liverpool's comeback against Milan. But don't mention Liverpool around here, twice triumphant in the Olympic Stadium (1977 and 1984).
This was all about United and Barca, where two classic football cultures collided. Smoke filled the air as the teams walked out on to the pitch. Such a shame one of them had to be blown away.
