Match ratings & Analysis: Barcelona 2-0 Manchester United

Barcelona defeated Manchester United comprehensively at Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Overall the match wasn’t a high paced one but had quality. Compared to the previous year’s finals, it failed to live up to its expectations, especially with teams like Barca and Man Utd.

The first 10 minutes were dominated by Man Utd. until Eto’o opened the scoring out of nowhere. Then onwards Man Utd. lost their momentum and we saw a complete Barca domination where Man Utd. were reduced to small patches of domination. Overall, I can say the match was lost after the first 10 minutes.

Ratings:

Barcelona

Valdes -6.5: Shacky at the start but produced a few fine saves later on. Yet was the less busy of the two goalkeepers.

Toure -7.5: Played as a make-back central defender today, but was quite successful in holding the line. Also made a few good forward runs. I think he is best in the midfield.

Pique -7: He did rise to the occasion, playing against his ex-team. Made a few vital tackles and excellent in the second half.

Puyol -7: Played as a RB for suspended Dani Alves. In the first half he was the weaker link as Rooney was controlling the left flank. Came out strongly in the second and also helped going forward.

Sylvinho -7.0: A mixed match for the old-man. Had to do the tough job of keeping Ronaldo at bay in the second half, and carried it out decently.

Busquets -6.5: A surprise inclusion in the midfield as Toure went to defense creating an empty slot for the youngster to fill in. Nothing special in his role, just kept his passes ticking. I would have personally preferred Kieta instead.

Xavi -7.5: Ran throughout the field, keeping the passes and movement ticking. He was the mainstay of Barca’s midfield. Assisted Messi’s goal.

Iniesta -9.0: Fantastic performance by the Spanish International. Penetrated the defense and a through for the opening goal, and made long and strong runs into Man Utd.’s defense. MOM!

Messi -8.5: Scored with the head…!! Showed his quick feet throughout the match and had some fantastic touches. Yet not his ‘magical’ night.

Henry -6.5: Was a quite performance from the not-so-fit Henry. Had a chance to score in the second half. Nothing special.

Eto'o -7.5: Opened the scoring with a superb poke beating Vidic for good. Otherwise had a decent game as he played mostly on the right flank.

Subs

Keita - No Impact
Pedro Rod. - read above

MANCHESTER UNITED

Van der Sar -7.5: He was tested more in the second half, and made a few decisive saves keeping the scoreline constant.

O'Shea -6: Played on the right and wasn’t involved much in any attack. Except for a few runs, Henry didn’t trouble him much.

Vidic -5.5: Owned by Eto’o for the first goal and not so convincing performance by the big Serb. Couldn’t keep Messi out of the game.

Ferdinand -5.5: Responsible for Messi’s free goalscoring header, rest read Vidic.

Evra -6: Linked with Rooney well on the left flank, but otherwise had a quite match. It was highly expected to see an Evra-Messi tangle, but Guardiola saw to it that they don’t clash.

Carrick -5.5: Overshadowed by the Barca midfield, he was reduced to plain passing in the mid. Didn’t make any major impact to the game.

Anderson -5.5: Poor game. He was playing in the center of the mid, maybe not his favourite place, rest read Carrick.

Giggs -5: I had known Giggs to be a fantastic winger, but he played in an unfavorable role. I think Ferguson got it wrong in the positioning of his midfielders.

Park -5.5: A really poor game on the right. At time drifted back to make the 4-4-2 formation, disposed of the ball many too often. Had a good scoring chance right in the first minute.

Ronaldo -7: Played surprisingly as a lone striker, the winger had a decent evening. Tested Valdes many times from distance and gave trouble to the Barca defense. He hold the ball well in the first half but faded away in the second.

Rooney -7.5: May be the only decent Man Utd. player on the pitch. Caused a lot of trouble to Puyol on the left and provided a few decent crosses. Yet didn’t find the net or a killer ball to send someone clear on goal.

Subs

Tevez: Provided the aggression, but for no use

Scholes: The only major contribution of his was getting booked.

Berbatov: No Impact

Special Mentions:

Referee -8.5: Flawless, except that he didn’t allow advantages and preferred more free-kicks, esp. for Barca.

Ferguson: I think he got his tactics a bit wrong. He played his men out of positions, but with no impact. Giggs played centrally, Anderson was helter-skeltor and Carrick had to face the ‘best midfield in Europe’ single-handedly. Yet, he exploited his left flank well. He showed desperate measures by introducing all kinds of trump cards he had.

Guardiola: I was a bit surprised to see the starting lineup, as Puyol had played fantastically as LB; played as a RB. Moreover Busquets was preferred to Kieta. Messi surprisingly played in the middle with Eto’o shifting to the right. This tactic help counter the Vidic-Ferdinand couple. Their job was to keep Messi at bay(as he played centrally), then, but Messi played deeper, keeping them away…!! Nice tactical play.

Commentators (Ten Sports): SUCKED BIG TIME -0.5: Even though they read the game well, they were representing the EPL. I remember a dialogue, ‘As long as we are concerned, an English side has lost the game’ clearly showing their bias. They had no knowledge whatsoever of the play Barca played in Spain (I mean the tactical aspect).

Wats ur say ??