BARCELONA vs ARSENAL, CL FINAL, 17/05/06, PARIS

Best of friends set for beautiful collision in Paris

Walking out of Villarreal's railway station an hour before kick-off against Arsenal last week, the first sight was of two men lolling in the shade and plucking at an acoustic guitar while a cat sat opposite them and stared. Otherwise, there was nothing. And nobody. How, we wondered, was it possible that this smalltown nowheresville could host a Champions League semi-final? The sheer oddity of Villarreal's story perhaps explains why Juan-Roman Riquelme later fell into that spooked trance, so traumatised was he by the squandered penalty that ended his club's great adventure. Will such on opportunity knock for Villarreal ever again?

The Champions League has become a sort of members' club that allows guests every season, but good luck entering the ultimate inner sanctum. We must rewind nine years to find the last new winner of the most prized trophy in club football. Since Borussia Dortmund etched their name on the honours board in 1997, the victors have all been established names already woven into this competition's heritage. Real Madrid added another three titles to their monumental collection, AC Milan notched their sixth, Bayern Munich and Liverpool their fifth, and Manchester United and Porto took the big-eared cup home for the second time. Seldom do the uninitiated reach European football's VIP area.


Arsenal now journey to Paris with absolutely no experience of Champions League success in their ranks. They are the fourth first-time finalist since Borussia Dortmund and the size of their task is crystal clear - none of the others was able to make the most of their big day out. Monaco, Bayer Leverkusen and Valencia (twice) fell at the last.

It all adds to the feeling that one team will swan into the French capital as substantial favourites. As if Barcelona's excellence throughout the qualification campaign and the marvels regularly executed by Ronaldinho are not enough to swing the odds, they would appear to have history on their side.

But here's the rub. Although Arsenal's inferiority complex in the European Cup is well documented, Barcelona actually have one of their own as well. How can a club of such iconic legend and prestige have only one triumph to their name? How can they have the same amount of clout in this tournament as Feyenoord? Or Hamburg? Or Aston Villa? How can they be trailing behind Real Madrid's total by a scoreline as depressing as 9-1?

Their solitary triumph came in 1992, at Wembley, when Sampdoria succumbed to Ronald Koeman's free-kick in extra time. That was the culmination of Barca's most productive period in European competition, when they won the Cup Winners' Cup on three occasions over a 10-year period. But since 1992, a return of just one more Cup Winners' Cup - and that coming at a time when the competition was virtually extinct - is an embarrassment.

On the European stage, both Barcelona and Arsenal know how it feels to be deeply unfulfilled, to battle against underachievement. That explains the heady euphoria gripping Camp Nou last week. 'Si! Si! Si! Nos vamos a Paris!' wailed the Catalans, with as much relief as excitement.

Frank Ten Cate, Barcelona's charismatic assistant manager and the bad cop to Frank Rijkaard's good cop in the dugout, sucked hard on a Marlboro as he assessed the opportunity for his club afterwards. 'It's a 50-50 game,' he said. 'To think we are favourites is making a mistake. We have a lot of young players, like Arsenal, and some experienced players, like Arsenal. This is a team just constructed.' It's a sensible argument for him to promote, but there is one critical difference that cannot be ignored. Barcelona will arrive in Paris as La Liga champions, having performed exceptionally to fight so strongly on two fronts. Arsenal's European march was accompanied by a Premiership title for their Ladies team.

Ten Cate maintains there are many similarities between the two sides, with a shared emphasis on stylish football and the freshness of a newly forged team making waves. It is the final Barcelona wanted far more than a tactical tussle against Villarreal. 'Arsenal is a footballing team who like to knock the ball around like we do,' said Ten Cate. 'It's more or less the same style as we have. Arsenal are a nice opponent in that it will be nice to watch and attractive.'

There is ample opportunity for a mutual love-in before they rendezvous at the Stade de France on 17 May. The two clubs have a particularly friendly relationship. Strong allies on matters G-14, David Dein and Joan Laporta are on such good terms Arsenal decided to waive a £1million transfer fee for Giovanni van Bronckhorst as a goodwill gesture, because the Catalans were so unhappy that Cesc Fabregas had been whisked away.

Arsenal have made a lot of money out of Barcelona so it was the least they could do. The £30m transfer of Marc Overmars and Emmanuel Petit enabled Arsene Wenger to fund his second great team. Were Arsenal to try to buy a Fabregas today, they would have to find between £10million and £15m.

On the pitch, there are plentiful connections. Fabregas and Lionel Messi grew up together, Henrik Larsson and Freddie Ljungberg are friends, Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho think the world of one another...
How quickly we forget about the losers. Already, Villarreal's sweet story is disappearing into the fuzzy distance.

 

Requelme in a trance, LoL, his face is one of the most expressionless faces I have ever seen in fitba, helluva player too!

 

Ronnie promises 'sexy football'

Ronaldinho insists Barcelona will be going all out to attack when they lock horns with Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League final.

The mesmeric Brazilian claims the Catalans will not deviate from their natural game in pursuit of European football's biggest prize, and that means plenty of fast, flowing, offensive football.

"What we know how to do best is attack, our game is offensive - attacking," he told L'Equipe.

"In Paris, we will simply play our natural game.

"We don't copy anybody and neither do we compare ourselves with other teams.

"We have a style that all footballers dream about playing because everyone has the freedom to attack.

"When we lose the ball the idea is to close down spaces to win it back without tiring ourselves out and reserving energy to attack again with even more impetus. That is where our strength lies."

However, Ronnie is aware that Barca's opponents are not averse to rapid, easy-on-the-eye football themselves with Arsene Wenger having been credited with turning Arsenal into arguably England's most attractive side.

He knows the North Londoners will provide stern opposition, but remains confident Barca will walk away with the trophy.

"I respect Arsenal," he continued. "They are a very good team, with excellent players, but I am thinking positively.

"It would be a great day to land another title. I know, though, it will be difficult to win."

 

i am goin to it,cant wait,come on the gunners

 

hope its a good game supportin the barca though, henrik deserves it

 

i am an aresnal fan but if we lose i wont be as devastated coz it helps the hoops out

 

This final is WAR! i hope barca kills the scum with 5-6 goals. viva barca!

 

FORZA BARCELONA FORZA RONALDINHO FORZA THE KHING FORZA ETO'O

 

ryaner good luck you will need it if you are looking to beat the spanish gaints

 

ye,i am praying every * night for it to happen

 

Messi Travels To Paris

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard and his squad will travel to Paris on Tuesday as they prepare for the Champions League final against Arsenal.

The big news is that Argentinian youngster Lionel Messi has travelled with the squad and may play some part in the match.

The 18-year-old has been out with a muscular injury since the clash with Chelsea on March 7.

But he trained with the squad yesterday and if he proves his fitness on Tuesday, Rijkaard will register the player for the Stade de France showpiece.

this is good news

 

Eto'o to prove Barca class

Samuel Eto'o believes Barcelona are yet to prove themselves to be the best team in European football.

The Spanish champions are seen as the top side on the continent, with the likes of Ronaldinho, Deco and Eto'o gracing the Camp Nou pitch every week.

However, Speaking ahead of the Catalan giants' UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal, the Cameroon international insists they have to win the match in Paris to prove they are the best in Europe.

"People say that we're the best team in Europe, but we haven't proved it yet," Eto'o told The Independent.

"We know there is expectation, but we feel no pressure. Our objective is just to go on winning so we won't slip. We enter each game thinking that we can win.

"It's always necessary for a little luck too, not just in football but in life. Liverpool won the Champions League last season, Porto the year before. They were not favourites.

"We have players here that can beat anyone. And I mean anyone.

"But we know we have to work and respect the rival teams like Arsenal. We always do that. Rival teams know that. We are not an arrogant team."

The former Mallorca front man also stated that the atmosphere in the Barcelona dressing room has helped greatly to get the club to on the cusp of Champions League glory, with the team spirit bettering that at Mallorca.

"The ambience is perfect. We have a good mixture of all nationalities and I see that as a good thing," he continued.

"We are all ingredients in the mix, and good ingredients make the best food. We enjoy being together, it doesn't matter where we come from.

"I've never played with a team so together as Barca is at the moment. This is just the basis of good play. We kid around like in any other locker-room.

"We had a great team spirit when I was at Mallorca, but we never had a team that could have won the Champions League. Just to reach the Champions League with Mallorca was a great, great achievement - probably my best in football until now."

Eto'o also spoke of his delight at defeating Jose Mourinho's Chelsea after the London club knocked the Spanish side out of the competition the year before.

The three-time African footballer of the year scored the all-important second goal in the first leg between the two sides as Barcelona went on to defeat Chelsea 3-2 on aggregate.

"I was really happy that we beat Chelsea, we were so disappointed last season to lose to them because we felt that we had done enough to win," he added.

"So justice was served this year. We played a serious and tactical game and we knew exactly how we needed to play and we did it well.

"We have matured over the year and people have seen that.

"We learnt a lot last season and we now know how to defend properly. We've also learnt how to fight in order to get what we want."

Meanwhile, Eto'o would welcome Arsenal striker Thierry Henry to the club.

The Frenchman has been strongly linked with a move away from The Gunners in the summer, with Barcelona hotly touted as one of the clubs interested.

"All great players are welcome in Barcelona and Henry is a great player.

"If Henry joins us, then Barca will become even more difficult to beat. Henry has the quality to play in any team in the world.

"I like English football and I watch Henry on Saturday afternoons because we don't play then. He plays to a very high level and can play in more than one position."

 

A Little Preview FC Barcelona Vs Arsenal Video

 

The road to Paris

Take a look at how Arsenal and Barcelona made it through to Wednesday' UEFA Champions League final.

Barcelona are favourites to lift the trophy, but the game promises to be spectacular, with some of the world's greatest players on show.

The Spanish champions boast the likes of Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o, who have tormented defences across the continent during Barca's run to the final.

They progressed through their group emphatically, with highlights including the heavy victories over Udinese and Panathinaikos.

In the first of the knockout rounds they edged past Chelsea in another bruising encounter with The Blues, before cruising serenely into the final.

Arsenal have been equally impressive though, and like Barca they won five of their six group games.

The Gunners then defied expectations by overcoming European giants Real Madrid and Juventus, with their incredible defensive record the cornerstone of their success.

If you want to relive Barca's heated clash with Chelsea, or Thierry Henry's wonder goal against Real, click on the links below.

Arsenal:

Group stage:
v FC Thun 2-1 (H), September 14
v Ajax 2-1 (A), September 27
v Sparta Prague 2-0 (A), October 18
v Sparta Prague 3-0 (H), November 2
v FC Thun 1-0 (A), November 22
v Ajax 0-0 (H), December 7

v Real Madrid 1-0 (A), February 21 - Last 16
v Real Madrid 0-0 (H), March 8 - Last 16
v Juventus 2-0 (H), March 28 - QF
v Juventus 0-0 (A), April 5 - QF
v Villarreal 1-0 (H), April 19 - SF
v Villarreal 0-0 (A), April 25 -SF

Barcelona:


Group stage:
v Werder Bremen 2-0 (A), September 14
v Udinese 4-1 (H), September 27
v Panathinaikos 0-0 (A), October 18
v Panathinaikos 5-0 (A), November 2
v Werder Bremen 3-1 (H), November 22
v Udinese 2-0 (A), December 7

v Chelsea 2-1 (A), February 22 - Last 16
v Chelsea 1-1 (H), March 7 - Last 16
v Benfica 0-0 (A), March 28 - QF
v Benfica 2-0 (H), April 5 - QF
v Milan 1-0 (A), April 18 - SF
v Milan 2-1 (H), April 26 - SF

 

Barcelona-Arsenal team news/stats

Arsenal confirm that Robert Pires will start in midfield instead of Jose Antonio Reyes, who is on the bench.
Centre-back Philippe Senderos is fit again but Gunners boss Arsene Wenger seems set to stick with Sol Campbell.

Mathieu Flamini (hamstring) should be available and will challenge Ashley Cole for a starting place at left-back.

Barcelona are giving forward Lionel Messi, who has not played for two months, as much time as possible to recover from a thigh injury.


Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Almunia, Poom, Cole, Senderos, Toure, Clichy, Campbell, Eboue, Djourou, Flamini, Ljungberg, Pires, Gilberto, Hleb, Reyes, Fabregas, Song, Henry, Van Persie, Bergkamp.

Barcelona (from): Jorquera, Ruben, Valdes, Belletti, Edmilson, Marquez, Mora, Presas, Puyol, Rodri, Sylvinho, Van Bronckhorst, Deco, Gabri, Giuly, Iniesta, Motta, Ronaldinho, Van Bommel, Verdu, Hernandez, Eto'o, Ezquerro, Larsson, Lopez, Messi.



BIG MATCH NOTES

Undefeated sides clash in Champions League final

When Arsenal and FC Barcelona meet in Saint-Dénis on Wednesday, two undefeated sides will contest the final of this season's Champions League.

The two teams have recorded eight victories and four draws each in their first 12 matches.

It is the third time since the competition began in 1992 that two teams have reached the final unbeaten.

This also occurred in 1992/93 and 93/94. In the former final, Olympique Marseille beat AC Milan by 1-0.

Milan made amends in style the next season by beating Barcelona 4-0.

Arsenal retain watertight defence in knockout phase


Arsenal have not conceded a Champions League goal since 27 September 2005.

The sequences of 10 consecutive clean sheets and 919 minutes without letting in a goal are both Champions League records.

Rijkaard can join exclusive club


Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard won the Champions League three times (1989, 1990 and 1995) as a player and hopes to join the short list of Champions Cup/Champions League winners as player and trainer.

Only four people have done this - Miguel Munoz, Giovanni Trapattoni, Johan Cruyff and Carlo Ancelotti.

Ancelotti was the last to accomplish the feat and he was one of the players who partnered Rijkaard as a player, winning the 1988/89 and 1989/90 Champions Cup trophies with AC Milan.

In the latter final, Rijkaard scored the only goal of the match as the 'rossoneri' overcame Benfica.

By 1995, Rijkaard had returned to the club where he started his professional career, Amsterdam-based side Ajax.

In the final against former employer AC Milan, he provided the assist for Patrick Kluivert's match winner.

Arsenal can complete a set of European silverware


If Arsenal beat Barcelona, they will add the missing piece in a set of European silverware.

In 1969/70, Arsenal's Fairs Cup win gave the Londoners their first European honours.

In 1993/94, the Gunners added the Cup Winners' Cup to their trophy cabinet.

Only four clubs, including Arsenal's opponents Barcelona, have won all three European competitions at least once.

Barca have won the Champions Cup/Champions League once, the Cup Winners' Cup four times and the Fairs Cup/Uefa Cup three times.

The other teams that have completed the set are Ajax, Bayern Munich and Juventus and therefore Arsenal can become the first English club to accomplish the feat.

Neither finalists have fond memories of shoot-outs deciding finals in European competition


In the 1979/80 Cup Winners' Cup final, Arsenal were denied by another Spanish side - Valencia - in a penalty shoot-out.

After 120 minutes of football, the match was scoreless. Valencia's Mario Kempes and Arsenal's Liam Brady both missed the opening spot-kicks.

The following nine were converted before Graham Rix saw his attempt parried by Valencia goalkeeper-turned-hero, Carlos Pereira.

Barcelona were involved in the most embarrassing penalty shoot-out, from the point of view of the takers at least, in the 1985/86 Champions Cup final.

Barca custodian Urruti saved the first two attempts by Steaua Bucharest, but surrendered two goals after that.

All four Barcelona penalties were saved by Steaua goalie Helmuth Ducadam, who became a European legend overnight.

In the final of the 1999/2000 Uefa Cup, Arsenal's shootout woes made Galatasaray the first ever Turkish winners of European silverware.

Gala goalkeeper Claudio Taffarel saw Arsenal's Davor Suker and Patrick Vieira both hit the woodwork, as his team mates made no mistake from the spot.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Definitions of terms used:-

Champions League (CL) - only group phase matches and beyond of this competition which began in 1992/1993.
Champions Cup/Champions League - all matches played since it began in 1955/1956 including qualification matches.
European matches - all matches played in the major European tournaments (Fairs Cup, Uefa Cup, Cup Winners' Cup, Champions Cup, Champions League).
Uefa Super Cups, Intertoto Cups and the old Intercontinental Cup competition are excluded.

Head-to-Head


FC Barcelona and Arsenal have met each other twice in Europe. In the 1999/2000 Champions League first round group phase, these sides drew 1-1 at the Camp Nou, but the Spaniards won 2-4 in London.

Arsenal players Thierry Henry, Fredrik Ljungberg and Dennis Bergkamp were involved in both encounters. Barcelona's Gabri made one substitute appearance, whilst Xavi and Carles Puyol were on the bench for both legs.

Barcelona have played 51 European matches against clubs from England and have won 24, drawn 14 and lost 13. The Spaniards have outscored the English clubs by 101-63.

Barca have been eliminated from European competition by English clubs on six occasions. They have eliminated English clubs from the knock-out stages 12 times.

The Catalan-based club have met English opposition in three European finals. After winning the Fairs Cup in 1958 and 1960 by defeating London XI and Birmingham City respectively, the Catalans lost the final of the 1991 Cup Winners' Cup against Manchester United (2-1).

Arsenal have played 20 European matches against clubs from Spain and have won seven, drawn five and lost eight.

Arsenal have been eliminated from European competition by Spanish clubs on three occasions, including the lost Cup Winners' Cup finals to Valencia (1980) and Real Zaragoza (1995).

Arsenal have knocked out three Spanish clubs from European competition, including Real Madrid in this season's Champions League second round.

European history


The best result by Barcelona in the Champions League is finishing runners-up to AC Milan in 1993/94.

In 1992, Barcelona won the Champions Cup. They have also amassed four Cup Winners' Cups, three Uefa Cups and two European Super Cups.

This is Barca's 10th season in the Champions League.

Arsenal's best result in the Champions League is reaching the final of this year's competition.

The Londoners are making their eighth appearance in the CL main competition.

Arsenal's European trophies are the 1969/1970 Fairs Cup and the 1993/94 Cup Winners' Cup.

 

Current European form


Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 12 Champions League matches. Their last loss was the 4-2 defeat at Chelsea last season.

Barcelona's club record unbeaten run in the Champions League stands at 16 and was set between May 2002 and April 2003.

Barcelona have kept a clean sheet in their last four CL matches, thereby equalling the club record for most successive clean sheets in the Champions League which was set between February and March 2003.

Together with Arsenal, Barcelona are the only unbeaten team in this season's Champions League.

Arsenal's undefeated run in the Champions League is now 13 matches, which is a club record in the competition. The club record in European competition stands at 16 and was set between September 1993 and April 1995.

This Champions League season, the Gunners have so far won eight matches and drawn four, outscoring their opponents by 14-2.

The only players that have scored against Arsenal this CL season are Nelson Ferreira (FC Thun) and Markus Rosenberg (Ajax).

Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in each of their last 10 CL matches. The previous CL record was held by AC Milan, who kept seven clean sheets in the 2004/05 season.

The 10 consecutive clean sheets also mark an all-time record in all European competitions. The previous record of nine was set by Ajax in the late 1980s.

The 919 minutes without conceding a goal is also a Champions League record, clearly ahead of Ajax's run of 658 minutes without conceding a goal, set in 1996.

Player and disciplinary info


Rafael Marquez, Carles Puyol and Mark van Bommel (Barcelona) will be suspended if they receive a yellow card.

Arsenal's Kolo Habib Toure and Matthieu Flamini will be suspended if they receive a yellow card.

Xavi is the most experienced Barcelona player with 57 CL appearances.

The other players in the Barcelona squad with at least 50 Champions League matches are Carles Puyol (56) and Deco (52).

Ronaldinho and Deco are the most prolific goalscorers in Barcelona's squad with 11 career goals in the Champions League. Samuel Eto'o is on 10 goals.

Ronaldinho (seven) and Samuel Eto'o (five) are Barcelona's top scorers this Champions League season.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst is the only Barcelona player to have played in every Champions League match this season.

Van Bronckhorst was signed from Arsenal in 2003. He played 11 Champions League matches for the Gunners.

Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has been in goal for seven of the 10 clean sheet matches and also kept a clean sheet in his last match before this season's run - the 1-0 win against Bayern Munich.

In total, Lehmann has kept goal for Arsenal for 745 minutes without conceding a goal. This is a CL record previously held by Edwin van der Sar, who in the 1995/96 season did not concede a goal for 658 minutes while playing for Ajax.

The last player to score against Lehmann was Hasan Salihamidzic in the 65th minute of Bayern's 3-1 victory against Arsenal in last season's Champions League.

Thierry Henry is Arsenal's most experienced player and top scorer in this competition with 78 matches and 41 goals. His 69 matches for Arsenal in the competition are the most by an Arsenal player.

Henry has scored 49 goals in all European competitions and can become the seventh player to net 50 times if he scores against Barcelona.

Fredrik Ljungberg has made more appearances in the Champions League than any other Swede (59).

Kolo Toure (Ivory Coast, 36) and Lauren (Cameroon, 53) are also the CL record appearance makers for their countries.

Cesc Fabregas is the only Arsenal player to have appeared in every Champions League match this season.

Henry clinched his fourth English top scorer title this season by netting 27 goals in the Premiership.

Other miscellaneous facts


FC Barcelona have already clinched the Spanish league title.

Arsenal ensured themselves of Champions League qualification by finishing fourth in the Premiership.

 

C'mon the Barca Bhoys! Second best club in the world!

 

Well Done FC BARCELONA Champions Of Europe henrik larsson * me bhoy wat a game from a under rated player because you where in the scottish league to the Khing Of Barcelona YEOOOOOO FORZA BARCA

 

Barcelona Team Statistics Arsenal
2 Goals 1
0 1st Half Goals 1
9 Shots on Target 5
7 Shots off Target 3
5 Blocked Shots 1
3 Corners 4
20 Fouls 16
1 Offsides 1
2 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 1
85.8 Passing Success 73
33 Tackles 35
81.8 Tackles Success 85.7
71.5 Possession 28.5
61 Territorial Advantage 39