FC Barcelona and Manchester United FC have produced some memorable European nights and with both sides playing some of the most exciting football in Europe this season another classic encounter is expected at the UEFA Champions League final in Rome on 27 May. They have played each other nine times in European competition with United winning three and Barça two, and it is Sir Alex Ferguson's side who have had more to cheer down the years after beating their Catalan rivals to lift the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1991 and in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League last season.
- 2007/08 UEFA Champions League semi-finals
The five previous meetings between the two teams had served up 27 goals, but with so much at stake the focus this time was on defence. Playing in their first match at the Camp Nou since winning the UEFA Champions League in 1999, United got off to a flying start and were awarded a third-minute penalty, only for the competition's leading scorer Cristiano Ronaldo to uncharacteristically fire wide. United were on the back foot for much of the match but held out for a goalless draw before winning the tie at Old Trafford. Paul Scholes, who had missed the 1999 final through suspension, ensured his side got back there again with a spectacular 14th-minute strike.
- 1998/99 UEFA Champions League group stage
The teams played out two thrilling 3-3 draws in Group D, and though there are no survivors from that Barcelona side in the team today five of the current United squad were involved. Ryan Giggs and Scholes scored the opening two goals of the September 1998 game at Old Trafford, while Wes Brown, Gary Neville and Scholes all figured in the return at the Camp Nou two months later. Rivaldo earned Barcelona a point with a 73rd-minute strike in that game, his second of the night, but it was not enough to stop them crashing out of the competition. United would return to the Camp Nou six months later to lift the trophy.
- 1994/95 UEFA Champions League group stage
Scholes made his European debut as a 67th-minute substitute as United fought back to earn a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford, but they were taught a lesson in the return. Six months after losing 4-0 to AC Milan in the final, Johan Cruyff's Barcelona were in commanding form themselves, a pair of goals from Hristo Stoichkov and strikes from Romário and Albert Ferrer completing a 4-0 win. The present Barcelona coach, Josep Guardiola, was in the Blaugrana lineup that day, while for United Giggs played for 79 minutes before being replaced by Scholes.
- 1991 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final
Sir Alex lifted his first European trophy for United eight years after having won it with Aberdeen FC thanks to a pair of Mark Hughes goals at De Kuip in Rotterdam. Playing against his former club, Hughes struck in the 67th and 74th minutes to put United in control, but a Ronald Koeman free-kick with eleven minutes to play set up a tense finale. Despite Nando's 84th-minute dismissal, Cruyff's side pressed to the end but could not prevent United from marking the return of English clubs to European competition with a trophy.
- 1983/84 UEFA Cup Winner's Cup quarter-final
Cesar Luis Menotti's Barcelona looked on course for a place in the semi-finals after a 2-0 first-leg victory at the Camp Nou, but United came storming back at Old Trafford. Diego Maradona, a substitute in the first leg, was given a starting role but it was United's 'Captain Marvel', Bryan Robson, who stole the show, giving United hope with a 21st-minute strike before pulling Ron Atkinson's side level six minutes after the break. Frank Stapleton added the third and decisive goal a minute later to send United through to the semi-finals where they lost to Juventus.
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1 comment:
are mal, lagu kt post baru saye tu tajuk nye hampir ke situ. sdp lgunye. nyanyian mendua.. =)
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