2007/08 UEFA Champions League: Manchester United vs. Barcelona

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

April 29, 2008
20:45 (CET)
Manchester United 1–0 Barcelona Old Trafford, Manchester, England
Attendance: 75,061
Referee: Herbert Fandel
Scholes Scored after 14 minutes 14' (1)
Carrick Booked after 63 minutes 63'
Ronaldo Booked after 68 minutes 68'
Nani Substituted off after 77 minutes 77'
Giggs Substituted on after 77 minutes 77'
Scholes Substituted off after 77 minutes 77'
Fletcher Substituted on after 77 minutes 77'
Evra Substituted off after 90' + 3 minutes 90' + 3'
Silvestre Substituted on after 90' + 3 minutes 90' + 3'
Match Report Booked after 52 minutes 52' Zambrotta
Booked after 54 minutes 54' Deco
Substituted off after 61 minutes 61' Iniesta
Substituted on after 61 minutes 61' Henry
Booked after 70 minutes 70' Touré
Substituted off after 72 minutes 72' Eto'o
Substituted on after 72 minutes 72' Bojan
Substituted off after 88 minutes 88' Touré
Substituted on after 88 minutes 88' Guðjohnsen


Manchester United are heading to Moscow, Russia to play in the UEFA Champions League Final on May 21 after beating Barcelona 1-0 on Tuesday evening. The aggregate score finished 1-0 after last Wednesday's goalless draw in Barcelona, Spain.

Former England midfielder Paul Scholes scored the only goal of the match in the 14th minute with a swerving strike from 25 meters after collecting a loose ball that resulted from a Gianluca Zambrotta clearance error. Scholes and team captain, former Wales international Ryan Giggs are the last remaining players from the Manchester United side that beat FC Bayern Munich in the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final, played in Barcelona's own Camp Nou stadium.

Manchester United's defensive resiliency continued from last Wednesday's 1st leg and withstood Barcelona's attack as Lionel Messi and company failed to unsettle United's back line, despite a 4-3-3 formation spearheaded by Eto'o, Messi, and Iniesta's persistent pressure in the attacking third of the pitch. Barcelona managed to put several shots near the home goal, but never really tested Dutch international goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar.

The win for Manchester United guarantees the first all-English final in European Champion League and Champions Club Cup history when they face Chelsea in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium on May 21.

Sources