Manchester United were outclassed today in the Champion’s League Final losing 3-1, but even that scoreline doesn’t tell the entire story…

The first 10 minutes were dominated by United with Chicharito looking especially dangerous…

The next 10 minutes United had no possession and just played long ball. They were lucky not to concede several…

The game then settled down with Manchester having some possession, but still not looking as dangerous as Barcelona who scored on a numbers mismatch with Evra(?) having to choose, wrongly, between two attackers and Pedro making a brilliant strike.

United finally looked confident and strung together a nice run of wall passes resulting in a Rooney goal. Was Giggs offside?

Halftime 1-1.

Second half started slowly for United.

The second goal by Messi was brilliant, but was aided by poor defending – meaning United gave way too much space and didn’t close down the shot. Vidic, who had been brilliant up until now, retreated two or three steps, instead of stepping up to challenge. Evra was too late to react, and Messi guided a great strike into the back of the net.

Lots of defending…

Finally a substitution to bring in Nani – who I thought the game needed from the beginning – who promptly made a defensive miscue and gifted the ball to Barca resulting in a David Villa goal.

Aside from the Nani defensive lapse, I thought he brought a new intensity and urged United forward.

With the introduction of Scholes, the Red Devils had more possession and looked more dangerous. Whether this was because of the commanding league held by Barcelona, or the better football being played, or both, I am not sure.

Two or three reasonable chances, but nothing to show for it.

(article updates coming soon)