Rome, Italy (My Sportsbook) - Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi scored and Barcelona ended Manchester United's 25-game Champions League unbeaten streak to dethrone the defending champions, 2-0, on Wednesday at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Barca won the Champions League for the second time in four years - and for the third time overall - to keep United from becoming the first team in the modern era of the tournament to repeat as champions. United lost for the first time in four Champions League finals.
Eto'o scored his fourth goal in this year's Champions League in the 10th minute and Messi clinched the match with his tournament-best ninth in the 70th. Eto'o, Messi and Thierry Henry - Barca's three top goal scorers - have combined for 99 goals in all competitions this season.
Barcelona's title also completed the first treble in Spanish history. Barca won the La Liga title and the Copa del Rey this season as well.
United was impressive from the opening whistle, and Cristiano Ronaldo had the first of his numerous scoring chances just two minutes in off a free kick. From 30 yards out, Ronaldo unleashed a shot on goal - and just over teammate Ji-Sung Park - and Barca goalie Victor Valdes spilled the ball. Park was the first to the rebound but, just as he unleashed the shot, Barcelona defender Gerard Pique deflected it wide.
Manchester United continued to control the opening 10 minutes, and Ronaldo sent a 36-yard rocket just wide in the sixth and then chested down the ball just two steps inside the area on the left and delivered a left-footed shot wide of the far post in the ninth.
With United full of confidence from the opening stretch, Barcelona - which was invisible early - stunned the defending champions in the 10th and never looked back.
Andres Iniesta made a long run down the center of the field, holding off United midfielder Michael Carrick before slipping a pass to Eto'o on the right. Eto'o dribbled the ball into the area and made a great cut back toward the top of the area to get around Manchester defender Nemanja Vidic and Carrick wasn't able to close the empty space before Eto'o beat Edwin van der Sar.
Eto'o, who was just five yards out, stabbed the ball with his right foot toward the near post - just before Carrick made a sliding attempt to clear the ball - and the shot went off Van der Sar and into the net.
Barca nearly used momentum from the goal to build a quick two-goal lead, but it wasted a chance just one minute later. Iniesta fired a corner to an onrushing Messi, but he misfired on a shot from 16 yards.
United veteran Ryan Giggs delivered a free kick just over the bar in the 16th, Messi unleashed a shot that sailed just over the bar in the 20th, Ronaldo fired just wide again in the 20th, and Xavi curled a free kick just wide in the 27th as the teams traded chances for the next 20 minutes.
Messi had one more chance before half in the 45th, but his shot from a tough angle on the left was easy for Van der Sar to get to - even though he spilled a rebound into empty space that United was able to clear - and the match remained 1-0 at the end of the half.
United made its first change at halftime, but Carlos Tevez could not provide a spark and Barcelona continued to control the match.
Henry made his presence felt for the first time in the 48th, making a few moves to get around United defender Rio Ferdinand. Henry couldn't finish the play, though, as Van der Sar made one of his better saves.
Barcelona's chances continued with Eto'o testing Van der Sar with a header in the 49th; Messi just missed getting on the end of a cross to tap in to an open net in the 50th, and Xavi drilled the right post with a free kick in the 53rd.
United showed some life after the misses by Barca, but Wayne Rooney's cross was too high for Ronaldo and bounced over Park's head with the left side of the net open in the 56th.
Henry was back at it again in the 66th, testing Van der Sar again and, after United added Dimitar Berbatov to its offensive lineup, Messi sealed the match.
Barca captain Carles Puyol, who played a great match, won the ball two times in midfield and helped set up the goal the second time. Puyol picked up a loose ball in midfield and quickly slide a pass to Xavi, who crossed to the far side of the area to Messi.
The diminutive Messi, who is just 5-foot-7, leaped to head the ball back toward the right post and easily beat Van der Sar.
United followed with its best chance since the opening minutes when Giggs and Ronaldo had chances from close range, but both of their shots were deflected.
Barcelona settled back in and nearly added to its lead three times in the final 15. Puyol headed directly at Van der Sar in the 75th, Iniesta was denied in the 80th and Puyol was denied again in the 84th.
United, which last lost in the Champions League in the 2007 semifinals to AC Milan, never settled back in after giving up the early goal and couldn't match its miracle 1999 finish over Bayern Munich, when the English side scored twice in stoppage time for a 2-1 win.
Notes: Italy's AC Milan was the last team to capture two straight titles when it won the European Cup - which is now the Champions League - in 1989 and '90. ... In addition to its 2006 title, Barcelona won 1992; it lost in 1961, '86 and '94. ... Barcelona joined United as one of just six clubs with at least three titles. ... United also won in 1968. ... Spanish clubs have won 12 titles, one more than each England and Italy.
