On that day

The finals reckoning

May 26, 2009
By John Brewin
Manchester United and Barcelona are two of Europe's most celebrated clubs.

Yet, while both go into Wednesday's Champions League final with recent European titles to their name, these are two clubs who have suffered long waits to win the continent's greatest competition.

Both were denied triumphs in the old European Cup's formative years. United were victorious in 1968 yet had to wait 31 years to triumph again. Barcelona suffered two horrendous disappointments before finally ...

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Related Teams

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL


Manchester United Football Club
Nickname: The Red Devils
Founded: 1878
Ground: Old Trafford (Capacity: 76,212)
English league titles: 18

Futbol Club Barcelona
Nickname: Barça, Els Blaugrana
Founded: 1899
Ground: Camp Nou (Capacity: 98,772)
Spanish league titles: 19

EUROPEAN CUP PEDIGREE:
Wins: Barca 2 | Man Utd 3
Runners-up: Barca 3 | Man Utd 0
Semi-final appearances: Barca 5 | Man Utd 7

PATH TO THE FINAL:
Barcelona | Manchester United

SOCCERNET'S FULL COVERAGE GUIDE

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Bidwell: Messi ready to make his mark

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Interview with Albert Ferrer and Terry Venables

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UEFA Champions League Headlines