Daily News Channel
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson admitted his team had lost to the better side after going down to a 2-0 defeat to Barcelona in Rome. Ferguson’s team were bidding to become the first side to retain the Champions League trophy, but were always on the backfoot once Samuel Eto’o put the Spanish side ahead in the 10th minute
Barcelona claimed their first trophy in three years and stayed on course for a historic treble by thrashing Athletic Bilboa 4-1 in the Spanish Cup final.
Barcelona produced a dazzling display of attacking football to rout arch-rivals Real Madrid 6-2 in the Bernabeu and all but secure the Primera Liga title. Two goals apiece from Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry with defenders Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique also on target signaled an humiliating defeat for Real who went into ‘El Clasico’ with renewed hope of retaining the Spanish title. But a mixture of inspired play and comical defending undermined Juande Ramos’ men who had taken the lead as Gonzalo Higuain headed home after 14 minutes.