The greatest game ever?
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- Written by David Moftakhar
Partisanship aside, Manchester United vs. FC Barcelona is the dream Champions League final. The two best teams in the world, both winners of their domestic championships (Europe’s strongest), and each with their fair share of the world’s best players. In theory it should be the perfect match.
Media attention has focused on the two players widely acknowledged to be the best in the world. On the one hand there is the preened show-pony that is Cristiano Ronaldo - all pomp, ceremony and arrogance in his coiffured brilliance. On the other there is Lionel Messi, more mulish Shetland than stallion. With dank mane and blank gaze he offers an altogether more understated incarnation of footballing genius.
Many papers and news outlets will be picking over the remains of Newcastle United's end to a 16 year tenure in the top flight today. Whilst relegation has looked like an increasing possibility in recent weeks, there is still a lot of shock and glee over the demise of the black and white Geordies. They say that all good things must come to an end, but really Newcastle United have been a miserable team for a few seasons now. As silly as it may sound, a season or more in the Championship might actually help to revitalise this ongoing 'sleeping giant'.
Manchester United, Inter Milan and Barcelona all scooped their domestic league titles last weekend. To achieve the feat the three clubs spent in the region of €200m between them on new players in 2008-2009. Little wonder then that they emerged victorious. But, in fact, the vast majority of that money was wasted on poor and ineffective signings. That they still emerged victorious after such large financial blunders tells of the pre-eminent clubs’ dominance. 
So it came to pass that Wednesday night was the final, final of the 
If I said the words “Luis Figo”, “non-alcoholic beer”, “street” and “drinkers”, how would you pin the four together?