Barcelona were crowned European champions after a 2-1 comeback victory over 10-man Arsenal in the Champions League final that took place at the Stade de France on Wednesday. Brazilian substitute Juliano Belleti fired home the winner for Barcelona in the 81st minute. Samuel Eto'o had brought Barcelona at level with a 76th minute strike after veteran defender Sol Campbell headed Arsenal in front in the 37th minute. Arsenal played the majority of the game with ten men after goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was ejected in the 18th minute for towing down Eto'o at the edge of the area. The European title is the second for the Spanish giants who previously won the title in 1992 at the expense of Sampdoria. Arsenal came on with all guns blazing and striker Henry came close from opening the score with two brilliant efforts that were equally denied by Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes. Lehman was called into action by a brilliant Ludovic Giuly drive from an acute angle in the 9th minute. The first-choice Germany keeper made one more save in the 17th minute before committing a reckless foul on Samuel Eto'o a minute later to receive his marching orders. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was forced to sacrifice French veteran midfielder Robert Pires to field goalkeeper Manuel Almunia. Ronaldinho takes the resulting free-kick but his effort goes inches wide.
Henrik Larsson made Barcelona's two assists Barcelona used their numerical advantage to control the midfield while Arsenal operated on the break. The Gunners stunned the Spaniards with a swift opener in the 37th minute when Campbell towered to head home Henry's free-kick from the right side. Eto'o missed a golden opportunity to equalize two minutes into injury time. The Cameroon international collected a through pass from Ronaldinho before rounding his marker and beating a fully stretched Almunia with a cracking drive that cannoned of the post. Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard brings in Andres Iniesta for Brazilian Edmilson in an effort to enforce the Catalan's offense. The young Spaniard nearly made an impact in the 53rd minute when he threaded his way past the Arsenal defense and executed a low shot that Almunia confidently collected. In the 63rd minute, Alexander Hleb squanders a chance to extend the lead when he fired wide from the edge of the area after being fed by Henry on the break. Four minutes later Freddie Ljungberg races down the left flank and loses the below-par Oleguer and attempts a shot from a very tight angle only to be denied by Valdes. Henry was the culprit in the 70th minute when he failed to cap a dazzling run that saw him elude Carles Puyol and Rafael Marquez only for Valdes to swoop in and save the day. Rijkaard's second-half substitutions proved worthwhile in the 76th minute when substitute Henrik Larsson flicked the ball in the path of roaring Eto'o who cut in and rifled the ball home from a tight angle. Barcelona's salvation came with the feat of another substitute, Belleti, who combined with Larsson to drill home the winner with nine minutes to the final whistle.
