Every UEFA Champions League Final Ranked From Worst To Best
2. Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United (2011)
The pinnacle of Pep Guardiola’s time at Barcelona, the 2011 Champions League final at Wembley was tiki-taka football at its best.
When the two teams met in the previous year’s final, Manchester United were guilty of missing several opportunities to take an early lead before Barcelona found their footing.
There would be no repeat this time around, with Barca not only controlling possession but creating chance after chance. In truth, 3-1 flattered United, given how effectively Guardiola’s team controlled the game.
It still took them until the 27th minute to break the deadlock with Xavi unlocking the United defence with a brilliant pass through to Pedro who finished with aplomb.
Despite their domination though, Barcelona found themselves going in 1-1 at half time after Wayne Rooney combined effectively with Ryan Giggs – who, replays later showed, was offside – before curling a sweet strike home.
There would be no such complacency in the second half though, with Barcelona cranking up the pressure and eventually retaking the lead through the talismanic Lionel Messi, who fired home from 20 yards out, nine minutes after the restart.
Barcelona’s attacking play was mesmeric, like a football version of the Harlem Globetrotters, which left United chasing shadows and unable to get a foothold in the game.
Victory was secured on 69 minutes via an emphatic strike from David Villa which curled into the top corner, cementing Barcelona’s status as Europe’s best team in the process.
An unbridled joy to watch, provided you aren’t a United fan.