Beautiful Barca

"I want the players to realise they are playing in front of the whole world. I want them to feel good, be daring and play beautiful football. I want them to show that we deserve to be European champions."

Above are the words of UEFA Champions League-winning manager Pep Guardiola. The former Barcelona captain, now 38-years-old and manager of the Spanish giants, delivered. His players delivered for him. The onlooking football lover was satisfied, spoilt.

All the makings of a fairytale - the backdrop, the characters, the romance - the game between two footballing leviathans was a rare occurrence whereby the customary pre-match hyperbole was justified. A supporter need not be briefed of its grandeur.

There were no eyebrows raised upon the submitting of the team-sheets, the starting XIs as predicted: Thierry Henry and Andres Iniesta passed fit for Barca, Ryan Giggs replacing the suspended Darren Fletcher for United.

First, the question of dictator, the pursuer. Initially, it was United, and those who were quick to rudely point at Barca's backline reshuffle appeared justified. But them fingers would prove better arrowed at adeptness further forward. Guardiola knew he had enough attacking armoury to shelter potential weak spots. La Blaugrana are what Arsenal aspire to be.

The main point for consideration in the lead up to the encounter was Lionel Messi versus Cristiano Ronaldo, with television pundits and journalists scouring their thesauruses for a fresh superlative for the pair, who finished first and second in the Fifa World Player of the Year vote for 2008.

Indeed, Ronaldo's bullish, yet dainty, approach was apparent, the Portuguese swinging tree-trunk muscle through the ball on several occasions in the early stages. But it was a false start. Messi, meanwhile, floated - the ability to interchange vital in the modern game - threatening to pull his left trigger.

With an intake of breath drawn when said duo were in possession, one risked overlooking other masters. There were many on show. At half-time, Xavi, a player often taken for granted, had lost the ball just three times out of 37 passes while covering 5.74km. By full-time his pass completion stood at 93 per cent.

Iniesta, too, stood tall, despite cutting a diminutive figure, at 5ft 6.5in, at Stadio Olimpico. Like a puppet that can harrowingly spring to life, the Spaniard has ability to not only smell the blood of an opportunity, but to seize it. It was Iniesta's probing run that assisted Samuel Eto'o. And it was Xavi's tantalising cross that met Messi's forehead.

Of the Argentine, much has been made, particularly from the English media, of his failure to score versus English opposition. At his 11th attempt, that statistic, which seemed to reek of Primera Division jealousy, went up in smoke. He lit up the grandest of stages.

It is true, the Premier League champions had an off day, but at this level mistakes are rightly punished. Barca's performance was professional with decoration. It even highlighted Guus Hiddink's impressive work over two semi-final legs in charge of Chelsea. Even then, Guardiola's XI was stronger on paper. Yet on 27th May, Barca's display, not needing last-minute drama, was whole.

It was worthy of such a coveted crown.