Magnificent. Superb. Brilliant. I can't really put my finger on it, but there's something about an English team in the final of an European Competition - Champions League mostly - that makes you go to bed thinking that you just read another page of football history. Even if they lost, Arsenal couldn't have done it with greater dignity. In the same time, Barcelona couldn't have conquered Europe in a greater way. Truly a magnificent night for football itself, in which you simply could not have taken your eyes off the TV screen.

Barcelona and Arsenal did not sacrifice the "total football" for the trophy. In front of a 70.000 crowd, the two teams have put an end to a wonderful football season. The words are fading before the atmosphere on Stade de France. On the field, we could see a real battle. Arsenal struggled between agony and ecstasy. After just a couple of minutes into the game, Jens Lehman was eliminated for a foul at Eto'o, and Pires had to sacrifice himself for his team, making room in the squad for the second goalie. But, despite all this, Arsenal did not kill the show. On the contrary, they even took the lead, and had a great couple of chances to seal it.

But, after last year's final between Liverpool and Milan, something had to happen eventually on Stade de France, especially with Ronaldinho on the field. Every touch of the ball for the Brazilian turned into a genuine piece of art. Along with Deco and Eto'o, Ronaldinho kept Barca breathing towards the end. Ah... the End. This time, it wasn't to be for the Englishmen. In 4 minutes, Barcelona conquered Europe. First they equalized by Eto'o, and then they sealed it with Beletti's goal. After the right wing defender put it into the net, the catalans couldn't stop the tears in their eyes.

The furfillment and joy of Barca's players had a sad, yet proud correspondent in the Englishmen's eyes. The truth is that never in the history of the Champions League Finals, were there a team to deserve it more, or another to lose it with more honor. Arsenal players did not shed many tears. For them, the fact that they managed to keep the pace in only 10 men with probably the greatest team in the history of football was a victory itself. The image at the end, when Henry is hugging Giuly's junior is exactly what should remain in our memories. That it was all just a game. But, damn... what a game that was! The trophy itself seemed to look differently. It seemed like, for the first time after 50 years of history, it had gone to probably the best team ever.