Barcelona fans celebrate in Rome after Champions League win

Manchester United fans are heading home after their team were beaten by a skilful and spirited Barcelona in the Champions League final. Sir Alex Ferguson's men slumped to defeat after two well-taken goals, one in each half, in front of 20,000 United fans who had packed into Rome's impressive Stadio Olimpico. Elsewhere in the city, a further 10,000 ticketless supporters watched United's bid to clinch back-to-back Champions League titles. And early on in the game signs were good, as they made a number of goal-scoring chances. But their bright start was deflated by a goal in the ninth minute by Cameroon hitman Samuel Eto'o. And in the second half, Barcelona controlled much of the pitch and their pressure finally told with a header from Argentinian maestro Lionel Messi. The Manchester United team are due back at the city's airport later but despite the defeat, the English champions will be sure to receive a warm welcome from fans. In Manchester, lorry driver James Loney, who had travelled across the Irish Sea from Lurgan, County Armagh, to watch the match said: "There's no point in pretending otherwise, but I've been a United fan all my life, 40 years. I'm devastated but you have to take the rough with the smooth." He added: "Cut me open, I'm red white and black inside. It will never stop me, no." With the sale of alcohol banned around the stadium and in airports and stations until Thursday morning and a huge security operation in place, the build up to the game passed off with little incident. A 54-year-old United fan was reportedly stabbed in the early hours of Wednesday morning but later discharged himself from hospital after his condition was not deemed as serious. A number of Italian touts were also arrested for trying to sell tickets to United fans and three people were held for possession of counterfeit currency while two were detained on Tuesday for violent conduct.

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ITN | May 28, 2009

Tags:. .irish. .armagh. .skilful. .argentinian. .deflated