The European Championship pits the very best football teams against one another.

The final, yesterday, played in Paris, France, resulted in the Spanish Champions, Barcelona, beating Arsenal of England, by 2 goals to 1.

Quote:Briefs: Barcelona tops Arsenal for Champions crown

Soccer

Barcelona claims title: Spain heads into the World Cup with the biggest club title in European soccer.

Samuel Eto'o and second-half substitute Juliano Belletti scored in the final 15 minutes as Barcelona, playing with a man advantage for most of the game, rallied past Arsenal 2-1 Wednesday night in Saint-Denis, France, in the final of the European Champions League.

Barcelona's only previous Champions title came in 1992. Barcelona played with a man advantage after Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was ejected in the 18th minute for taking down Eto'o just outside the penalty area.

But the Gunners took a 1-0 lead in the 37th minute when Sol Campbell headed in Thierry Henry's free kick.

Arsenal had gone a Champions League-record 10 consecutive games without allowing a goal. Eto'o ended the streak in the 76th minute, taking a through ball from Henrik Larsson and beating backup goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.

Gunners coach Arsene Wenger claimed Eto'o was offside.

Belletti, a defender who entered in the 71st minute, got the go-ahead goal in the 81st, taking a pass from Larsson and sending a low cross in front that went into the net off Almunia.

forwardone Wrote:The European Championship pits the very best football teams against one another.

The final, yesterday, played in Paris, France, resulted in the Spanish Champions, Barcelona, beating Arsenal of England, by 2 goals to 1.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/ot...igs18.html

Quote:Briefs: Barcelona tops Arsenal for Champions crown

Soccer

Barcelona claims title: Spain heads into the World Cup with the biggest club title in European soccer.

Samuel Eto'o and second-half substitute Juliano Belletti scored in the final 15 minutes as Barcelona, playing with a man advantage for most of the game, rallied past Arsenal 2-1 Wednesday night in Saint-Denis, France, in the final of the European Champions League.

Barcelona's only previous Champions title came in 1992. Barcelona played with a man advantage after Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was ejected in the 18th minute for taking down Eto'o just outside the penalty area.

But the Gunners took a 1-0 lead in the 37th minute when Sol Campbell headed in Thierry Henry's free kick.

Arsenal had gone a Champions League-record 10 consecutive games without allowing a goal. Eto'o ended the streak in the 76th minute, taking a through ball from Henrik Larsson and beating backup goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.

Gunners coach Arsene Wenger claimed Eto'o was offside.

Belletti, a defender who entered in the 71st minute, got the go-ahead goal in the 81st, taking a pass from Larsson and sending a low cross in front that went into the net off Almunia.