What a wonderful Bank Holiday weekend of sport we have had. Bookended by a feast of football at Wembley with two teams who play the beautiful game as it should be played lifting their respective trophies when the dust has settled. Congratulations FC Barcelona and Swansea City.
I am not the most fanatical follower of sports but I do enjoy it when it is on and this weekend there has a been a lot on. It was either watch sport or the usual repetitive drivel that is aired every Bank Holiday weekend. So this weekend I watched a bit of everything from Football, rugby, MMA, Formula 1, golf and as I type this up I have wrestling on, not a sport but sports entertainment so it's close enough.
The biggest story of this weekend has been the football and the absolutely mesmerising performance by Barcelona against Manchester United. Going in to the match I was looking forward to a humbling of Manchester United and the silencing of their fans, namely because I am a fan of Liverpool & Barcelona whereas my father is a Manchester United fan. I am always subject to his gloats at Manchester United having the more success so Saturday I was looking forward to the favourable outcome I had been hoping for.
The match was a feast and it always is a pleasure to see an amazing team like Barcelona play, such beauty and fluidity to their game. They are a true proponent of the beautiful game. Without a shadow of a doubt the best side of recent history. A team that can boast the likes of Xavi, David Villa, Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta and of course possibly the best footballer to step on a pitch the maestro Lionel Messi.
In the opening exchanges I fancied Manchester United looked the most likely to score but once Barcelona got into their rhythm there was only going to be one outcome. They played United off the pitch, summed up by the magnificent goals by Messi and Villa. United much lauded team seemed average at best, yes in England they are the best but against continental opposition of Barcelona's class, there is a long way to go before they can blow their own trumpets. It seemed as though the years caught up with some of United's squad, Ryan Giggs was ineffective and seemed an old man compared to the flair of the younger Messi. Paul Scholes equally so. In the end it was a victory for the beautiful game. The best team won and football won.
Letting Eric Abidal lift the trophy was a lovely gesture, he recently returned to football after having major surgery to remove a tumour and the final marked 70 odd days since the surgery. It puts the game into perspective and what a great, feel good story to have in the match a return against all odds.
I should watch Barcelona more, I have Sky Sports so no excuse not to seeing as they are broadcast every weekend live. Wish I also bought a ticket to see the final. I really want to watch Lionel Messi play in person once in my life.
I will talk about the rest of the sport in a second blog. This one seems pretty long already.
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