LAST DAY OF THE PREMIERSHIP SEASON

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL

BARCELONA WIN V MAN UTD

BEST ODDS :- 15/8 Betfred

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RESULT :- BARCELONA 2 - 0 MAN UTD

ALL PRICES

GIVEN AT TIME OF POSTING - UPDATES WHERE POSSIBLE

CLASS TELLS

Manchester United are worthy champions of England but it has to be said that they were a poor second to a very classy Barcelona team who are undoubtedly the best team in Europe. They were taught a football lesson in Rome and it may just take them some time to get over it. Barca played a passing game that at times was sublime.

The English Premiership had three representatives in the semi-finals but force and toughness were no match for outright skill and flair. The premier league maybe the most watched in Europe and raise the most money in revenue but Barcelona are without shadow of a doubt the best team in Europe to watch and must surely have given La Liga a huge boost.

THE GUARDIAN'S FIVER

READY, STEADY, DRINK

When the painfully middle-class writers from the Fiver's daily
supplement, F2, aren't busy writing in-no-way condescending features
about what it's like to "work in a shop", "holiday in Butlins" or
"visit Scotland", they can often be found running around the office
looking for inspiration for their next wheeze. Well, rather than read
an angst-ridden hand-wringing account of what it's like to "watch
football" in tomorrow's issue, here's a bespoke F2 Big Cup Big Day
Drinking Game the Fiver's just invented for our colleagues to play,
an account of which drunken shenanigans we'd love to read in
tomorrow's issue.

The Rules:

* Every time you read or hear a British hack or pundit predicting a
Manchester United win because Barcelona didn't play particularly well
against Chelsea - one shot of Pimms.

* Every time Sir Alex Ferguson says: "It's unusual that no one has
defended [Big Cup] since it started [in 1992]. If you look at the
history, through the 1960s and 1970s, it was done regularly ... I
can't give you a reason but we have an opportunity to change that and
I just hope we can take it" - one Bombay Sapphire and tonic.

* Every time Sky Sports News report that a Manchester United fan has
been stabbed in "the thigh" (aka buttock) by an Italian - one shot of
St Germain Elderflower Liqueur.

* Every time Clive Tyldesley mentions "that famous night in Barcelona"
- three shots of Manzanilla sherry.

* Every time Rio Ferdinand is spotted limping and gingerly rubbing his
calf despite saying "the injury is fine and I have trained for the
last few days" - one Tanqueray martini up with a twist.

* Every time Ferguson points at his watch and shouts abuse at the
fourth official - three fingers of Cosmopolitan.

* Every time Bryan Swanson, the Sky Sports Newsman in Rome, interviews
a Manchester United fan who refers to his team as "we" despite having
a thick Irish accent - one shot of green ginger wine.

* Every time you read or hear a British hack or pundit predicting a
Barcelona win because Manchester United got hammered by Liverpool -
three fingers down your throat for a nice relaxing vomit.

* Every time Bryan Swanson mentions the alcohol ban in Rome's city
centre while a crowd of garrulous, clearly inebriated Manchester
United fans can be seen carousing, pints of lager in hand, in the
background - one glass of dry unoaked Italian Pinot Grigio.

* The last person to shout "You beauty!" every time Sky analyst Andy
Gray refers to a player as "son" has to neck three fingers of
Hennessy Beaute du Siecle cognac.

* Every time a commentator or pundit mentions that He said He'd been
practising penalties "a lot" in the build-up to Big Cup Big Day - one
large glass of Romanee Conti.

* Whenever Ferdinand tries to hijack the glory of a Manchester United
goalscorer by being first over and levering himself up on to the
triumphant player's shoulders - two celebratory shots of Remy Martin.

* Whenever Ferdinand tries to hijack the glory of a Barcelona
goalscorer by being first over and levering himself up on to the
triumphant player's shoulders - a celebratory bottle of Remy Martin.

* Whenever a pundit or commentator criticises referee Massimo
Busacca's ability on the grounds that he's Swiss - one pint of
Laurent Perrier Rose champagne.

* Whenever a pundit or commentator jokes about referee Massimo
Busacca's neutrality on the grounds that he's Swiss - a Jeroboam of
Laurent Perrier Rose champagne.

* Every time Leo Messi is fouled, Wayne Rooney shouts at the referee,
John O'Shea trips over his own feet, or He inhales the Italian night
air deep into the tips of his toes before striking a free-kick, all
drinks must be downed.

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