UEFA Champions League: Barcelona finals and history

Although Barcelona had to wait until 1992 for their first taste of success in Europe's premier club competition, they have more than made up for it since.

After losing their first two European Cup finals in 1961 and 1986 against Benfica and Steaua Bucharest respectively, Barcelona finally got their hands on the trophy for the first time following a victory over Sampdoria in the final at Wembley in 1992.

Barcelona have reached five UEFA Champions League finals since, winning four titles in the 21st century thus far including a golden period under the management of Pep Guardiola during the peak of the great Lionel Messi's powers at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona UEFA Champions League finals

Date	Score
31st May 1961	Barcelona 2-3 Benfica
7th May 1986	Barcelona 0-0 Steaua Bucharest (Steaua won 2-0 on pens)
20th May 1992	Barcelona 1-0 Sampdoria (after extra time)
18th May 1994	Barcelona 0-4 Milan
17th May 2006	Barcelona 2-1 Arsenal
27th May 2009	Barcelona 2-0 Manchester United
28th May 2011	Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United
6th June 2015	Barcelona 3-1 Juventus

How many UEFA Champions League titles have Barcelona won?

Catalan giants Barcelona have won Europe's biggest club prize on five occasions - the last ever edition of the European Cup in 1992 before four UEFA Champions League triumphs in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2015.

Barcelona UEFA Champions League history

For every major European club, the desire to win the European Cup/UEFA Champions League is intense.

This has certainly been the case for Catalan giants Barcelona, especially during the extended period in which the club's first European Cup seemed to perpetually evade them.

In contrast to rivals Real Madrid who had already accrued six European Cups by 1966, it took two final losses in 1961 and 1986 before Barcelona were finally crowned champions of Europe in 1992 following a victory over Sampdoria in the Wembley final with the legendaryh Johan Cruyff at the helm.

Under the auspices of iconic Dutch coach Cruyff, Barcelona cultivated one of world football's most revered youth academies La Masia which would give rise to the most successful era in the club's history.

The shoots from La Masia were conspicuous by 2006, when Cruyff disciple Frank Rijkaard led Barcelona to their second UEFA Champions League title with a triumph over Arsenal in the Paris final with a starting lineup comprising academy graduates Victor Valdes and Carles Puyol.

By 2009 the La Masia project shone bright at every level, with Barcelona led by Pep Guardiola, an academy graduate himself who was a member of Johan Cruyff's victorious 'Dream Team' in the 1992 final victory over Sampdoria.

The team Guardiola inherited as Barcelona manager included a number of talented La Masia products including Valdes, Puyol, Sergio Busquets, Xavi and a certain Lionel Messi, with former academy star Gerard Pique also brought back from Manchester United.

This combination of Guardiola's tactical nous and intensity coupled with the natural talent of the squad at his disposal helped produce arguably the finest club side in football history, with Barcelona claiming UEFA Champions League glory in stunning fashion in 2009 and 2011.

Guardiola moved on in 2012, but more European success was forthcoming for Barcelona, with the Catalans winning their fifth UEFA Champions League title in 2015 with famed attacking trio Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar leading the charge.

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