Competing in their first UEFA Champions League final, Arsenal took on Barcelona at the Stade de France in 2006.
2006 UEFA Champions League final date, time and venue
The 2006 UEFA Champions League final between Barcelona and Arsenal was held at the Stade de France in Paris on Wednesday 17th May 2006 and got underway at 19:45 BST.
2006 UEFA Champions League final teams
Arsenal: Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Campbell, Cole; Pires (Alumina, 18'), Gilberto, Fabregas (Flamini 74'), Hleb (Reyes 85'); Ljungberg, Henry
Unused substitutes: Senderos, Clichy, Bergkamp, Reyes
Barcelona: Valdes, Oleguer (Belletti 71'), Marquez, Puyol, Van Bronckhorst; Edmilson (Iniesta 46'), Deco, Van Bommel (Larsson 61'); Ronaldinho, Giuly, Eto'o
Unused substitutes: Jorquera, Sylvinho, Motta, Xavi
2006 UEFA Champions League final score and goalscorers
The 2006 UEFA Champions League final between Barcelona and Arsenal finished 2-1 to the Spanish side.
Sol Campbell gave the Gunners the lead on the 37th minute before Samuel Eto'o equalised in the 76th minute for Barcelona with substitute Juliano Belletti scoring the winner four minutes later.
Barcelona v Arsenal story of the final
Ten-man Arsenal take surprise lead
The Gunners started brightly with Thierry Henry twice getting a sight of the Barcelona goal; the Frenchman ought to have given the Gunners a lead when being denied from close range by Victor Valdes, seeing a long range effort sting the Spanird's palms shortly after.
But their good work looked to be undone when Lehmann came out of his area, bringing down Samuel Eto'o and being shown a straight red card.
Momentum had swung the way of the Spanish side as Robert Pires was forced to make way for Manuel Almunia. Despite the pressure exerted by Barcelona, it was Arsenal who took a surprise lead when Sol Campbell rose highest to power a header home from an Henry free-kick taking a 1-0 lead into the break.
Barcelona strike back
The half-time interval saw Andres Iniesta introduced for Edmilson as Barcelona looked to make their numerical advantage pay, but Arsenal remained a threat with Henry again forcing a save from Valdes.
But with Arsenal dropping deeper and deeper, substitute Henrik Larsson laid off Eto'o who fired past Almunia's near post with less than a quarter of an hour to play.
A buoyed Barca continued to attack with Larsson again providing the assist as fellow sub Juliano Belletti fired through Almunia's legs on the 80th minute.
Barcelona v Arsenal stats
Barcelona | Arsenal | |
Goals | 2 | 1 |
Shots | 20 | 8 |
Shots on target | 9 | 5 |
Possession | 64% | 36% |
Corners | 3 | 4 |
Fouls | 20 | 16 |
Offsides | 1 | 1 |
Yellow cards | 2 | 2 |
Red cards | 0 | 1 |
Barcelona v Arsenal Man of the Match
Samuel Eto'o was named UEFA's Man of the Match after the Barca forward scored the equalising goal.
Check out the bet365 betting hub for all the latest UEFA Champions League betting odds.
