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City PM Published May 26, 2009 Reviewed Jul 2, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors
Citation-ready fact
The previous three European Cup finals at Stadio Olimpico included two won by English sides (both Liverpool) and two decided by penalties.
3 · European Cup finals at Stadio Olimpico2 · English sides2 · penalties
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Citation-ready fact
United are the first defending champions to reach a Champions League final since 1997 and are looking to become the first team to retain the title since AC Milan in 1990.
1997 · defending champions reaching final1990 · team retaining title
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Citation-ready fact
This is the fifth successive season that the Champions League final has involved an English side, with the last three finals lost by an English side and four of the last seven finals ending in penalty shootouts.
5 · successive seasons involving English side3 · finals lost by English side4 · penalty shootouts
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The sides have met on nine previous occasions, with United winning three times and Barcelona twice, and their only final meeting in 1990-91 ended in a 2-1 win for United.
9 · previous meetings3 · United wins2 · Barcelona wins
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Barcelona have won once in their last eight Champions League games against an English side, scored one goal in their last four games, and conceded twice in their last five games.
1 · wins1 · goals scored2 · goals conceded
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Lionel Messi is the leading scorer in this season’s Champions League with eight goals, Barcelona have scored 30 goals and taken 165 shots, and United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has kept seven clean sheets.
8 · Messi goals30 · Barcelona goals165 · Barcelona shots7 · van der Sar clean sheets
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&9679; Of the previous three European Cup finals to be held at the Stadio Olimpico, two have been won by English sides (both Liverpool) and two have needed penalties to find a winner, including one of Liverpool’s wins

&9679; United are the first defending champions to reach a Champions League final since Juventus in 1997 and are looking to become the first team to retain the title since AC Milan in 1990
 
&9679; United are trying to maintain their record as the English side along with Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa to have always won when reaching the final
 
&9679; This is the fifth successive season that the Champions League final has involved an English side. The last three have been lost by an English side and four of the last seven have ended in penalty shootouts
 
&9679; The sides have met on nine previous occasions, with United winning three to Barcelona’s two. Their only final meeting, the 1990-91 Cup Winners Cup final, ended in a 2-1 win to United

&9679; Barcelona have managed to win just once in their last eight Champions League game against an English side and scored just one goal in their last four. They have, however, only conceded twice in their last five

&9679; Lionel Messi is the leading scorer in this season’s Champions League, with eight goals, while Barcelona have scored more goals (30) and shots (165) than any other side. United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has kept most clean sheets with seven

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