A Worthy Cause:

Despite being crowned UEFA's Forward of the Year with a margin more than twice that of his nearest rival, the most expensive footballer of all time Cristiano Ronaldo, there was little that the dimunitive Argentine Lionel Messi could do to turn a drab match into the spectacle of attacking football that both Mircir Lucescu and Josep Guardiola had promised before fick-off. It was a pity as these matches highlight the work of UEFA's charity of the year. This year's recipient of the one million Swiss Francs cheque from UEFA's President Michel Platini was the National Association of Disabled Supporters (NADS).1 Joyce Cook, NADS' Chair accepted the cheque along with NADS ambassador Danny Wallace – the former Manchester United and Southampton winger.2

Wallace was an exciting winger in his heyday. He was forced to quit football as the effects of multiple sclerosis took their toll. He works with NADS to highlight issues of disability and what football can do to help. He received a good ovation at the Grimaldi Forum when he accompanied Cook onto the stage to receive the cheque from Platini. There is still a lot of work to be done to make football stadiums accessible to the disabled. UEFA's recognition of their work will help greatly. “We are delighted to offer continuing support to NADS,” said Empower-Sport Magazine editor Derek Miller. “We have published articles on their work and we hope that UEFA's award will help to publicise the excellent work that they do throughout Europe.” Sadly the football on display did not live up to the occasion.

A Poor Match:

The newly crowned European Footballer of the Year Lionel Messi tried to take the game by the scruff of its neck and force Shakhtar Donestsk to play the attacking football they insisted was their philosophy. He was the first to call Ukrainian international Andriy Pyatov into action, but try as Messi did, he could not find a way past the keeper. He had to settle for assisting a youngster knocking at the door of Barcelona's first team Pedro Rodríguez to decide the match with the only goal – it required extra-time to separate the teams.

Messi was fortunate to escape punishment from Frank de Bleeckere when he confronted Croatian defender and Shakhtar's skipper Darijo Srna forehead to forehead after a mazy run was halted in a manner Messi objected to. Only Manchester United's Paul Scholes has received a red card in a UEFA Supercup, which he received last year in a losing effort against Zenit St. Petersburg. Scholes punched the ball into Zenit's net and was sent off as he was already on a yellow card at the time. Messi could have received a straight red-card if de Bleeckere had seen his reaction.

Nevertheless, the Argentinian striker was to play an important part in deciding the destination of the trophy in extra-time, despite failing to find a way past Pyatov. He provided an easy assist for substitute Pedro Rodríguez to show that he had learned how to dribble from the little master. After cutting into the penalty area Rodríguez found room to shoot from about a dozen yards out, placing his shot agonisingly out of reach of Pyatov's despairing dive. The young winger's reputation is growing rapidly and he is a product of Barca's youth system.

The New-Look Treble Winners:

The Catalunyan club's desire to cash in on Samuel Eto'o before the Cameroonian forward could leave for free next year could yet backfire. Zlatan Ibrahimović is a different type of player that doesn't track back – Eto'o worked far harder for the team, yet Barcelona paid a King's ransom for the Swede in a deal that included giving Eto'o away. Ibrahimović did little to convince the watching President Joan Laporta that it was money well spent, although Dmytro Chygrynskyy, playing his last match for Shakhtar, had a sterling game marshalling their defence, possibly for the last time.

Josep (Pep) Guardiola, Barcelona's coach, is an admirer of Chygrynskyy – rating him the best defender in Europe that doesn't wear a Barcelona shirt. He won't get the opportunity to nominate Chygrynskyy again, but while Messi, Xavi Hernández, Victor Valdés, Eto'o, Carles Puyol and Gerard Piqué have become or are on their way to recognition in European awards, Laporta expressed delight that a less-heralded, but vital player extended his stay at the Camp Nou – Touré Yaya.

*****

He doesn't get many plaudits, but Kolo Touré's younger brother played an essential part in Barcelona's historic treble. He wants to finish his career there, but not before winning many more trophies, including the UEFA Supercup to add to the Spanish version. He is multi-lingual and much travelled, having graced the Ukrainian: French, Belgian and Greek leagues before moving to Spain. Barcelona's president Joan Laporta was jubilant that the unsung Ivorian who has developed into one of the finest defensive midfielders in the world, extended his stay until 2012.

The man who gives Andrés Iniesta and Xavi Hernández the licence to play did not receive a single vote in the UEFA Midfielder of the Year award – an incredible oversight by fifteen top mangers that should know far better. The less successful Javier Mascherano – once a transfer target for Barcelona – fared better. Even more astonishingly Kolo received votes despite a poor season by his standards, while his brother was ignored, but Yaya is not concerned with individual recognition. The scintillating attacking football that was the hallmark of Guardiola's team needs Yaya to thrive and both he and Barcelona know that.

Nevertheless, both President Laporta and the record-breaking Guardiola, who delivered the first European treble in Spanish history at the first attempt are delighted that their under-appreciated jewel still passes under so many radar. Yaya has emerged from his brother's shadow, but there is far more to his game than just breaking up play. The Ivorian initiated Barcelona's first meaningful attack by not only winning possession after a couple of minutes but spraying a cross-field pass to Dani Alves that ended in Messi shooting just over Andriy Pyatov's goal.

Frustration:

Barcelona monopolised possession, but had little to show for their domination. It took half an hour for Messi to test Pyatov again from a tight angle, but the keeper was never in trouble and that summed up a frankly poor half of football. Barcelona managed just six shots and the only action that the runner up for UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year, Victor Valdés, saw was a sprint to the byline to prevent a corner. The second most expensive player in the world Zlatan Ibrahimović was anonymous. Barcelona fans will expect and demand a lot more from the mercurial Swede.

Barcelona opened the second half with more passion and incision, but still couldn't break down the stubborn Shakhtar defence. Messi came closest to breaking the deadlock with a shot from the edge of the area that stug Pyatov's fingers, but with half an hour gone the breakthrough remained elusive. Shortly afterwards Ibrahimović elected to unleash a tame shot that failed to trouble Pyatov with team-mates in better positions. It was his last contribution in a match that he failed to shine in. It's too early to judge, but Ibrahimović has to provide a lot more to justify his price tag, especially as the successful Eto'o was given away as part of the deal.

A scintillating run by the best player on view, Messi deserved a goal, but brilliant though he undoubtedly is the talismanic Argentine was unable to cap his run off with a goal. After five minutes of extra time Valdés was finally called on to make a smart save to his left to deny substitute and recent recruit Julius Aghahowa from fifteen yards out. It sparked Barca into life as Bojan Krkić's mazy run required a reflex stop from Pyatov. Luiz Adriano was amazed to be waved to his feet when he expected a penalty, but Rodríguez fared no better at the other end.

With penalties beckoning Rodríguez finally broke the deadlock in a match that had failed to grab the attention by cutting into the area and slotting his right foot shot past the despairing dive of Pyatov for the only goal of a drab match that did nothing to whet the appetite in the European curtain raiser. Barcelona deserved to win – they had greater ambition. Nevertheless, this was no dream team performance.