Champions League Finals: A Statistical Retrospective

2006: FC Barcelona vs. Arsenal FC

The 2006 Champions League Final was a thrilling encounter between two of Europe's top clubs. Barcelona, led by Ronaldinho, faced off against Arsenal, who were seeking their first Champions League triumph. The match was played in Paris and ended in a 2-1 victory for Barcelona. Samuel Eto'o and Juliano Belletti scored for Barcelona, while Sol Campbell netted Arsenal's lone goal.

In terms of statistics, Barcelona dominated the match. They had more possession (58% to 42%), completed more passes (589 to 346), and created more chances (12 to 6). Arsenal, however, made the most of their limited opportunities, with Campbell's goal coming from their only shot on target.

2007: AC Milan vs. Liverpool FC

The 2007 Champions League Final was a rematch of the 2005 final, which Liverpool had won on penalties. This time, however, it was AC Milan who emerged victorious, winning 2-1 in Athens. Filippo Inzaghi scored both goals for Milan, while Dirk Kuyt scored Liverpool's only goal.

Statistically, the match was much more evenly matched than the 2006 final. Both teams had similar possession (52% for AC Milan, 48% for Liverpool), completed a similar number of passes (531 for AC Milan, 514 for Liverpool), and created a similar number of chances (10 for AC Milan, 9 for Liverpool). In the end, it was AC Milan's clinical finishing that made the difference.

These two Champions League Finals were unforgettable matches that will go down in history. The statistics tell only part of the story, but they provide a glimpse into the drama and excitement of these epic contests.