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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Match Ball Champions League final on May 25 at Wembley Unveiled

The match ball for the Champions League final on May 25 at Wembley has been unveiled.

The ball has been designed to celebrate 50 years of European Cup and Champions League finals being played at the world famous venue.


Wembley hosted the European Cup final for the first time in 1963 when Italian giants AC Milan, starring Gianna Rivera, beat Portugal’s Benfica, with young star Eusebio, 2-1.
George Best was the main attraction when Manchester United defeated Benfica 4-1 in 1968, while Johan Cruyff played for Ajax as the Dutch masters beat Greek side Panathinaikos 2-0 in 1971.

Kenny Dalglish scored the only goal when Liverpool overcame Club Brugge 1-0 in 1978, before Barcelona made Wembley their second home.

Barca won the next two finals staged in England, the first coming in 1992 when Ronald Koeman downed Sampdoria with the only goal of the game in extra time.

In 2011, Manchester United were outclassed by Leo Messi and Co as the Spanish giants strolled to a 3-1 win.

The new ball will be seen from the start of the knockout stage of this season’s Champions League, which resumes on February 12.