Liverpool were gunning for a second Champions League trophy in the 2006-2007 season. They qualified top of their group above PSV Eindhoven, following which they faced Barcelona in the round of 32, where they recorded a famous 2-1 victory at Camp Nou. They reached the finals that season but couldn’t repeat the feat achieved by them 2 seasons ago as they lost to AC Milan by a scoreline of 2-1 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens. Today we look at where those 22 players are that took part in that famous match on 21st February in Spain.
Barcelona
Victor Valdes (Middlesbrough)
The Spanish international was one of the top keepers in the world before injured took a major toll on his body. He moved to Manchester United in 2015 but after a disappointing season at Old Trafford, the former Barcelona keeper moved to Middlesbrough this summer.
Juliano Belletti (Retired)
Belletti was the match winner in the 2006 Champions League Final against Arsenal. He moved to Chelsea in 2007 before moving to Brazil to join Fluminense on a two-year contract. In 2011 he announced his retirement.
Rafael Marquez (Atlas)
The former Captain of Mexico left Barcelona in 2010 after a stellar career at Camp Nou where he made a whopping 342 appearances. Currently, he back in his home country playing for Atlas
Carles Puyol (retired)
Puyol played out his career at Barcelona from start to finish. He was a rock in that Catalan defence before injury forced him to retire in 2014.
Gianluca Zambrotta (Delhi Dynamos, Manager)
The 2006 World winner spent two years Barcelona, where he made 58 appearances before moving to Italy to join AC Milan. Currently, Zambrotta is the manager of Delhi Dynamos in India.
Xavi (Al Sadd)
Xavi came through La Masia and broke the record for the most appearances made by a Barcelona player. He is currently playing in Qatar with Al Sadd, where he moved in 2015.
Thiago Motta (PSG)
Another product of the famous Barcelona academy. He made a total of 96 appearances for the Spanish club before moving to Inter Milan, where he won the Champions League. He is currently playing at PSG.
Deco (retired)
Deco moved to Barcelona in 2004 from Porto, where he made 113 appearances. He moved to Chelsea in 2008 before going to Fluminense. In 2013 the Portuguese announced his retirement.
Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Not a household name like today, Messi was on his way to cementing his place amongst the greats of football in 2005. Since then he has won five-time Ballon d’Or winner and broken countless records.
Ronaldinho (free agent)
The Brazilian magician was one of the best players to grace the pitch at Camp Nou. He left Barcelona in 2008 and is currently a free-agent as he has not officially announced his retirement.
Javier Saviola (retired)
The Argentine international failed to hit the heights that was expected of him. He moved to Real Madrid from Barcelona in 2007. He was last seen playing for River Plate, where he announced his retirement earlier this year.
Liverpool
Pepe Reina (Napoli)
The Spanish international spent 9 years at Anfield before moving to German giants Bayern Munich in 2014. He is currently playing for Napoli in Serie A.
Alvaro Arbeloa (free agent)
Another Spanish player who made a name for himself at Liverpool before joining Real Madrid in 2009. After spending 7 years in the Spanish capital, Arbeloa left the club and is yet to join any team.
Jamie Carragher (retired)
Carragher spent his whole career at Liverpool, the club he loved since childhood. He retired in 2013 after making the second most appearances for the Merseyside club.
Daniel Agger (retired)
Agger was a wall in Liverpool’s defensive line for 8 years before resigning for his former club Brondby in 2014. In 2016, at the age of 31, Agger announced his retirement.
John Arne Riise (retired)
He spent 7 years at Anfield before leaving the Reds to join Roma in 2008. Currently, he has taken a break from professional football, stating a loss of motivation.
Steve Finnan (retired)
Finnan played a crucial role in that 2-1 victory at Camp Nou before moving to Espanyol in 2008. He returned to England to join Portsmouth before hanging up his boots.
Mohamed Sissoko (Shanghai Shenhua)
The Malian international stayed at Liverpool for 4 years before leaving England to join Italian giants Juventus. He is currently playing in the Chinese League with Shanghai Shenhua.
Xabi Alonso (Bayern Munich)
The Spanish midfielder made a total of 210 appearances for Liverpool before moving to Real Madrid. He moved to Bayern Munich in 2014, where he currently plays.
Craig Bellamy (retired)
Bellamy made a total of 74 appearances for the Reds over two spells. He retired in 2014 after spending two years at Cardiff City.
Steven Gerrard (LA Galaxy)
Gerrard is arguably the greatest Liverpool player. He made more than 700 appearances for the club before leaving them to join LA Galaxy in 2015.
Dirk Kuyt (Feyenoord)
The Dutchman player at Liverpool for six years, where he made a total of 208 appearances. He is currently back in his home country and playing for Feyenoord.
Real Madrid Femenino hosts Barcelona Women at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on Wednesday evening in what promises to be a one sided Women’s Champions League quarter final first leg. Las Blancas have been utterly dominated by their Catalan rivals this season, losing all three competitive encounters by a staggering combined scoreline of 10-0.
Barcelona waltzed through the league phase unbeaten and are hell bent on reclaiming the European crown they lost to Arsenal in last season’s final. Pere Romeu’s side are chasing an unprecedented quadruple after already securing the Spanish Super Cup, building a commanding 10 point advantage at the summit of Liga F, and booking their spot in the Copa de la Reina final next month.
Kick-off: 17:45 GMT, Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Venue: Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, Madrid
TV: DAZN
Real Madrid Desperate to Avoid Another Hammering
Pau Quesada’s side have managed just one victory in 20 competitive Clasicos against Barcelona, recording that shock 3-1 triumph at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys last March. The nightmare memory of their 8-3 aggregate thrashing in the 2021-22 quarter finals still haunts Las Blancas, who must find a way to remain competitive across both legs.
Real Madrid enters this contest on a seven match winning streak. This includes five straight clean sheets, offering some encouragement despite the awful recent record against Barcelona. Teresa Abelleira and Signe Bruun both remain unavailable through injury.
Barcelona Unstoppable Since November Shock
The Catalan champions have not tasted defeat in 24 matches since losing 1-0 to Real Sociedad back in November. Racking up 22 victories and two draws during that extraordinary run. Saturday’s 7-1 demolition of Athletic Club demonstrated Barcelona remains in ruthless form heading into the business end of the season.
Aitana Bonmati continues recovering from her broken leg sustained in December. Laia Aleixandri and Mapi Leon remain long term casualties.
Predicted Lineups: Real Madrid (4-3-3): Misa; Navarro, Mendez, Lakrar, Holmgaard; Weir, Toletti, Dabritz; Del Castillo, Caicedo, Redondo
Barcelona (4-3-3): Coll; Battle, Paredes, Camara, Brugts; Lopez, Guijarro, Putellas; Graham Hansen, Pina, Pajor
Also read: Leah Williamson Will Miss Arsenal Match Against West Ham United – Here’s Why
Arsenal Dragon
Arsenal WFC Legend Anita Asante Reveals How She Found Her People at Gunners as 2007 Champions League Winner Opens Up on Career Journey
Anita Asante has opened up about her deep connection to Arsenal and how the club made her into the player she became during a glittering career that included winning the 2007 UEFA Women’s Cup. The former defender, now a prominent TV pundit covering the WSL, came through the Arsenal ranks as a teenager before becoming a key part of the 2006/07 quadruple winning team.
Asante’s love affair with football started on the estate where she grew up in Edgware, playing with boys of all ages on the green behind her flat. The local community accepted her without treating her differently because she was a girl, giving Asante the sense of belonging that would define her career path.
Fax Machine Changed Everything
At age 13, a fax came through to Asante’s school about local trials being held by Clare Wheatley and Rachel Yankey. Her father’s reaction when she mentioned Yankey’s name proved significant. “My parents are very familiar with common Ghanaian last names,” Asante explained. “We found out that Rachel was mixed heritage and partly Ghanaian, and that was when I realised this was a real opportunity to play for this team.”
Asante trained twice weekly at Hackney Leisure Centre and the JVC Centre behind Highbury’s Clock End, working her way into a star studded squad alongside legends like Kelly Smith, Jayne Ludlow, and Emma Byrne.
2007 Final Against Marta’s Umea Defined Career
The young defender got her big chance when captain Faye White ruptured her ACL, earning starts in both legs of the 2007 UEFA Cup final against Umea just before turning 22. “I relished the challenge of going up against Marta,” Asante admitted. “I knew she was the best player in the world and this was how I was going to measure myself.”
Arsenal were underdogs but had belief embedded in their DNA, a quality Asante saw repeated when watching the Gunners beat Barcelona in Lisbon last May.
Barcelona’s golden generation struck again at the Palacio Real de El Pardo. Aitana Bonmatí walked away with Spain’s National Prize for Sports on February 11, 2026, adding yet another accolade to her already overflowing trophy cabinet. The three time Ballon d’Or winner is collecting awards faster than most players collect caps.
Royal Treatment for Football Royalty
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia personally handed Bonmatí the Queen Letizia Award for Best Female Athlete of 2023. This wasn’t some corporate sponsorship gig or influencer photo op. The National Prize for Sports represents genuine athletic excellence, and having Spanish royalty present it makes the statement even louder. The Barça midfielder shared the stage with José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes and Minister Milagros Tolón, proving her impact extends beyond the pitch.
Yamal Gets His Trophy Without Showing Up
Lamine Yamal bagged the King Juan Carlos Prize for 2024 but couldn’t bother making the trip to Madrid. The teenage sensation had other priorities, so Bojan Krkić grabbed it for him. Vice president Josep Cubells also represented the club, ensuring Barcelona’s presence remained strong even with their star forward absent.
Dominance During Chaos
These honors arrive while Barcelona navigates presidential elections set for March 15, 2026. Joan Laporta and his board resigned to seek reelection, throwing the club into political uncertainty. Yet here are Bonmatí and Yamal, reminding everyone what actually matters: winning. The off field drama means nothing when your players keep stacking silverware and national recognition. Barcelona’s talent machine keeps churning out legends regardless of boardroom theatrics.
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