Soccer / Football : UEFA Champions League 2008/2009

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has been banned for six UEFA matches, two of them deferred, for his improper behaviour in last season's UEFA Champions League semi-final against Barcelona. European football's governing body also suspended defender Jose Bosingwa for four matches for making offensive comments about Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo. The final match of Bosingwa's ban is also deferred for a probationary period of two years. The players and Chelsea have three days to appeal the decision.

Barcelona deposed Manchester United as European champions with a 2-0 victory in UEFA the Champions League final on Wednesday. Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o struck the opener after 10 minutes at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Argentina's Lionel Messi added the second with a header after 70 minutes, sealing Barcelona's third European Cup win after their successes in 1992 and 2006. Victory also completed a European and domestic treble for the Catalans in an extraordinary first season for coach Pep Guardiola.

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is fit to start Wednesday's UEFA Champions League final against Barcelona. Ferdinand, who has recovered from a calf strain, Ferdinand has recovered from a calf strain, said he was "feeling good and glad to be back" after declaring his fitness on the eve of the final in Rome.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is confident both Thierry Henry and Andres Iniesta are fit enough to play against Manchester United, and both stars trained in the Stadio Olimpico on the eve of the match. Both players have been missing from Barcelona's recent league games, Henry with a knee injury and Iniesta with a thigh problem.

Defender Daniel Alves will miss Barcelona's remaining two league matches against Osasuna and Deportivo La Coruna after he injured his right foot. The Brazilian international, who is suspended for the UEFA Champions League final, sustained the injury in training on Wednesday. Alves will be out of action for three weeks.

Meanwhile, midfielder Andres Iniesta and striker Thierry Henry did light training on Thursday and are on course to play in Wednesday's final against Manchester United. Spain international Iniesta has a thigh problem and Frenchman Henry a knee injury but both have recovered enough to do ball work.

Goalkeeper Ben Foster will miss Manchester United's UEFA Champions League final against Barcelona after undergoing surgery on ruptured ligaments in his right thumb. The 26-year-old, who would have been an understudy to first-choice keeper Edwin Van Der Sar in Rome on 27 May, will be sidelined for at least nine weeks. Foster, who made his England debut against Slovakia in March, will also miss the World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Kazakhstan next month.

Manchester United's Darren Fletcher and Barcelona pair Eric Abidal and Daniel Alves will miss the Champions League final after UEFA said there were no grounds for overturning their suspensions. The Control and Disciplinary Body said in a statement that the two clubs had failed to get their appeals in on time, but even if they had made the deadline they would have been rejected. The three players will serve one-match bans during the final in Rome on May 27, although the decisions can be appealed within three days. Barcelona are also concerned about injuries to Thierry Henry and Andres Iniesta.

Andres Iniesta will miss Wednesday's King's Cup final against Athletic Bilbao with a thigh muscle tear. The Spain midfielder, who scored the equaliser against Chelsea which put Barcelona into the UEFA Champions League final, picked up the injury during Sunday's 3-3 home draw against Villarreal.

Iniesta will undergo further tests determine the extent of the problem and is reportedly in doubt for the final against Manchester United on May 27. Barcelona are expected to face United without suspended defenders Eric Abidal and Daniel Alves, while striker Thierry Henry is questionable with a right knee injury.

Barcelona, trailing to a stunning early volley from Michael Essien and reduced to 10 men by Eric Abidal's sending-off, snatched a place in the UEFA Champions League final on Wednesday when Andres Iniesta's goal three minutes into added time earned them a 1-1 draw with Chelsea and victory on away goals. In a stormy end to the second semifinal, Chelsea players surrounded Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo, convinced he should have awarded them at least two penalties. However, Barcelona will meet defending champions Manchester United in Rome on May 27, although they will play without the suspended Abidal and Daniel Alves.