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After a week of dramatic action the football world has the dream final it wanted when Barcelona take on defending champions Manchester United in Rome on May 27.
The English team is arguably the best in the world and the Spanish champions the most watchable with their 'Three Amigos' and intricate midfield led by last week's hero Andres Iniesta.
United cruised through with a 3-1 (4-1 on aggregate) win at the Emirates Stadium leaving Arsene Wenger wondering what plans he needs to make in the transfer market this summer.
The symbolic banner 'In Arsene we trust' that is often seen at matches may well be changed to 'Buy Players we must' as surely this time experience in key positions must supplement his young guns. The way they defended and tracked back in the 4-1 loss to Chelsea on Sunday was very poor and will have been a humbling experience for a very proud man.
As straightforward as the first semi-final was, the second was a tight affair punctuated by two moments of brilliance and a chaotic ending that could leave some of the Chelsea players facing significant bans.
Chelsea knew that keeping out Barcelona for 180 minutes was always going to be difficult but the lateness of that goal stunned the London Club and prevented a repeat of last year's final. With Henry injured and Botswinga reducing the threat of Lionel Messi it was not the fluent Barcelona that can be seen in La Liga each week, especially after the thrashing of Real Madrid the previous weekend.
The game was set alight in the ninth minute when Michael Essien volleyed home from 25 yards, a goal in itself to win any game. This did not change matters for Barcelona that much as they still needed only one goal to go through on the away rule.
What followed though was a succession of penalty shouts for the home side that would have put the match out of reach for the Catalans. However, referee Tom Ovebro did not give any of them and the sense of injustice was visibly growing amongst the Chelsea players long before the dramatic conclusion.
At least two of them were penalties that should have been given and the handball against Pique was as blatant as can be.
Chelsea, as Hiddink admitted in the aftermath, could have pushed on more and sealed the win but they did not and the best chance of the match, that fell to Drogba when he cut inside onto his left foot in the penalty box, was wasted.
Sport, though, has a habit of punishing those that do not take their chances and so it proved here as deep into stoppage time Iniesta popped up at the edge of the box and fired home past Cech.
Barcelona on their day look like the best team in the world but when Liverpool destroyed Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have struggled domestically it might suggest they have been flattered by the large margin victories. United on the other hand look very solid at the back and in Ronaldo and Rooney are as potent a force as anywhere when attacking.
The game may well be settled by whichever individual amongst the world's best players turns on the style on the night in Rome. Whichever it is, it will be a fantastic night and just what a final of the Champions of Europe should be.
