The pictures above show Manuel during the Champions League final
against Barcelona on 17th May 2006.
Almunia was dramatically called into
action as an 18th minute replacement for Jens Lehmann after the
German
was sent off for bringing down Samuel Eto'o. Despite being down to ten
men Arsenal produced
a heroic performance and took the lead through Sol
Campbell's 37th minute header before two late goals
condemned them to a
heartbreaking defeat.
ARSENAL 1:2 BARCELONA (1:0) (17.05.06, Stade de France - Paris)
ARSENAL:
Jens Lehmann, Emmanuel Eboue, Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell, Kolo Toure, Gilberto Silva,
Aleksandr Hleb (Jose Antonio Reyes 85), Cesc Fabregas (Mathieu Flamini 74), Freddie Ljungberg, Robert Pires (Manuel Almunia 18),
Thierry Henry
Goal - Sol Campbell (37)
Yellow cards - Emmanuel Eboue (22), Thierry Henry (51)
Red card - Jens Lehmann (18)
BARCELONA:
Victor Valdes, Presas Oleguer (Juliano Belletti 71), Rafael Marquez, Carlos Puyol, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Edmilson (Andres Iniesta 46),
Mark van Bommel (Henrik Larsson 61), Deco, Ludovic Giuly (Henrik Larsson 69), Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o
Goals - Samuel Eto'o (76), Juliano Belletti (81)
Yellow cards - Presas Oleguer (69), Henrik Larsson (93)
Referee - Terje Hauge (Norway)