It has been another superb weekend of sport around the globe with Barcelona’s Champions League victory the highlight. As the dust settles on the various results and performances what have we actually learnt from the two days of action?

1. Barcelona are in a league of their own

The Champions League final was billed as a clash between the most skilful side in the world and the hard work and graft of Manchester United, but on the night it was clear that skill was going to win out as it became men against boys.

United won the Premier League title by nine points and many in the sport believed that they would have enough tactical nous to contain the likes of Lionel Messi to avenge the defeat in Rome two years ago.

But the Argentinian star ran the show and the Red Devils were chasing shadows for much of the match, with the statistic of United having only one shot on target in the entire 90 minutes a true reflection of the dominance of the Spanish giants.

Sir Alex Ferguson summed it up when he labelled the defeat as a “hiding” and his description of the Catalans as the “best team he has faced” proves just how brilliant they were.

Pep Guardiola played down the pre-match hype that his current squad could be considered as “great”, but it is hard to argue against it now and the rest of Europe will be playing catch-up with the La Liga champions over the next few years if they manage to keep the current players together for any length of time.

2. Jonathan Trott is a “proper” Test batsman

He may not have been born in England but all English cricket fans will be thankful that Trott decided to throw his lot in with the Three Lions as his double century against Sri Lanka proved that his appetite for runs remains insatiable (England 10/1 to beat Sri Lanka 1st Test).

The South African-born star may not get everyone out of the bar to watch his innings but he does what he is paid to do – score runs.

There have been any number of England batsmen who have come into the side over the past 20 years and played lovely little cameo innings before giving it away but Trott just goes on and one in an uncomplicated fashion.

If it is a good ball he leaves it or blocks it, while bad balls invariably get put away for runs, and his Test record is nothing short of phenomenal.

It has to be remembered that he played his first Test under two years ago and the Warwickshire man has already scored 1,803 runs at an average of 66.77, with six centuries and five fifties.

England have ambitions to be the number one Test side in the world and with Trott in the ranks it may just be possible.

3. The right man is at the top of the golf world rankings

Luke Donald has become the new world number one after his victory in the BMW PGA Championship on Sunday and there is nobody who would argue that he does not deserve it.

The Englishman has been the most consistent golfer this year and it was fitting that he beat the man who he has replaced at the top of the standings in a play-off at Wentworth, with Lee Westwood dropping down to number two (Donald 14/1 to win US Open).

Both men are world-class players and it is great for European and English golf to have the top two in the world (Europe evens to win 2012 Ryder Cup).

Donald has already won in the states this term, with victory at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona, and he almost made it two wins at the Heritage, only losing out in a play-off to Brandt Snedeker.

The Hemel Hempstead-born star is known as one of the nicest men on Tour and it is great to see him rewarded for all the hard work he has put into his game.

4. At least one Ferguson will be smiling on Monday

Dad Sir Alex may have been down in the mouth after United’s defeat to Barcelona but his son, Darren, has led Peterborough back to the Championship with victory over Huddersfield in the League One play-off final.

The 39-year-old began the season in charge of Preston North End but was sacked in late December last year.

He had previously enjoyed success at London Road, securing back-to-back promotions to guide Posh from League Two into the Championship, and it was not long before they came calling once again, with Ferguson installed as Gary Johnson’s successor on January 12.

The Glasgow-born tactician led them to fourth in the table but they were too good for the side that finished eight points above them, and now the hard work of trying to establish Peterborough in the Championship will begin.

It did not work out for him last time he led the club into the second tier of English football but Ferguson is a more experienced manger now and it would be no surprise to see a top-half finish next season.

5. Andy Murray must feel he is cursed

Murray has never really threatened to win a clay-court tournament until this season when two narrow defeats in the semi-finals in Monte Carlo and Rome proved that he has finally mastered the art of playing on the slowest surface.

He has yet to drop a set at Roland Garros this year and was cruising to victory over Michael Berrer when he managed to twist his ankle, and it showed his determination to succeed that he actually improved his performance to destroy the German and set up a fourth-round clash with Viktor Troicki (Murray 4/11 to beat Troicki).

It would have been hard enough for a fully-fit Murray to get past Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals and then have to beat probably Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer to win the title, but now it may well be mission impossible (Djokovic evens favourite to win French Open).

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