World ranked No.5 Massimo Cremona became the first ever Maltese player to win the Champions League reserved for European clubs in Mattesburg ,Austria were as in the final F.illi Bari Reggiana, they beat host side TFC Mattesburg 7-5 on goal difference after 1-1 draw during normal time, to clinch their second European title after seven years.

It was third time lucky for Cremona after losing two Champions League finals with the same Reggiana in 2005 and Perugia in 2006.

Eighteen teams took part in the competition coming up from eight different nations.

Two groups of eight teams were the format with the top four teams from each group making it to the knock out stages.

Host side TFC Mattesburg, together with Italian sides F.illi Bari Reggiana, Pisa and Perugia started firm favourites for this European title.

In the group A, Reggiana won all their seven matches beating Milano 2-1, Turia 4-0, Mattersburg 2-1, Hennuyer 3-1, Rochefort 3-0, Roligans 3-0 and Glide Slide 3-0.

But it was not so from the quarter finals onwards as goal difference was needed for Reggiana to beat Austrian side of Wiener Neustadt 9-6 after 1-1 draw.

In the semi final Reggiana meet Italian champions Perugia and won again 5-3 on goal difference after 2-2 draw were as in the final they beat host side TFC Mattesburg 7-5 on goal difference after 1-1 draw to be crowned European champions.

Cremona figured in all his club’s 10 matches. Apart from Cremona Bari Reggiana was made up of Saverio Bari (capt), Marco Lamberti, Gaincarlo Giulianini, Allesandro Corda and Spanish Carlos Flores.

“2010 will surely be a year to remember for me, being crowned world champion with Malta last September and European champion with my club Bari Reggiana now. How can I ask for more? We surely deserved to be crowned European champions having beaten Mattesburg twice at their home and Perugia in the semis. I dedicate this victory to my kids Christine and Michael as they always give me the motivation to carry on,” said Cremona.