Juventus Season 2014-2015

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

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FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Boy in Month-Long Coma Wakes Up,
Asks If Juventus Still in Champions League

Jun 1, 2015

A 14-year-old boy has survived an extraordinary ordeal, which saw him spend more than 40 minutes trapped underwater and a month in an induced coma—and top of his priority list upon waking was to find out if Juventus were still in the Champions League.

Italy's Milan Chronicle (via Victoria Richards of the Independent) reports that he and five friends jumped off a bridge into a canal near Milan. Stuck in the canal, his heart stopped. Remarkably, he showed no signs of brain damage and not only woke up but wanted to know what was happening in football.

After four weeks in hospital in San Raffaele, he is said to have woken, spoken to his parents and asked whether his favourite football team, Juventus, was still in the Champions League.

Juventus were not among the favourites to go deep into the tournament, but they ousted Borussia Dortmund, Monaco and Real Madrid in the knockout rounds to reach the final.

Presumably, the boy, named only as "Michael" in the Italian press, will now be able to see his team in action in Saturday's final against Barcelona.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Buffon: Juventus chances slim

Jun 1, 2015

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon believes that his side only have a slim chance of defeating Barcelona in the Champions League final.

The two clubs face off on Saturday evening in the same stadium where Buffon won the World Cup with Italy in 2006, but the 37-year-old underlined his respect for the opposition.

“Against Real we might have had a 35% chance of making it past them, so I guess the chances of now winning the trophy against this Barcelona side are even slimmer,” he said in an interview with UEFA.com.

“We are aware of this and we can't deny it – because it's just obvious. So we certainly have an abundance of respect for the Barcelona squad, for what they have achieved and for the players they have.

“But like I said about Real, we have a few weapons to compete and ways to try to make things difficult for them. So we will play based on that.

“I'm going back to Berlin after nine years. And I am curious to see whether the feelings and sensations will be the same. But I don't think there will be big differences to nine years ago.”

The veteran goalkeeper has never won a Champions League title and described his joy at winning the semi-final against Real Madrid.

“I just felt a great happiness that I have only really experienced a few times, because when you are not the favourites or the stronger team and you still make it through to the next round, that is something very rewarding,” he said.

“For me personally, this is a big goal. It's a big goal because my career has been a long one – and obviously during all those years there have been a lot of complicated and difficult decisions to take.

“I took those decisions based on my feelings and based on my way of life. And I have to say that after nine or ten years – some of which have been really difficult – to come here again and make it with the whole team, the whole staff, the whole club and all our fans, that is just something great and something really rewarding.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Allegri: 'Historic Juventus season'

Jun 1, 2015

Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri believes this season “will go down in history” ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final.

The Old Lady face Barcelona in Berlin on Saturday with both clubs looking to secure a treble, having won the league title and domestic cup in Italy and Spain respectively.

“This season will go down in history,” Allegri said at a pre-match Press conference on Monday.

“It’s not often a team gets to this point in three separate competitions. Winning the Champions League final would be a more than extraordinary feat.

“It’d be the perfect way to round off a magnificent season. The final could go to penalties, even though I think that’s unlikely. We’ll be prepared for any eventuality.

The Bianconeri Coach acknowledged the difficulty of facing Barcelona and in particular Lionel Messi, and outlined how his side will approach the match.

“Barcelona play a different brand of football to that of other teams,” he said.

“We’ll need to be compact and keep it tight. We need to focus exclusively on knuckling down and working hard, not on what might happen.

“Marking Messi while he moves is a near impossible task. We must be smart in working around him.

“We’re aware of how good we are and know we’re capable of giving a decent account of ourselves.

“We know we’ll have some decent spells in the game. We must be calm and avoid letting anxiety creep in.

“There’s a great mood in the camp and only five days to go. Let’s see if we’re able to make this season even more extraordinary.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Bonucci: 'Juventus are calm'

Jun 1, 2015

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci has said that his side are relaxed in their approach to Saturday’s Champions League final.

The Bianconeri will take on Barcelona in Berlin in an attempt to win the title for the first time in 19 years, but Bonucci insists the squad are approaching the match in composed fashion.

“We will prepare for the game with peace of mind, but also with the knowledge that we got to the final because we deserved to and because we are a great team,” he said to Tuttomercatoweb at the club’s media day.

“We still haven’t decided who will give the pre-match speech. During the warm up we will see who feels like it.

“In any case, that is not what will make the difference. There are certain games you can only prepare for alone.

“The season has been very positive, particularly on a collective level. We have taken great satisfaction from these 11 months, now we have to put the icing on the cake.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Tevez: ‘Give everything to win’

Jun 1, 2015

Juventus striker Carlos Tevez says that he would ‘give everything’ to win the Champions League against Barcelona on Saturday.

The Argentina international has been one off the Bianconeri’s star performers this season and explained that the squad is relaxed ahead of their biggest fixture in 19 years.

“What I would give to win? I would give everything, like all Juventini. We want the Cup,” Tevez said to Premium Sport.

“We don’t have any less pressure on us than Barcelona do, we are the same.

“It’s a final and we’ve sweated a lot to make it to Berlin. We want to play a great match.

“No, you have to talk about Juventus and Barcelona more than about me and Messi, but this is the folklore of football.

“We are calm and there is no tension in the group. We want to get to Saturday soon, it’s only right that there’s a lot of attention on us because we’re playing in an important final.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Chiellini Insists He Will Shake The Hand
Of Suarez Before Champions League Final

Jun 1, 2015

Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini has said his side are looking forward to the Champions League final.

La Vecchia Signora travel to Berlin on June 6 to face Barcelona in the conclusion of Europe’s top club competition, and Chiellini has said he and the rest of the team are excited at the prospect of playing in the final.

“The wait is almost over and we cannot wait,” the 30-year-old told the press.

The Italian also commented on the fact that he will come face to face with Luis Suarez, following the biting incident at the World Cup last summer, and insisted he will shake his hand before the game.

“At last I will play against Suarez again which means people can stop talking about what happened at the World Cup,” he said.

“And of course I will shake his hand.”

Although it is a high profile match, Chiellini also said the side aren’t scared yet.

“We still have three training sessions here in Turin, and we are still calm. We aren’t nervous yet.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 

FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Buffon: 'Outstanding' Allegri key to success

The 37-year-old goalkeeper has hailed the impact of the former
AC Milan coach as Juventus stand on the verge of an historic treble.

Jun 1, 2015

Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon has hailed coach Massimiliano Allegri's impact in Turin as they close in on a memorable treble.

The former AC Milan boss's July 2014 appointment raised eyebrows around Europe after he was sacked by the Rossoneri just six months earlier.

But the 47-year-old now stands on the verge of an historic treble after leading the Old Lady to the league and cup double ahead of Saturday's Champions League showdown with Barcelona, and Buffon has revealed how impressed he has been by the man in charge.

"What has impressed me most is his great intelligence in terms of settling in with the squad and trying to find out not just our technical qualities but also the mentality and morale of the whole team and each individual player," Buffon told Uefa.com.

"His tactical knowledge is outstanding – after years of playing a certain system, he managed to get us to try alternatives and to perform even better.

"Even so, he has not tried to completely change how we've played because in some situations or matches we have returned to how we played before. So I think this is his biggest achievement."

Juve are hoping to secure their first Champions League crown since 1996 but Buffon concedes the Italian champions will be the underdogs in Berlin.

"Against Real Madrid [in the semi-finals] we might have had a 35 per cent chance of making it past them, so I guess the chances of now winning the trophy against this Barcelona side are even slimmer," he said.

"But like I said about Real, we have a few weapons to compete and ways to try to make things difficult for them. So we will play based on that."

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Four years in the making: Juventus, Barcelona
set to meet at the mountain top

Jun 1, 2015

Monday morning. May 23, 2011. The night before I just watched my beloved I Bianconeri draw at home 2-2 against Napoli and finished 7th in Serie A. Again. Morale was not exactly high, so I decided to skip work and took my kid to school.

As I dropped him off, I saw a kindergarten class with their teacher was having an activity in the school garden. I don't know why but I decided to linger a bit. The teacher, a lady in her 30s, was dividing her students into several groups and to my surprise, she named the groups after football clubs.

The first four teams came up fast: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea. To be expected, as I lived in an EPL-infested country and the kids here adored Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The fifth team she mentioned, however, shocked me: "Who wants to join ... Juventus??" She made my day.

I then left and decided to visit my Dad. He hadn't been the same since his heart attack a few years ago so I phoned or visit from time to time. He smiled when I told him what happened and Juve's back-to-back 7th. He's not a football geek but he watched World Cups. We chatted and one particular sentence stayed with me until today, "There's a threat in every success and there's an opportunity in every failure."

Five days later, Barcelona beat Manchester United in London and lifted their 4th UEFA Champions League trophy, pairing it with the La Liga one they had won earlier.


May 23rd, 2012

I accompanied my parents to Singapore. Dad wanted to visit this specialist at the Mt. Elizabeth Hospital, so I went with them. He hadn't been doing any exercises, so I was happy to see that he walked for quite a distance from the hotel to the hospital or to the restaurants.

During our walk, we chatted and Juve came up. I told him that boosted by the new Juventus Stadium and the appointing of club legend Antonio Conte as head coach, we were immediately linked with "plasma TVs" Kun Aguero (Atletico Madrid) and Alexis Sanchez (Udinese). We eventually missed them all and signed Mirko Vucinic for 15m and made Alessandro Matri permanent for another €15 million.

We did much better elsewhere and got Stephan Lichtsteiner, Arturo Vidal and a World-Cup winner Andrea Pirlo for €20.5 million combined. We also added Martin Caceres, an ex-Barca (and also an ex-Juve) player, in the winter. The defense and midfield were sturdy but the attack was unsurprisingly dull but to Juventini's joy, we managed a huge upset and won the scudetto.

Well, he didn't say anything this time. He was busy breathing in and out

In Spain, Barcelona failed to defend both the La Liga and Champions League titles but early in the season, they won the Sanchez sweepstakes which cost them €40 million. They also leisurely spent another €40 million for Cesc Fabregas.

Three years later...


May, 23rd, 2015

"Well, how about it dad? Juve won four scudetti in a trot. We finally got our "plasma TVs" in Carlos Tevez, Fernando Llorente, and Alvaro Morata. And guess what? You were right. I thought we were doomed when Conte left and we signed Max Allegri. Allegri! He couldn't even win with Zlatan and Thiago Silva in the team.

But I was so wrong. He guided us to a domestic double! Only Renato Cesarini (1959/60) and Marcelo Lippi (1994/95) had done that. Incredible. The players did have something to prove but Allegri was a big part of the achievements. You're absolutely right."

Silent. I could hear my kids ran around and played in the garden but he kept his silence. Not bothered at all. You would think he'd come up with another pearl of wisdom by now.

"Wait. It gets better. We're in the Champions League final!!! Can you believe it? Against Barcelona. Remember what I told you four years ago? We had €154 million in total revenue and Barca had €450 million. It looked impossible back then to meet them at the top, but we did!

This season, we're good for 300-350m. Well, the Catalan will probably break the 500 million mark but we're closer now. Agnelli and Marotta are working miracle."

Still silent.

"Well, what do you think? Do we have a chance against the trident Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar? Our Andrea Barzagli (if he plays), Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini are very good but this is the best trident in the world we're talking about, supported by superb attacking midfield and fullbacks."

"Gianluca Vialli thought we should park the bus but surely that trident will score against any defense in 90 minutes, won't it? Defense should be the priority but with Tevez-Morata up front and Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, Paul Pogba and Claudio Marchisio in the middle, I think we should take our chances and not put the defensive line too deep."

"We're clearly the underdogs but remember that 1996 final? The defending champions Ajax Amsterdam were much superior on paper but Fabrizio Ravanelli scored an impossible goal and in the end we won in a penalty shootout. We stopped the unstoppable Ajax."

Still no answer.

"I gues we'll find out on June 6th then, Dad. I'm going home now."

I yelled my kids inside and said, "Come kids. We're going home. Say your prayers to your grandpa's ashes."

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

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FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Vidal: ‘Biggest game of my life’

Jun 1, 2015

Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal describes Saturday’s Champions League final as ‘the most important game of my life’.

The Bianconeri take on Barcelona in Berlin, looking to win the trophy for the first time since 1996, and held a media event at Juventus Stadium today.

“There are so many emotions that you feel when you’re this close to the game,” Vidal said in a video released on the club’s Twitter page.

“It’s a dream to be here, close to the most important game of my life. Like all footballers, I think playing in the Champions League final is the ultimate, and we have to be focused for the game.”

Barcelona are considered by most to be heavy favourites for the match, but Vidal believes the Old Lady can upset the odds.

“They’ve always said that the other team is favourites against us [throughout the competition], and we’ve shown differently on the pitch.

“We hope to win on Saturday, so that favourite will have lost.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Morata: ‘To Berlin to win!’

Jun 1, 2015

Alvaro Morata believes Juventus can upset the odds and beat Barcelona on Saturday - ‘We wouldn’t even go there if we thought we had no chance’.

The Bianconeri face the Catalan side in their first Champions League final since 2003, and even as a former Real Madrid man, the striker needs to extra motivation.

“We are certainly not going to Berlin thinking we are inferior to Barcelona,” Morata told UEFA’s official website.

“We wouldn’t even go there if we thought we had no chance of winning. Obviously scoring against Barcelona would not be as painful as it was scoring against Madrid [in the semis] but I need to actually score before thinking about celebrations.

“Getting a goal in a Champions League final against Barcelona is no easy task.

“I played for Madrid for many years, I'm not going to say it's an extra motivation for me because you don't need extra motivation when you play a Champions League final, but facing Barça will always be special for me.”

Much of the focus in the build-up has centred around the Blaugrana’s ‘MSN’ strike force - Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

While acknowledging the talents of the trio, Morata believes Juventus’ backline is capable of subduing them.

“They have had a great season, they are incredible players and they are in spectacular form right now.

“However, I think we have one of the best defensive lines in Europe. We have had some great performances ourselves and have handled some top-level players.

“It will be a very difficult game but we are confident we have our chances.

“Messi? It is very difficult to stop him but there is not just Messi at Barcelona. The other two can always punish you. If you focus only on Messi, the other two are going to kill you.

“Then their defence – people talk a lot about their attack but their defence is also top class. They are a great team in general, they are among the best in the world, if not the best.

“But I'm sure they also have plenty of respect for us because they know we can be dangerous and haven't reached the final by accident.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Pirlo: ‘Barcelona favourites, but…’

Jun 1, 2015

Andrea Pirlo admits Barcelona are favourites in the Champions League final, but Juventus ‘know what we have to do’.

The match will be the playmaker’s fourth final in the competition, having lifted the trophy twice with Milan, as well as losing to Liverpool in 2005.

“This is my fourth final, but it doesn’t matter,” Pirlo told reporters at today’s media event at Juventus Stadium.

“It’s a unique and special game, and it’s always different. We all know what we have to do. Barcelona are favourites, but anything can happen.”

The match will be midfielder Xavi Hernandez's last game for Barcelona, with the Spaniard rivalling Pirlo for the title of best midfielder of his generation.

“I’m happy to have played so many times against him. He’s a great champion and a great man.”

Finally, the Italian international discussed the parallels to 2006, when he was part of the Azzurri side which liften the World Cup in Berlin - the same venue as Saturday’s match.

“Many years have passed, but that night remains an indelible memory,” Pirlo reflected.

“I hope to experience the same emotions on Saturday.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Morata: Juventus Need Champions League
Final Win To Be Remembered

Jun 1, 2015

Juventus striker Alvaro Morata insists that no one will remember the Old Lady reaching the Champions League final in the future unless they beat Barcelona on Saturday in Berlin.

After qualifying for their first final since 2003, the Bianconeri are looking to avoid becoming the first side to finish as runners-up for a record sixth time in the history of the competition at the Olympiastadion.

“No one remembers how we got to the final, but only if we win it,” the 22-year-old said during a media day at the Juventus Stadium.

“Football is like this. The club has earned this final and I know that we can do even more to make our fans happy.”

A second half substitute when Real Madrid defeated Atletico Madrid 4-1 after extra time in the final last season, Morata could become the fourth player to win the Champions League in successive seasons for different clubs.

The previous players to achieve this feat are Marcel Desailly (Olympique de Marseille 1993, AC Milan 1994), Paulo Sousa (Juventus 1996, Borussia Dortmund 1997) and Samuel Eto’o (Barcelona 2009, Inter 2010).

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Bonucci: Champions League Would Be Icing On The Cake

Jun 1, 2015

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci says winning the Champions League on Saturday would be the icing on the cake for the Italian champions.

The Bianconeri have clinched a first Italian league and cup double for 20 years and Massimiliano Allegri’s side will match the continental treble won by Inter in 2010 if they overcome Barcelona in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.

“We normally choose a player before a match to motivate the team,” Bonucci told the media.

“A different member of the squad will take the responsibility but no-one is needed for these types of matches as we will already be fully motivated to succeed.

“We have to approach this challenge in a calm manner, convinced that if we are in the final it is because we deserved to be.

“It has been a great season which we take great satisfaction from, but all we are missing now is the icing on the cake.”

It is Juventus’ first Champions League final since losing to AC Milan in 2003 and they haven’t lifted the famous trophy since beating Ajax on penalties in 1996.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Marking Lionel Messi 'practically impossible' - Allegri

Jun 1, 2015

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri says it will be "practically impossible" to man-mark Barcelona's Lionel Messi in the Champions League final on Saturday.

Messi scored the latest of his seemingly endless string of stunning goals in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday when he escaped a three-man trap on the sideline and ran past a fourth defender before scoring at the near post -- and even Allegri admitted he was impressed.

"What did I feel when I saw Messi's goal against Athletic? What he did on Saturday was exceptional," Allegri said.

Juve centre-back Giorgio Chiellini, however, said Messi would find scoring such a goal difficult against Serie A defenders.

"Messi would not be able to score goals like that in Italy," Chiellini said. "At the moment he is the god of football. The offensive play in Spain is great but we defend better here in Italy."

And when it comes to defending the Argentina star, Allegri said his team must take a different approach.

"Man-to-man marking of Messi while he's on the move is practically impossible. We need to have conviction and anticipate his moves," the Juve manager said.

Barcelona's goals at the weekend brought the tally of attacking trio of Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez to 120 goals in all competitions, setting a Spanish record, and Allegri also said Juventus were preparing for the talent of Andres Iniesta in midfield.

"We're aware of the quality of Messi, Neymar and Suarez and especially that of Iniesta," Allegri said.

He added: "We know that Barca are a quality team and play a brand of football that is unique. We want to show and prove to the rest that we can compete against this Barcelona team. Messi and Neymar play in a different way to any other forward pairing in the world. We need to play a tight game."

Allegri said Juventus will need to improve upon their feat of ousting defending champions Real Madrid in the semifinal if they are to beat Barcelona in a single match.

"It's great preparing the tactical side of a Champions League final. It's a privilege to coach this team. To win on Saturday, we need to play even better than we did against Madrid. That was a two-legged tie -- not on Saturday," Allegri said.

"Playing against Barca is unlike playing against any other rival. One needs plenty of patience and strength."

The final will also present the first meeting between Suarez and Chiellini since the Uruguayan's infamous bite on his opponent during the World Cup last summer.

Suarez served a four-month ban after the incident, but Chiellini said that there would be no drama between the two on Saturday, even though his current teammate Patrice Evra didn't shake Suarez's hand after he was racially abused by the then-Liverpool forward when playing for Manchester United.

"Of course I will shake hands,'' Chiellini said. "I'll hug him happily, too, there's no problem at all. Those who know me even a bit know that that's how I truly feel.

"I have no problem with him and I think it's the same for him. I have to think about him as a player, how he moves, his great skill but nothing more."

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Marchisio: Juventus don't fear Barcelona

The midfielder says his side head into Saturday's European showdown
determined to cause another upset, after stunning Real Madrid in the semis.

Jun 1, 2015

Claudio Marchisio insists Juventus go into the Champions League final with no fear - despite facing an in-form Barcelona in Berlin.

Both sides have wrapped up domestic doubles heading into this weekend's showpiece final, with Barcelona's superstar front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar in ominous form as they beat Athletic Bilbao to lift the Copa del Rey on Saturday.

A stunning Messi run and finish provided the highlight of a 3-1 Barca win, but Marchisio is confident Juventus can hold their own against Luis Enrique's impressive side.

"We're happy because, if we look at the start of the season, no one was betting on us to reach the final," the midfielder said in a news conference on Monday. "We're enjoying the week but focusing and preparing hard because we're facing a great team.

"We have to be focused, [we are] facing a great team with three great strikers, [who have scored] 120 goals - we know their potential, but we work hard, we have motivation and have to think about preparing hard for the match.

"We have expectations and want to show our best potential, while respecting a great squad like Barcelona - but we do not fear them."

Top scorer Carlos Tevez is likely to be key if Juventus are to lift the title for a third time and Marchisio has nothing but praise for the Argentine forward, who has fired the Bianconeri to two Serie A titles since joining from Manchester City in the summer of 2013.

He added: "What can we say about Carlos? Since he came here, he has been exceptional.

"He had been presented in many wrong ways, many thought he's a player that creates problems but he was really humble.

"He's one of the main strengths of the squad. He's fundamental for us."

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Ogbonna: ‘Final a dream’

Jun 1, 2015

Juventus defender Angelo Ogbonna admits it’s ‘a dream’ to be in the Champions League final, and isn’t afraid of Lionel Messi.

The Bianconeri will face the forward and Barcelona in Berlin on Saturday, and despite Messi’s 58 goals and 23 assists in just 50 games this season, the ex-Torino man insists he is not losing any sleep.

“It’s a great satisfaction for me to have achieved this in my second year at Juve,” Ogbonna told reporters at the club’s media day.

“This is a winning team, they’ve helped me to integrate, and now here we are - the dream has become reality.

“It’s very emotional, because as a child you see your idols playing in games like this, now we’ll be playing it.

“The final is a dream, and Messi is not a nightmare - if he was then it would be better not to even go onto the pitch.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Lichtsteiner: ‘No fear against Barça’

Jun 1, 2015

Stephan Lichtsteiner insists Juventus will approach the Champions League final against Barcelona with ‘absolutely no fear’.

The Old Lady are looking to win the trophy for the first time since 1996 when they face the Blaugrana on Saturday, having lost their last three finals.

“It’s not just about how we move in defence,” Lichtsteiner explained at the club’s media day.

“How we move as a team will count. We come in with a lot of respect, because Barcelona are strong, but with absolutely no fear, just as with Real Madrid.

“Lionel Messi is one of the best players in the history of football, but we’ve played against Cristiano Ronaldo, Bale and Karim Benzema.

“We hope to have another great game like in the semi-final.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

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FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Pogba: ‘Juventus will give everything’

Jun 1, 2015

Paul Pogba warns Juventus will ‘give everything’ in the Champions League final, and assures - ‘I’ve never said this will be my last match for Juventus’.

The Bianconeri take on Barcelona on Saturday in Berlin, and Pogba spoke to French newspaper L’Equipe at the club’s media day.

“It’s a dream come true,” the former Manchester United man admitted.

“We all know how Barça play, they have the best attack in the world. You can do all the tactical preparation in the world, but that’s not what will win you the game.

“We’ll need to be aggressive, and maybe have a little luck. We know we’re not favourites, but we’ll give everything. It’s a final, you never know.

“Messi is Messi, he’s probably the best player in the world at the moment. We know Barça are a great team, the best in the world, but we’re in a final and we have nothing to lose.”

The Catalan giants are one of the sides linked with Pogba, though they have a transfer ban until January, but the Frenchman is in no mood to listen to the speculation.

“People can believe what they want. For me, this is a final, a huge game, I’m focused on that and nothing else. I’ve never said this will be my last match for Juventus.

“I’m very happy here, and it brings me a lot of pleasure. I’m in the final of the Champions League, I’ve always wanted to play these kind of games.

“Would I like to play with Messi one day? I don’t know.”

Despite his fine form this season, the 22-year-old has struggled slightly since returning from injury, and was told off by Coach Max Allegri for showboating in the draw with Verona.

“I’ve recovered well,” Pogba said, addressing his injury concerns.

“I feel much better than in the first three matches.

“Allegri’s words? I take them as advice, I have to be focused for the whole match. It’s the way I am, it’s not showing off, it’s just the way I play my football, but what the Coach said is true.

“It’s always been that way with all my Coaches. I don’t do it on purpose, but sometimes I have to release a little bit, it’s me, it’s the person.

“When I hear that it wakes me up a little bit, it makes me open my eyes. I want to prove that what people say or think is wrong.

“Will I play differently against Barça? No, I always play my football, sometimes it comes off and sometimes it doesn’t, I just need more concentration.

“If I play against Barça, since it’s a final, my concentration will be at 100 per cent for 90 minutes.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Buffon Nervous Ahead Of Facing Lionel Messi

Jun 1, 2015

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has said Barcelona striker Lionel Messi will be tough to stop.

La Vecchia Signora face the Spanish giants in the Champions League final on June 6, and the Juve captain has said that it will be difficult to stop the Argentine striker.

“Messi is undoubtely the best player in the world, he has been for a decade due to his physical and mental strength,” the 37-year-old told sportmediaset.

“A match against him is an exciting prospect but it does give me a bit of fear, it would be wrong to not be scared.”

Buffon also said, though, that it isn’t just Messi who the Italian champions have to worry about, but the whole of the Barcelona squad.

“In games like these, every player is a strong player.

“I know that we can stop Messi, but Barcelona have others, their whole team is very strong.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Morata: I'll shoot down Barcelona for Real Madrid!

The Spain international dumped the Blancos out in the semi-finals
and now wants to make amends by upsetting their great rivals.

Jun 1, 2015

Alvaro Morata claims he will try to shoot down Barcelona in Saturday's Champions League final not only for Juventus - but also Real Madrid.

The Spain international lifted the European trophy with the Blancos last May before joining Juve for €20 million during the summer transfer window.

Morata returned to haunt his former employers this season, however, netting the decisive goal in Juve's 3-2 aggregate victory over Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals.

Consequently, Morata would now like to make amends somewhat by firing Juve to victory over his old club's fiercest rivals.

"I'll try to beat Barcelona, because of what it means for Real Madrid fans as well," the attacker told Cadena SER.

"But it would not be special because of having scored against Barca, but because of the importance of a Champions League final.

"It's an opportunity to go down in history, and obviously scoring against Barcelona would not be as painful as it was scoring against Madrid.

"But I need to actually score before thinking about celebrations! Getting a goal in a Champions League final against Barcelona is no easy task.

"I played for Madrid for many years, I'm not going to say it's an extra motivation for me because you don't need extra motivation when you play a Champions League final, but facing Barca will always be special for me."

Morata is well aware Juve - who are on track for their first-ever treble - will have their work cut out containing a Barca side for whom Lionel Messi has been spectacular of late.

The Argentina international netted a sensational opening goal in Saturday's Copa del Rey final win over Athletic Bilbao, just a fortnight after clinching La Liga with a fine finish in a 1-0 victory at Atletico Madrid.

However, Morata pointed out that the four-time Ballon d'Or winner has been brilliantly supported by Luis Suarez and Neymar this term, with the three having combined for a record-breaking 120 goals during the 2014-15 campaign.

"It is very difficult to stop Messi but there is not just him at Barcelona," he added. "The other two, Suarez and Neymar, can always punish you.

"If you focus only on Messi, the other two are going to kill you. And then their defence... People talk a lot about their attack but their defence is also top class.

"They are a great team in general, they are among the best in the world - if not the best - but I'm sure they also have plenty of respect for us because they know we can be dangerous and haven't reached the final by accident.

"We are certainly not going to Berlin thinking we are inferior to Barcelona. We would not even go there if we thought we had no chance of winning.

"They have had a great season, they are incredible players and they are in spectacular form right now.

"However, I think we have one of the best defensive lines in Europe. We have had some great performances ourselves and have handled some top-level players.

"It will be a very difficult game but we are confident we have our possibilities."

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Lippi: ‘Allegri’s Juve like mine’

Jun 2, 2015

Marcello Lippi believes the current Juventus side is following the same path as his all-conquering team from the 90s.

Lippi won three Scudetti, the Coppa Italia and the Champions League in his first spell with the Bianconeri, and reached another three European finals, two in the Champions League.

The Coach then returned in 2001, winning another two Serie A titles, and reaching the final of Europe’s major club competition again.

“You can say that this Juve is following the same path of growth mine did,” Lippi explained in an interview with giornalaccio rosa dello Sport.

“First success in Italy, then in Europe - maybe intercontinental too one day. You can only get there in one way: three or four European successes, like those against Borussia Dortmund and Real [Madrid].

“In Dortmund, Juventus took control of the pitch, showing awareness of their strengths. Then they scored more than one goal at home to Real.

“In Madrid they suffered a bit, but who doesn’t suffer there? And they could even have won.

“After three Scudetti under Antonio Conte, Allegri was a real bonus. He hasn’t removed any conviction, but has grown Juve tactically, and they can now play two systems without problems.

“In Italy, their dominance is embarrassing. While the others are wondering who will be their next Coach, Juve have made two great signings Sami Khedira and Paulo Dybala, and they’re the ones who needed them least.”

The final will be played in Berlin’s Olympiastadion, where Lippi won the World Cup with the national team, and the legendary Coach revealed some advice for Max Allegri.

“I phoned him with a mutual friend. I told him, ‘take a day with friends and family and relax’. I think he did.

“This isn’t a World Cup. If you’re in the final after a year, then you’re stronger than at the beginning. There’s no need to act like Al Pacino in ‘Any Given Sunday’.

“In fact, in Berlin some of the Azzurri spent the night before at Kempinski with a cigarette. What can you say?

“One thing about Berlin which nobody knows, is that I came back a few years after the final.

“I was invited to a film festival, and one morning, all alone at 8am, I took a taxi to the stadium. I went onto the pitch, and spent 20 minutes just looking.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Barcelona - Juventus Betting: Can Pirlo or Xavi
sign off with a goal in the Champions League final?

Two icons of the game are coming to the end of their illustrious careers,
yet they still have enough quality to be able to influence Saturday's final in Berlin.

Jun 2, 2015

They have dazzled us with their vision and precision for the past decade. Two of the greatest midfielders that Spain and Italy have ever produced, Andrea Pirlo and Xavi Hernandez face each other in Saturday's Champions League both hoping for a final taste of glory.

While Xavi's exit from the Camp Nou has been confirmed, Pirlo's future in Turin is not yet decided, although the 36-year-old has promised to bow out if Juve are crowned European champions. 16 months older than his Catalan counterpart, Pirlo has defied his age to produce another super season for the Bianconerri, and his total of four league goals is the second highest of his career.

William Hill offer him at to score at anytime and while he has only managed one strike in this season's tournament, his right foot remains as cultured as an afternoon at the Louvre. He's to score in a victory for the Italian champions.

Meanwhile, optimistic punters can back him at to score twice on the biggest of stages, something he has never done for Juventus and not managed for a decade in a competitive game. A market that could be of interest for those who believe Pirlo's set piece ability will come to the fore in this game is the on offer that the free kick specialist makes his mark from outside the area.

While Pirlo has been more prolific in front of goal than Xavi in the last couple of season, the Barcelona midfielder remains metronomic in his passing, and the 35-year-old has the highest pass completion rate of any player in Europe's major league (of those players who have made more than a thousand passes). Nevertheless, over the last 18 months his influence on the team has undoubtedly diminished and unlike Pirlo he is not likely to start Saturday's showpiece in Berlin.

There is however every chance that he will get some minutes in what will be his final game in a Blaugrana shirt, and while he has not scored a Champions League goal since November 2013, romantics could be tempted to back him to get on the scoresheet. He is offered at to score at anytime and at to score the final goal which would surely be a fitting way for him to end a 17 year association with the Catalan club.

Despite helping out with many important strikes during his time at the Camp Nou, Xavi has never scored in a Champions League final and he would surely love to sign off with goal, helping Barcelona to an historic second treble and picking up his fourth Champions League winners medal in the process. The Spaniard is to score anytime in a win for the Catalan club.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

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FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Vidal: Barca are favourites but we can beat them

The Chilean midfielder is determined to defy the odds when Juventus
clash with the Catalans in the Champions League final on Saturday.

Jun 2, 2015

Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal has ackowledged that Barcelona are favourites for the upcoming Champions League final.

The Bianconeri, who beat the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid en route to the final, are looking to win Europe's top club competition for the first time in 19 years, while the Catalans have won it three times in the last nine seasons.

Vidal is looking forward to the "most important" match of his career and says his side have overcome the odds before this year and can do so again in Berlin on Saturday.

"You feel so many emotions when you see the game getting closer," he told the club's offical website.

"I think it’s a dream to be here, this close to the most important game of my life.

"Playing in the final of the Champions League is the ultimate.

"Everyone has always said they were favourites against us. And we have shown a different thing on the pitch, so hopefully we can win on Saturday and the favourites can lose."

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Neymar: I'm nervous about the Champions League final

The Brazilian believes that Ronaldo's failure to win the competition
shows how tough it is as he prepares for his first European Cup final.

Jun 2, 2015

Neymar has revealed that he is feeling nervous ahead of his first ever Champions League final for Barcelona against Juventus on Saturday.

The Catalans last won the competition in 2011 and the Brazil striker moved to Camp Nou two years later, winning his first trophies this term in the Liga title and the Copa del Rey.

His legendary compatriot Ronaldo never won the competition, despite representing Barca, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Inter during his illustrious career and Neymar is determined to outdo the 38-year-old.

"I'm very anxious," he told Globoesporte.

"Ronaldo did not win the Champions League, which shows how difficult it is. We have the chance to win and I will do my all to win the title.

"The team is happy. There's a good atmosphere, good for work and now we're concentrating on the final.

"From the moment that we saw that things were tough for us, we got together and said: 'We have to win for ourselves.'"

Barca clash with Juventus in Berlin on Saturday at 20:45CET.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

FINAL
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M.
Olympiastadion, Berlin
Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey)

Juventus' financial nous key in rise
to Champions League final

Jun 2, 2015

Juventus will return to the top table of European football this Saturday when they step into Berlin's Olympiastadion to take on Barcelona in the Champions League final.

The Old Lady are a team in the truest sense and their progress to this year's Champions League final, and success in securing a fourth consecutive Serie A title, can be attributed to manager Massimiliano Allegri forging a cohesive, well-drilled unit full of experienced heads. Indeed, six of the players who started in the 1-1 semifinal second leg against Real Madrid, and are likely to feature in the starting XI in Berlin, are aged over 30.

But behind the likes of Andrea Pirlo, Giorgio Chiellini and Gianluigi Buffon is another equally impressive team that has helped them get back on their feet after they were demoted to Serie B and stripped of two Serie A titles in 2006 -- an event which became known as the Calciopoli scandal after club officials were found guilty of trying to influence the appointment of referees.

Juventus' resurrection from the lowest point in their history has been led by chairman Andrea Agnelli -- appointed in 2010 and part of the fourth generation of his family to run the club they have owned for more than 90 years.

After cutting his teeth at some leading blue-chip multinational companies, Agnelli has initiated a tenacious business culture at Juventus that has been shaped by his background as an Anglophile and his days as an Oxford University student when he travelled to North London to watch Arsenal. Central to the club's revival has been the building of the 41,000 capacity Juventus stadium: on the site of the old Stadio delle Alpi, making the Turin side the only one in Serie A to own their own ground.

The new stadium was actually commissioned before Agnelli's appointment but, in planning how it should operate, he and other Juventus officials visited Arsenal's Emirates Stadium and studied the success of other English clubs to understand how they maximise revenue from merchandise, drinks and other commercial ventures.

After the trip, the decision was made to adopt the English model with the Juventus Stadium, which now boasts its own museum, elegant corporate hospitality facilities and other commercial add-ons after opening in September 2011.

Fausto Zanetton, a former banker who provides financial advice to a number of Italian football clubs, told ESPN FC: "Agnelli is a savvy businessman who has surrounded himself on the board with likeminded business brains. His focus has been all about reviving the Juve brand. Owning their own stadium has given them a huge advantage over their rivals and helped to make them, once again, one of Europe's strongest sides."

However, Italy's leading clubs lag behind their European counterparts when it comes to generating revenue. According to the latest Deloitte Money League, Juventus are the country's richest club, ranked 10th in the world with annual turnover of £200 million.

But their total matchday revenue of £34.3 million and commercial revenue of £71.1 million is dwarfed by that of their Champions League rivals Barcelona, who manage £97.7 million and £155.3 million respectively.

Juventus are still in the red but, under Agnelli's stewardship, losses have been cut by one-third over the past four years to just under £45 million according to club accounts. The family also own car manufacturers Fiat and Chrysler and have harnessed the success of its core business for the benefit of the team. Juve's £13 million per year shirt sponsorship deal (the highest in Italy) is with Jeep, another part of the Agnelli empire.

Along with the new £71 million stadium, a new shopping complex also was built and the rights to manage it sold to an Italian retail company for £21 million, helping to offset construction costs.

While another aspect of the English model which Agnelli is borrowing comes from the idea to link the new stadium with wider regeneration. The Emirates Stadium led to the creation of new homes and businesses in North London, while Arsenal's local rivals Tottenham Hotspur have even more ambitious plans for amenities around their new stadium -- which they hope will be ready in 2019 -- as way of maximising income.

Juventus already have signed a deal with the city council of Turin for the redevelopment of the Continassa district, which adjoins their stadium. The multimillion pound venture will lead to the creation of a new club headquarters, a training centre, hotel, school, homes and an entertainment complex. New parks, sites for businesses and open spaces are also being created as part of the urban regeneration project.

Of course to find real success in Europe, you have to focus on the pitch as well and the financial nous in the boardroom has been underpinned by an astute transfer policy overseen by director general Giuseppe Marotta, seen as one of Agnelli's most inspirational appointments in May 2010.

Keeping one eye on the balance sheet, Marotta took a gamble on Paul Pogba to sign him when Manchester United released the midfielder in 2012; snapped up Pirlo from AC Milan; and secured the services of veteran Patrice Evra from Manchester United -- all on free transfers. He also bought Arturo Vidal from Bayer Leverkusen and Carlos Tevez from Manchester City for a combined fee of under €25 million; with their value now well over that amount each.

So, importantly, Juventus have no pressure to sell any of their stars. They can turn away mega-bids for Pogba knowing full well that they are now on firm financial footing once more. Meanwhile, they can afford to attract the next generation of players to Turin, with Palermo starlet Paulo Dybala set to arrive for around €40 million and Germany World Cup winner Sami Khedira the latest in Marotta's long line of free transfer coups.

Barcelona may be favourites going into this Saturday's Champions League final, but the Bianconeri will be hoping that getting their sums right off the pitch will give them the best chance of lifting trophies on it.