Juventus Season 2014-2015

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

Champions League treble: The seven

clubs who claimed the prize

Jun 5, 2015

On Saturday, both Barcelona and Juventus will be aiming to complete the eighth treble in European club football history. Here's a look at the previous seven...


Celtic, 1967

The first European Cup won by a British side was secured by a team of players all born within 30 miles of Celtic Park, but it's often forgotten that this was not the only trophy lifted by Jock Stein's side in 1966-67. In fact, while the qualifying factor for a "real" treble is the domestic league, main domestic cup and the European Cup, just to be on the safe side Celtic won absolutely everything they competed in that year, including the Scottish League Cup and the Glasgow Cup. They played 62 games in five competitions, losing just three of them and scoring an utterly absurd 196 goals in the process.

Of the three big trophies, the Scottish Cup was the first to be secured as they beat Aberdeen 2-0 at Hampden Park, the goals coming either side of half-time from Willie Wallace. Then came the league, in which Rangers challenged them until the penultimate game of the campaign. That game, at Ibrox, saw Celtic needing just a point to claim the title and a brace from Jimmy Johnstone sealed a 2-2 draw.

And then Lisbon. Internazionale were a fearsome machine, having won the European Cup in both 1964 and 1965 under Helenio Herrera, but Celtic beat them, coming back from a goal down to seal the 2-1 victory. Tommy Gemmell got the first with a rocket from outside the area, then Stevie Chalmers turned in the winner, seven minutes from time. "Winning the European Cup was the making of the club," winger Bobby Lennox told FourFourTwo a few years ago. "After that everyone knew about Celtic. We even beat Real Madrid two weeks later. They'd won it the previous year and they kept saying they were the real champions, but we went and beat them 1-0 on their own patch in front of 135,000 people."


Ajax 1972

The aesthetes' choice, Ajax's European Cup win in 1972 was the middle of three in a row for the brilliant "Total Football" side of the early 1970s, built by Rinus Michels and led by Johan Cruyff. Michels actually left halfway through the season in late 1971 to manage Barcelona, so it was left to Stefan Kovacs to build on the work done by his great predecessor.

In 1971, Ajax won the European Cup and the KNVB Cup, but finished second in the league to Feyenoord. The next year no such mistakes were made, and they lost just one game in the league, finishing a whopping (in the days of two points for a win) eight points ahead of Feyenoord, before securing the cup by edging FC Den Haag (now ADO Den Haag) out 3-2 in the final.

Then the big one. After sweeping Marseille, Arsenal and Benfica aside, they faced Inter in Rotterdam. Ajax dominated the game; a defensive Inter side unable to hold back the likes of Cruyff, Johan Neeskens and Piet Keizer. It was Cruyff who scored the goals, one just after the break and the second 12 minutes from the end, to secure the game and Ajax's treble. For good measure, they won the Intercontinental Cup later that year too, beating Independiente of Argentina over two legs.


PSV, 1988

Before taking over at PSV in March 1987, Guus Hiddink had never managed before (although he was PSV assistant to Jan Reker for four years), but he made the whole affair look implausibly easy, bagging a treble in his very first full season. What's more remarkable is that PSV achieved this remarkable feat having sold star midfielder Ruud Gullit, who had left for AC Milan after a disagreement with the club's hierarchy the previous summer.

The Eredivisie title was signed, sealed and delivered with barely a bead of sweat breaking on their collective brows, losing just twice and winning with four games to spare -- nine points ahead of Ajax. They scored a remarkable 117 goals in the process: nine in a single game on two occasions, seven once and six five times.

The cup was slightly more of a struggle, PSV requiring extra-time to beat Roda JC, with Soren Lerby scoring the decisive goal in a 3-2 win. However, while they had been dominant domestically, their European campaign was a harder task. Indeed, remarkable as it might seem, the 2-0 win over Austria Wien in the second round was the last game they actually won in a conventional manner, reaching the final by beating Bordeaux and Real Madrid with 1-1 draws in the away leg of both quarter and semifinals, before drawing 0-0 in the second match.

They played Benfica in the final, but 120 minutes of play could not split the sides, and penalties ensued. Both sides scored their initial five; Anton Janssen converted the first sudden death effort for PSV before Antonio Veloso had his effort saved by Hans van Breukelen. Five of the PSV side -- Van Breukelen, Ronald Koeman, Wim Kieft, Berry van Aerle and Gerald Vanenburg -- would go on to help Netherlands to win Euro '88 that summer, their first and only international tournament success to date.


Manchester United, 1999

The most remarkable of the many remarkable things about Manchester United's treble in 1999, the finest achievement by any English club side, is that on so many occasions it very nearly didn't happen. They were behind on the closing day of the league season, when a defeat would have cost them the Premiership title; they were a Dennis Bergkamp penalty away from losing in the semifinal of the FA Cup; and then of course there's the Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

"I was just starting to adjust to losing the game," Sir Alex Ferguson said of the final, which saw United 1-0 behind as injury-time approached. "I had reminded myself to keep my dignity and accept that it wasn't going to be our year. What then happened simply stunned me."

It stunned pretty much everyone else, too. United secured the league title with that final day win over Tottenham, goals from David Beckham and Andy Cole securing the victory required to win the prize by a single point from Arsenal.

Then came the FA Cup final, which was a slightly curious non-event given the limp challenge offered by opponents Newcastle, and the resting of a few players for the clash with Bayern in the Camp Nou a few days later.

And then the Barcelona final. What makes this perhaps the finest treble is the manner in which it was won; not the most dominant, nor probably the best team, but by some distance the most dramatic. Goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in injury-time -- after Bayern had led via a Mario Basler free kick since the sixth minute -- secured the treble in the most extraordinary manner. "I can't believe it," said then UEFA president Lennart Johansson, who had left his seat in the stands with United 1-0 down and arrived pitchside to present the trophy to them after the 2-1 victory. "The winners are crying and the losers are dancing."


Barcelona, 2009

Looking back, appointing Pep Guardiola as Barcelona manager was a relatively ridiculous decision. This was, after all, not just a man who had never managed a senior team being put in charge of one of the biggest clubs in world football, but also a club that needed something of a revamp after the last days of Frank Rijkaard. But Guardiola made a mockery of sense and logic by casually winning the treble in his first season in charge, and building arguably the greatest club side Europe has ever seen.

The season was marked out by significant victories: from the 6-2 demolition of Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the closing weeks of the league season, to Andres Iniesta's injury-time winner in the Champions League semifinal against Chelsea, to the final itself.

The Copa del Rey was the first title, Barca storming back from a goal down against Athletic Bilbao with four in just over half an hour to win 4-1. La Liga was next, won by nine clear points, technically sealed after Villarreal beat Real in May but really secured when braces from Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry eviscerated and demoralised their great rivals 6-2 at the Bernabeu earlier in the month.

And then the Champions League, sealed in Rome against Manchester United, with Samuel Eto'o and Messi netting in a 2-0 win that was one of the most dominant in recent memory. "We are not the best team in history," said Guardiola. "But we have played the best season in history to win the three titles."


Inter Milan, 2010

If Jose Mourinho ever lifts the Champions League with Chelsea, he'll become the first manager to win the Champions League/European Cup in three different countries. In 2010 he achieved another first, specifically becoming the first Italian team to win a treble, doing so with an Inter side built entirely in his image.

Mourinho was hired to replace Roberto Mancini, with the key directive of improving Inter's performance in Europe, something he of course did with some gusto. Indeed, this was a season characterised not only by Inter's own excellence, but by their frustration of basically everyone around them (and not just through Mourinho's antics), denying a couple of teams their own moments of glory.

Serie A was won by just two points, Inter securing the title and holding off Roma with a 1-0 victory over Siena on the final day, the goal scored by Diego Milito, which came a couple of weeks after they had beaten the same opponents in the Coppa Italia final, again via a 1-0 victory thanks to Milito.

After parking the bus to ensure his 10-men overcame Barcelona in the semi, Mourinho then relied on Milito to score both in the 2-0 Champions League final win over Bayern Munich, who were themselves chasing their country's first treble. It was Mourinho's last game, leaving Inter for Real Madrid with the words: "I want to become the only coach to win the Champions League with three different clubs. I'm not leaving Inter, I'm leaving Italy."


Bayern Munich, 2013

There are good ways to go out, there are great ways to go out, and then there's the Jupp Heynckes way to go out. The German had already won the Champions League in his final game at Real Madrid in 1998 before they sacked him, in the way that only Real can, for a disappointing domestic showing.

However, he topped that achievement at Bayern Munich, polishing off the first treble in German history in not only his final game with the Bavarians, but his final game as a manager altogether. "I had a worthy farewell," he said after his retirement, with considerable understatement.

Bayern won the Bundesliga by the utterly absurd margin of 25 points from Borussia Dortmund -- who let's not forget were the defending champions -- losing only one game in the process and drawing a mere four. The title was officially wrapped up with a record-breaking six games to spare in early April, Bastian Schweinsteiger confirming glory with a backheel to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0.

The whole season seemed to be a continued attack on Dortmund (they beat them in the Super Cup too), as Bayern eliminated Jurgen Klopp's side on the way to the DFB Pokal final, which unusually was the last leg in the treble -- the final in early June against Stuttgart where Mario Gomez and Thomas Muller scored the goals in a 3-2 win.

Before that was the big one, as Bayern overcame Dortmund once again at Wembley in the Champions League final, which they reached by obliterating Barcelona 7-0 on aggregate in the semifinal. Arjen Robben was the scorer of the decisive goal, securing the 2-1 victory and Bayern's fifth European Cup with just a minute left of the game. "I don't think any team has played such a consistent season at such a high level," said Heynckes after the game, and while one can debate which treble-winning side was the best, there can be little doubt over which one was the most dominant.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

Juventus-Barcelona: Champions League final predicted XIs

Jun 5, 2015

The Champions League final sees Italian champions Juventus take on Spanish champions Barcelona in Berlin this Saturday. Both teams are aiming to do the Treble, but who will prevail? All the latest team news and the predicted starting XIs below.
 

Juventus vs. Barcelona

Juventus team news: Barring any more late injuries -- Giorgio Chiellini was ruled out on Thursday with a calf strain he picked up in training on Wednesday -- Massimiliano Allegri should have no doubts about his starting XI to face Barcelona on Saturday.

Andrea Barzagli should recover in time to take the place of Chiellini, but if he doesn't, then Angelo Ogbonna, who made 16 starts in Serie A this season, will be thrown in. The former Torino central defender has made only one appearance in the Champions League this season -- in the 1-0 defeat at Olympiacos in the group stage, but Allegri will need him to complete his back four.

Up front, Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata have become Juve's first-choice attack over the course of this season, and both have had their appearances dosed in recent weeks to ensure they will be fit for the final. If there is any doubt at all, it comes in midfield, where the post-injury form of Paul Pogba has caused a little concern. He has had a few weeks of reduced activity in a bid to get back to peak condition, however, and is normally a first-choice starter. Roberto Pereyra or semifinal surprise pick Stefano Sturaro are the alternatives.

 

Barcelona team news: Barcelona's only selection concern was over midfielder Andres Iniesta, who picked up a calf injury in Saturday's 3-1 Copa del Rey final win over Athletic Bilbao, but he returned to training on Thursday and should be OK to start. Veteran Xavi Hernandez or youngster Rafinha Alcantara are standing by if required.

Centre-forward Luis Suarez returned from a hamstring problem against Athletic and looks sure to start again up front with Lionel Messi and Neymar. Versatile Argentina international Javier Mascherano should again play at centre-back, although Frenchman Jeremy Mathieu is likely to play some role off the bench over the 90 minutes.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

Luis Enrique, Allegri deserve respect
for reaching Champions League final

Jun 5, 2015

It's the pinnacle of any manager's career, but the contradiction is that winning the Champions League doesn't always necessitate peak managerial performance. Take the contrast with which some victorious managers are viewed. While those like Brian Clough and Ernst Happel are rightfully seen as geniuses for delivering the trophy, the same compliments are not extended to other winners like Dettmar Cramer or Roberto Di Matteo.

Context is of course crucial to this, and some coaches are clearly the grand architects of victories, while some are merely lucky enough to oversee the finishing touches. That is also what makes the context of the 2015 final all the more compelling, and the wonder is how either Luis Enrique or Max Allegri will be remembered by history once the trophy is lifted on Saturday. Right now, one of the strands of this year's showpiece is that both are considered relatively minor factors in how Barcelona and Juventus got this far.

The general feeling prevails that they have mostly just acted on the work of others, and neither is really rated in the way some of their predecessors were.

The way in which their role has been minimised also goes against the recent history of the competition. Just as the Champions League has come to be dominated by super-clubs, that has been driven by the grandest managerial names of the past decade. All of Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and, to a lesser extent, Jupp Heynckes and Carlo Ancelotti were seen as finishing their sides with specific qualities that only those individual coaches could have offered.

That has not been the case with either Luis Enrique or Allegri. A widespread opinion is that the majority of competent coaches could have managed what they did. Luis Enrique has had the benefit of one of the best attacks ever put together at Barcelona, a fine base beyond that, and the historic brilliance of Leo Messi. The Spanish coach may even be dispensed with this summer due to the politics of the club, regardless of what happens in Berlin.

Allegri, meanwhile, had the foundation laid by Antonio Conte, as well as a very lavish house on top of it with pretty much a penthouse view. The Juventus he took over in July were three-time champions and at the peak of their powers.

It's fair to say neither man is the main story in this final, but that in itself is what makes their own stories so rich and engaging.

While it is possibly true that neither Luis Enrique nor Allegri could have built these teams up to the level they were at when they took over, the way in which they have steered the sides since should not be dismissed. The latter is a skill in itself, and the history of the European Cup has repeatedly proven it. There are actually a fair few examples of fine squads that just needed an astute tweak, rather than a touch of genius.

As Franz Beckenbauer said of the Bayern Munich side that won three European Cups between 1973 and 1976, the squad was so good they didn't really need a manager. They needed "a psychologist." It was not too different with Real Madrid in 1955-60. They won five successive European Cups but also had five different managers throughout that time. A Barca with someone as good as Messi are perhaps comparable to these sides.

Similarly, some champions only moved on to the next level thanks to the insight of otherwise moderate managers who were not at the same level as their predecessors. Take perhaps the greatest European champions ever, Ajax 1970-73. Although Rinus Michels was the visionary who put it all together, he won only one of their three European Cups, and the team arguably surpassed even that level under his successor Stefan Kovacs.

"With Kovacs, we played even better," former Ajax midfielder Arnold Muhren argued, "because we were good players who had been given freedom."

It was not that Kovacs could have done what Michels did. He couldn't. It would have been beyond him. It was that he had the detached view to spot the small things that hadn't yet been done that completed the team. A similar dynamic played out at Liverpool between Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan in the 1980s, and then at Milan between Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello in the 1990s.

Sometimes, it's the case that the original manager is too invested in the project to take an objective view on the final touches necessary to go further. That is arguably what happened with Juventus.

Conte constructed the team but was also obsessed with that team always being fused together by ferocious intensity. The energy of their pressing marked the side apart, but one problem was the Italian didn't know when to set some games apart and turn it down a notch. It meant they were often off peak condition when it came to the big Champions League games.

Allegri, by contrast, surveyed all of this and made the right amendments. Although he generally kept Conte's structures, he realised there was no need for such energy in routine league games. Allegri also trusted his players to know when to raise it.

The semifinal against Real Madrid was the perfect example. Juventus managed the momentum of both legs supremely, and were arguably at their strongest and most robust in the closing minutes of the second leg.

Those in the team also say there was no grand turning point when the squad accepted him. There was no need for one. He came in and gradually altered things in a nuanced way.

That was not the case with Barca and Luis Enrique. There was a distinctive turning point, and a dire need for one.

That was down to the fact Luis Enrique initially tried to do too much, instilling too much discipline. It backfired, leading to the infamous personality clash with Messi after January's 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad.

That looked like the moment it was all going to fall apart. Instead, it was the moment it all came together, as the two sides -- the leading players and the manager -- also came closer together.

As technical director Charly Rexach admitted, Luis Enrique "relaxed" his many rules, and Messi acquiesced a bit. A recent El Pais report claimed much of the credit for the latter should go to Xavi, who had a proper discussion about it all with the Argentine, but that has also been part of Luis Enrique's learned astuteness.

He has allowed players like Xavi and Messi to influence the team's tactics, and that has in turn allowed another aspect of the manager's discipline to assert itself -- namely, his rigorous dedication to fitness.

Through Luis Enrique's work with his longtime physical coach Rafel Pol, he finally has the Barca squad looking as powerfully fit as it did in that historically good Champions League final win over Manchester United in May 2011. That marks some change given the general fatigue that seemed to afflict the side over the past three years, and is the change that was needed.

That, again, is not to be so readily dismissed. Luis Enrique ultimately has a host of brilliant players back in the type of condition where they can produce their best form when it matters most.

It seems elementary, but it makes such a big difference. It means you always have a big chance. Of course, it has only emphasised Messi's importance to this team above anyone else, but that is the point of management: to get the best out of your available resources.

That should not be forgotten, regardless of how either of these managers will be remembered.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

Juventus Vs Barcelona – Preview:
Bianconeri To Battle In Berlin For The Treble

Jun 5, 2015

Juventus are bidding to become just the second Italian club to win the Treble as they take on Barcelona, who are also on course for their own Treble, in the Champions League final at Berlin’s Olympiastadion on Saturday night.

Both sides will be featuring in their eighth European Cup final, with Barcelona having been victorious on four previous occasions while the Bianconeri will hope to avoid an unenviable record of losing six finals.

This will be the first meeting between the two sides since the 2002/03 edition of the competition when Juventus emerged as 3-2 winners on aggregate in the quarter-finals. Marcelo Zalayeta scored an extra-time winner at the Camp Nou to give the Bianconeri a famous 2-1 victory in the second leg, their first win on Spanish soil for 33 long years.

Juventus have seen of the challenges of Real Madrid, Monaco and Borussia Dortmund in the knock-out stages to reach the show-piece final in Berlin. Barcelona on the other hand overcame Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.

Two players still remain from those previous meetings, Gianluigi Buffon for Juventus and Barcelona’s Xavi. Current Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique captained the Blaugrana in the second leg, while former Bianconeri coach Antonio Conte was an unused substitute in both games.

Massimilliano Allegri has a selection headache as Giorgio Chiellini is set to miss the final after picking up a injury to his left calf on Wednesday, he could be replaced by Andrea Barzagli has recovered from a thigh problem just at the right time.

Luis Enrique has a fully fit squad at his disposal, aside from Andres Iniesta, who missed training on Tuesday but should be ready for Saturday. In what is his final appearance in the famous Blaugrana shirt, Xavi will likely have to be content with a place on the bench.

All eyes will be on this season’s leading Champions League goalscorer, Lionel Messi who has been superlative alongside Luis Suarez and Neymar. The deadly trio have scored 25 goals between them throughout the competition, nine more than the entire Bianconeri squad have mustered.


Form Guide: Juventus (D-W-D-W-W-W) Barcelona (L-W-W-W-W-W)


Expected Starting XIs

Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Barzagli, Evra; Marchisio, Pirlo, Pogba; Vidal; Tevez, Morata

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Neymar

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

Juventus - Barcelona Betting: Allegri's men can frustrate
the Catalans but the favourites should prevail

With both sides seeking a treble, the Champions League final could be a keenly
contested affair, but ultimately the Blaugrana should be too strong for the Italians in Berlin.

Jun 5, 2015

While it may not be the final that many expected after the draw for the last four was made, Saturday's Champions League showdown in Berlin has the potential to be quite a spectacle and is sure to add to the occasion for bettors.

It sees the meeting of two giants of world football, both in exceptional form and both on the verge of completing an historic treble. Barcelona's exceptional run since February has been well documented, with the Blaugrana steadily gathering momemtum, sweeping all before them and playing the kind of football synonymous with their lauded heritage.

They are quite rightly favourites in Berlin because, for one thing, they have Lionel Messi. Whether or not this has been Messi's best ever season is open to debate, but what is more clear-cut is the fact that it has almost certainly been his most effective campaign.

Not only has his blistering scoring continued (58 goals in all competitions) but he was also La Liga's leading giver of assists, which is testament to the understanding he has build with fellow forwards Neymar and Luis Suarez since thier arrival at Camp Nou.

Between them the trio have netted 120 times this season and, couple that with a defence which conceded just 21 goals in 38 league games, it is evident that there is a balance in the Barcelona side which is a recipe for success.

And yet they face a Juventus team who too have been exceptional this season. The Old Lady of Italian football has topped Serie A for the fourth successive year, boasting the best attack with the meanest defence and in the Champions League semi-finals against Real Madrid they were magnificently organised.

There is, however, a feeling that perhaps Juve were better set up to deal with the threat of Madrid, as
Massimiliano Allegri's team forced the Blancos out wide and then dealt effectively with their crosses. Barcelona will be harder to nullify, especially without key defender Giorgio Chiellini, and Juve are rank outisders priced at to win in 90 minutes with bet365, who are top priced on a Catalan triumph at with the draw offered at .

Only the most hardened of punter will be investing in a Barcelona win outright, although there are better ways to back the Spanish champions.

The price of for them to score over 1.5 goals is not enormous but might be large enough to tempt some, given it has paid out in 10 of Barcelona's last 11 matches in the competition. This is an extremely solid selection considering Chiellini's absence, but those seeking a more adventurous option could do worse than investing in Draw/Barcelona in the half-time/full-time market at .

It is easy to see Barcelona coming out strong in the first half, Juve wearing the storm but ultimately succumbing in the second period.

The Italians were level at half-time in three of their last last four Champions League matches and they are capable of matching the Blaugrana for 45 minutes. But not for the whole game.

The draw at the break is offered at which itself is worthy of consideration, but for the biggest club game in world football we will be a little bolder and back Barcelona to win in 90 minutes after being level at half-time.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

Ferocious Italian defending makes Juventus
best bet to finally stop Barcelona

Previous Champions League opponents have tried to out-play the Catalans,
but the Serie A winners' mix of brutal defending and counter-punching poses a new test.

Jun 5, 2015

Juventus do not merely need to be good against Barcelona, they need to be flawless. Luis Enrique's side – and their superlative-defying No.10 – have risen from the ashes of a seven-goal thumping against Bayern Munich two years ago to become the most attractive and dominant team in Europe once more. The Bavarian beating they took was supposed to herald the end of club football's greatest team, but this new iteration may be even more explosive and dangerous than any before it.

The club's 'MSN' attack – an acronym of a defunct messenger service hardly seems to do Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar justice – have scored a barely comprehensible 120 goals in all competitions this season. No three-piece has ever been so prolific, and there is no team in world football that has managed so many goals in their domestic season – it's a tally that is 16 per cent higher than the Premier League record.

How can a side look to temper such firepower? Bayern boss Pep Guardiola, more familiar with the coruscating Catalans than anyone else, tried to man-mark every player on the pitch when he took his current club to Camp Nou in the semi-finals, a tactic that had troubled his own Barca when they were hounded by Marcelo Bielsa's Athletic in 2011.

Guardiola, though, was forced into a very early reshuffle after Manuel Neuer's reflexes were put to the test again and again. Unlike on previous occasions, this was not a pre-planned rouse; even Guardiola had misjudged how lethal his opponents were, and the contest was over when Messi meme-ified Jerome Boateng before dinking the ball over Neuer.

Bayern did reclaim some pride in the return leg - though the contest had long since been decided – and became only the second side to beat Barca in their last 34 matches. Indeed, both the Catalans and Messi have been different beasts since the turn of the year; they have won 84% of Liga matches in the second half of the campaign, while Messi has 35 goals and 18 assists in 2015 already, including that stupendous solo goal in the Copa del Rey final.

The Argentine was one of few people not to be tickled by Cristiano Ronaldo's Ballon d’Or-winning war cry, motivated instead to ensure it is he who gives next year's speech. Criticised not so long ago for eating too much pizza, he - and Sergio Aguero - sought the help of Italian dietician Giuliano Poser to overhaul his eating habits. He's leaner, stronger, vomit-free and evidentially more chiselled – and arguably in the best form of his glittering career.

Stopping him, and Barca, is a near-impossible feat. The Blaugrana are like a footballing hydra, cut off one head – or nullify one threat – and two more pop up in its place. They have been prevented from scoring just five times in all competitions this season, by Malaga, twice, Celta Vigo, Getafe and David Moyes's Real Sociedad. But it is Malaga who provide the closest thing to a blueprint for beating Barca.

"You have to control the game through good defensive work, not through possession, because you cannot do that against Barcelona," explains los Boquerones boss Javi Gracia.

"The player who wins the ball back must play it forward immediately, to bypass their initial press. The forwards must be waiting for that moment, to offer themselves in the spaces we know will be there if their full-backs are pushed forward. If you do not break and hold the ball against Barcelona, you never get out. They have possession, possession, possession, and in the end you are exhausted – and then you are in trouble."

Malaga surrendered possession - 27%, their lowest tally of the season - congested the midfield, double- and treble-marked Messi in dangerous areas and funnelled the play out wide. Not only did that entice the full-backs higher up the pitch, and thus grant more space to counter-attack into, but it also forced Barca to cross more.

Their 38 open-play crosses at home to Malaga was the most they attempted in a single match this season. Interestingly, of the top nine games in which Barca attempted their most crosses, four saw them fail to score; the more they cross, the less dangerous they are. In the end they mustered just four efforts on target against a side who would finish the season in ninth.

The success of Malaga's gameplan hinged on an acceptance that they could not match Barcelona, that they were inferior. It is that mindset that most Champions League clubs, usually so dominant in their own countries, are reluctant – unable, even – to accept. PSG, Manchester City (whose manager, Manuel Pellegrini, said they would play against Barca as they had Newcastle three days earlier) and Bayern all looked to beat Barca at their own game. But in Juventus, finally there is a challenger who will adapt.

The Italian champions are the first side Barcelona will face in the Champions League who positively embrace defending. Though domestically they are far superior to any other side, usually dominating possession and dictating tempo, they are just as adept, and perhaps even more comfortable, sitting back and absorbing pressure. In the final half hour at the Santiago Bernabeu in the semi-final second leg, they afforded Real Madrid 64% possession but gave up just one shot on target.

If Barca's supply of attacking threats never depletes, then the same is true of Juve's defenders. La Liga-taunter Giorgio Chiellini, absent through injury, is likely to be replaced by an arguably even purer defender in Andrea Barzagli, assuming he can shake off a knock.

Following Malaga's lead and forcing Barca to cross feels like the perfect ploy for a side with more headed clearances (165) than any other team in this year's competition. "We need to stay compact and keep it tight," says Max Allegri, and his Bianconeri side are well placed to do just that having kept six clean sheets in their 12 Champions League outings this term. They have conceded a mere five goals from inside the box – Bayern and PSG, obliterated by Barca, conceded 12 apiece.

But as Malaga boss Gracia points out, you cannot merely defend against Barca, and what makes Juventus such a threat to the Catalans is their ability to marry their solid, rugged back-line with a quick-transitioning midfield and explosive front-line. If Juve can negotiate Barca's first pressing wave, they will find less resistance in midfield where the lung-busting energy of Paul Pogba, Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal will take over.

One thing Bayern did well was to harass and harry Barca's midfield, stopping Sergio Busquets from providing his usual calm control of the ball (his passing accuracy dipped almost 10% in that game compared to his season average) and Juve's likely midfield diamond – which will naturally push Barca out wide – is even better equipped to cajole their opposite numbers.

Up front, meanwhile, Carlos Tevez is virtually the perfect striker to lead the line against the overwhelming amount of possession Barca are expected to have. The Argentine has played this game before – for Manchester United in 2008, specifically – and is able to drop into midfield when needed, hound Barca's isolated centre-backs and exploit the space left by marauding full-backs. Always possessed of the ability to produce a moment of pure magic, his duel with countryman and one-time West Ham team-mate Javier Mascherano could be decisive, as will Juve's set-piece threat.

Juventus, then, are that rare breed of a side: an elite team capable of elite defending. There are almost shades of the Italian national side that won the World Cup in 2006 in terms of the belief and resolve that pulses through the side. There will be no bold tactics, no outside-the-box scheming, just defending at its most simple and effective. The onus is on Barcelona, and Messi, to find a way through without getting burned on the break.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

Juventus - Barcelona Goalscorer Betting: Is there a better
bet than backing Messi to break the deadlock?

The Argentine is the shortest priced player to find the back of the net but there are
plenty of other options for those looking to back a goalscorer in Saturday's final.

Jun 5, 2015

Trying to pick a goalscorer bet for the Champions League final is a little like letting a child loose in a sweet shop. In the same way that an infant would fill up their bag with sugary delicacies given free reign, punters must try and avoid filling their betslip with a number of different names of potential scorers. And there are a great many.

bet365's and, with so many goalscorers on show, it could be a profitable game for those who choose wisely. The online bookmaker will match each customer's biggest pre-match bet (up to £50) with a risk-free bet of the same value.

Leading the market, naturally, is Lionel Messi, with the Argentine having recently enjoyed some of the best months in his already legendary career. Scoring, assisting and generally looking as close to unstoppable as it is possible for a footballer to look, Messi has surpassed our already stratospheric expectations of him.

And yet, should he fail to deliver in the final of the Champions League it might just be the tiniest blot on an otherwise impeccable season. He has scored in each of the two finals he has contested in this competition and bet365 currently price him at to find the back of the net once more in Berlin. To practically double your money by backing Messi to score is probably too tempting for most and the price will no doubt be eagerly devoured by punters, so expect it to come in before kick-off.

He is not the only attractive proposition in the goalscorers market, though, with forward partners Neymar and Luis Suarez both excellent options in their own right. Between them this season, the trio have scored 120 goals, and in the Champions League Suarez in particular has been impressive.

The Uruguayan has scored six goals in nine appearances and can be backed at to add to that tally, the same price as his Brazilian counterpart. In truth, punters can back any one of these three to score at any time and be confident in their investment, while there are also a number of options in the Juventus side as well.

Their shortest priced player to score is Carlos Tevez, offered at and also extremely easy to invest in given his form.

The 31-year-old ended the Serie A season with 20 goals, the second highest campaign tally of his career, while in Europe he has flourished, scoring seven in the Champions League, including the winner against Real Madrid. Speaking of the Blancos, their former striker Alvaro Morata, the man who netted in both legs of the semi-finals, is available at .

Those are the front-runners but there are many other players capable of scoring, the likes of Andres Iniesta available at - a man who knows what it is like to score a big goal - or Paul Pogba, the prodigiously talented Frenchman offered at the same price.

Last year, it was a centre-back who scored the vital strike, with Sergio Ramos' 93rd minute equaliser going down in history as one of the most dramatic goals ever scored in a Champions League final. Could a defender prove equally as valuable this season? Barcelona's Gerard Pique is offered at to score, while for Juve, Leonardo Bonucci - who has netted four times this season - is available at .

Those are the main options, although what most potential investors in the game will be thinking is: is there a better bet than Lionel Messi to score first at ? The answer, is probably not.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

Van Nistelrooy reveals the secret to stop
Messi, Neymar and Suarez

The ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid star believes he has worked out
a formula for Juventus to use in order to keep the Barcelona attack quiet on Saturday.

Jun 5, 2015

Former Manchester United goal machine Ruud van Nistelrooy has offered Juventus some advice on how to stop Barcelona's fabled front three in this weekend's Champions League final.

Luis Enrique's men are favourites for the clash in Berlin mainly thanks to their all-star front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar who have broken all kinds of scoring records this season.
"I have found the secret to stop them and it could be good information for their opponents," Van Nistelrooy told Goal at the #ChampionTheMatch event organized by Heineken in Mexico City.

"I think the only way to stop Messi, Neymar and Suarez is to block the other eight players of the team. You must stop the passes coming into them.

"When Neymar, Suarez and Messi are functioning, Barcelona have the best attack in the world."

Van Nistelrooy enjoyed an illustrious career, scoring almost 400 goals for club and country as he starred for the likes of Manchester United, Real Madrid and PSV.

The Dutchman commented on the decision by his former club United to allow Juventus star Pogba to leave for Italy on a free transfer in 2012.
"It is easy to say it was a mistake in hindsight," he noted.

"If you see the player that he has became, then obviously United should never have let him go, but when he left he was very young. A team makes its decisions and sometimes it can go the other way."

The former striker also revealed his favourite team-mates from his career as well as his toughest opponents.

"I played against so many good defenders in my career, the best I remember playing against were Milan's backline of Cafu, Jaap Stam, Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini and Dida. They were the strongest," he stated.

"The best partnership I had in attack was with Raul at Real Madrid or with Luc Nilis at PSV. Paul Scholes made be a better player and striker at Manchester United."

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

Simeone: Barcelona are much more complete under Luis Enrique

The Atletico Madrid coach believes the Spanish champions are now playing as a team,
not individuals - but insists Juventus have an equally good chance of victory in Berlin.

Jun 5, 2015

It will be a fascinating final. No two teams in the Champions League have been more consistent this season than Barcelona and Juventus. Two strong sides, with very different styles, meet in Berlin – and both of them are going for a treble.

Barcelona have had a magnificent season. Their attacking strength and growth in defence has helped them to achieve so much already in 2014-15.

Their attacking potential is impressive. Be it on the counter-attack, in individual moves finished by Neymar, Lionel Messi or Luis Suarez, or in their passing play, they have so many tools with which to decide a match.

Between December and now, they have improved immensely. The great virtue of Luis Enrique and the club was to get their excellent individuals gelling as a team. Messi returned to the right wing, with Luis Suarez in the position where he has thrived his whole career. Neymar as well. That has made the team much more complete and it’s the great thing about football: if the best players understand better how to play as a team, everything is much stronger.

That's what happened at Barcelona as the coach and the players understood what was best for the team and the collective – not only individuals. When that happened, the collective became much stronger – and they haven't looked back.

Messi scored another wonderful goal in the final of the Copa del Rey last Saturday. Year after year, he continues to surprise us. Last season, he perhaps lacked the consistency we have become accustomed to from him. But this year, he is at such a high level that we expect something different from him every week.

In the final of the Copa del Rey, he showed once again what a great player he is. If you don't control him from the first instant, he makes things even harder for you because he sees things before anyone else. That's why he is the best in the world.

It is impossible to control him in any case. You try to control him with spaces, looking at where he can get to and where he is dangerous. But he moves inside and outside, down the wing, on the left. It's very difficult to think about controlling a player who is uncontrollable. There's no way.

But it's only one game and Juventus have as much chance as Barcelona. Anything is possible over 90 minutes and Juventus have their weapons, too: they are strong defensively, very good at dead balls and have a powerful attack. They are capable of playing an extraordinary game.

We all talk about Barcelona's brilliance, but let's not forget that Juventus have won the Coppa Italia and their league as well. Italian teams are used to competing in the big tournaments like this. We have seen it in World Cups, in European Championships and now in the Champions League too.

This game for Juventus is interesting because it is probably the last for a group of footballers who have been working towards this moment for several seasons. It looks like Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez and Paul Pogba could be moving on in the summer – and they will want to sign off with a win.

The midfield battle will be key. Arturo Vidal and Roberto Pereyra, if he plays, can help Juventus in the transition between defence and attack. Barcelona press high up the pitch, so their role in moving the ball forward quickly and with quality will be vital.

Likewise Ivan Rakitic and Sergio Busquets because they will compensate for the attack by adding the balance Barcelona have had this season. That has allowed Andres Iniesta, Neymar, Suarez and Messi to showcase their attacking qualities - but they wouldn’t be able to do so as effectively without that support from midfield.

Also in midfield, this will be the last time we see Xavi and Pirlo together in a big match like this one. They are two wonderful footballers and I would advise any young players to watch them: the way they compete, their behaviour on the pitch, their movement, personality and the way they live this sport.

They have played the game with a style that is completely different from any other footballer in their position over the last few years - and they have left their mark on Italian and Spanish football.

There is also the prospect of a fantastic duel between Messi and Tevez. One of the two will be champion again – and that makes us Argentines happy.

All in all, it will be a great spectacle.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

Barcelona have faced nothing like Juventus - Lippi

The former Bianconeri boss insists the Spanish champions will have to be
on their guard on Saturday as they come up against a new challenge in Juve.

Jun 5, 2015

Juventus' 1996 Champions League-winning coach Marcello Lippi believes the Bianconeri will present Barcelona with their toughest tactical proposition in some time when the two sides meet in the 2015 final in Berlin on Saturday.

Lippi, who also led Italy to World Cup glory in 2006, has told Goal that the Serie A champions have qualities that Barca have yet to face under Luis Enrique, making them something of an unknown quantity to the Catalans.

"These are the best two teams in Europe this season, but when a team gets to this point in a continental competition there are no certainties," explained Lippi. "In my opinion, Luis Enrique and his side have not faced a team so compact, sturdy and so willing to defend as Juventus.

"But the Bianconeri also know how to counter-attack with speed when they regain possession, and this could be a factor in how the game turns out. Barcelona are favourites, of course, but I don't think it will be as easy for them as many seem to think.

"The Catalans have Martians in their attack in Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, and that will make life very complicated for Allegri. But Juve are organised and tough, and we mustn't forget that Buffon is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. I expect a more balanced game than most seem to think it will be."

The 67-year-old added that he sees something in this Juve side that he has seen somewhere before.

"This Juve is growing similarly to my side back in the 1990s, first in Italy and then in Europe. Perhaps before long they will find themselves winning the Club World Cup just as we won the Intercontinental Cup in 1996. I would be delighted if Allegri were to win the trophy. I am not envious as they are all feelings I experienced and they are intoxicating."

And Lippi agrees that Juve have shown a flexibility in their Champions League campaign which bodes well ahead of the final.

"I have no doubt about it, just look at the things we've seen from this side. In Dortmund, for example, Juventus really took the initiative, showing superiority and a real awareness of their potential. Then against Madrid they got on top in the home leg, and while they were forced to suffer a little in the return that is normal for any side at the Bernabeu. They could even have won that game when you consider some of the chances they created.

"After three league titles, Allegri has come in and really added something. He has removed any anxieties from the squad and they have grown tactically. They now play in two different shapes without any transitional issues. This I how huge teams function.

"Luis Enrique has had a similar impact at Barcelona, and has got the best out of Suarez, Neymar and Messi while at the same time they recognise that he is the leader. We all know how the Blaugrana play, the way they use the ball so well and are hard to break down, but they have never faced a team like Juventus, who are so willing to defend so Messi and company will find it difficult

"Juve, though, must believe in themselves and take advantage of Barca's weaknesses. They must not be in awe of the opposition, and remember that all of the pressure is on Barcelona. I expect Juve to be tactically astute, and in 90 minutes anything can happen."

The former Napoli and Inter boss, who had two separate spells in charge of both Juve and the Italian national side, insists there is no set way to prepare for a final.

"Everyone has their own way to prepare for such an event. The important thing is to be focused on the goal, on the field. In a final you have to expect that there will be slight deviations to the general rules, but the only important thing is the result."

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

Juventus and Barcelona contest intriguing Champions League final

Jun 5, 2015

Football's biggest club prize is on the line as Juventus face Barcelona in the Champions League final this Saturday. A treble beckons for one side, with Juve and Barca both winning their respective league and cup competitions this season.

Mina Rzouki (Juventus) and Lee Roden (Barcelona) preview Saturday's showdown ...


Why will your side win the Champions League?

Mina Rzouki: Juventus are the embodiment of the Italian style of play. They are cynical, fiercely adept defensively and opportunistic in attack. Well-balanced with experienced minds and composed souls, what they lack in talent they more than make up for in spirit and unity.

The stars seem to have aligned. Italy won the World Cup in Berlin in 2006 through unity and team play and such traits run through this Juventus side.

Lee Roden: With perfect timing, Barcelona are at their peak. The Catalans have rediscovered their ability to control games, relearned how to vary their tempo and no longer naively aim for the jugular with every move as they did pre-Christmas -- that only led to end-to-end football that doesn't suit them.


Where will the winners rank in your team's history?

MR: Unlike Barcelona, Juventus have never won a treble. Labelled as serial chokers, the team have previously reached the final on seven occasions yet only lifted the European Cup twice. This is their opportunity to prove they have risen again.

If they achieve such a feat, it will be considered very much a team win achieved thanks to hard work, an astute tactician in Massimiliano Allegri and the workhorses on the pitch. While so much beauty exists within the balance of this side and its perfect midfield, they lack the star quality once associated with teams of the past including Alessandro Del Piero, Zinedine Zidane and Pavel Nedved.

LR: In terms of major trophies acquired in a single season, a win would make this Barcelona history-matching.

In the grander scheme of things this version doesn't look to have the influence of Pep Guardiola's. The forward line is undoubtedly spectacular -- perhaps the best the club has ever had -- but elsewhere on the pitch the team has a workhorse-like feeling.

Nowhere is that more evident than the midfield. Ivan Rakitic has been more noteworthy for his tactical understanding than his creative influence while Andres Iniesta's inspirational side has only come to the fore sporadically.

Luis Enrique's men are undeniably effective and more often than not a blast to watch, but they're not ground-breaking like Guardiola's side. When they won their fourth Champions League in 2011, many proclaimed Barca to be the greatest club side of all time with some justification.


Where will this match be won and lost?

MR: While it will be important Juve maintain defensive discipline and work as a unit to limit Barca's offensive strength, the real battle will be in midfield.

Both teams boast wonderful players in the middle and whoever is more determined in winning back possession and winning the duels will have the upper hand. Allowing Barcelona to dominate the midfield area will facilitate their attacking play. Space must be closed down and Juve's opponents must be pressed and forced to go deep.

It is necessary to not only outrun the competition like Juventus managed against Real Madrid but to maintain a high intensity. Juventus must show why they boast the most balanced midfield in Europe if they hope to stifle Europe's greatest front line.

LR: Mina is right. Much is being made about the battle of Juve's defence against Barca's front three, but the middle of the pitch is more important. Barcelona don't exert the same influence there as they once did, while Juventus have both their most-balanced and most-talented midfield for years, so there's potential for possession to be contested more evenly than some presume.

The way Juve used the ball in the semifinal against Real Madrid was significant -- an example of those composed souls Mina lauded earlier. Barcelona are a better team than Carlo Ancelotti's Madrid but those two games showed that Juventus are more than happy to string together nice passing combinations and are competent when building from the back against high quality rivals.

Luis Enrique really needs his team to maintain their cool head in possession they've developed in the last four months. Giving the ball away needlessly could lead to real trouble, as it won't necessarily come back quickly. If Barca keep their patience, everything else should follow.


Giorgio Chiellini is out but there's still the matter of Evra vs. Suarez ...

MZ: There's nothing like off-pitch drama to add to the excitement of a spectacle. The Frenchman insists the Uruguayan will be made to feel his presence and while their duel will excite many hoping for an eruption of anger, the real spice will be in the varying styles of the two sides and the sheer quality on the pitch.

Patrice Evra is capable of adding the right amount of experience and intelligence to the side. He knows how to win the big games and when it comes to facing enemies, he has what it takes to restrict the brilliance of the very best, even the mighty Luis Suarez.

LR: Barca will have drilled the importance of avoiding confrontation into Suarez's head from the moment they learned who they'd face if they made it to the final.

At most, the presence of Evra may make Suarez second guess a few actions that would normally be instinctive -- the way he challenges for the ball at a corner, the aggressiveness of his pressing -- but I don't think it'll have a decisive impact on the game.

After all, Juve have the minor matter of Lionel Messi and Neymar to keep an eye on too, so even if the Uruguayan's impact is lessened, there are still two of the best forwards in the world to worry about.


Pick your Juve-Barca combined XI

ZR: Buffon; Pique, Bonucci, Barzagli; Alves, Pirlo, Busquets, Pogba; Messi, Suarez, Tevez

Much like Lee says below, I would opt for a back three to have a chance to include three of the best centre-backs in Europe today. With their combined composure, height and strength, such a defence would be very difficult to penetrate. Lee has gone for Marc-André ter Stegen? Come on, surely it has to be Gianluigi Buffon! He's still capable of the heroics and his experience and integrity make him the perfect goalkeeper.

With Dani Alves, Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba and Sergio Busquets in my dream XI, no opponent would dominate that area of the pitch. As for the attack, Lee's gone for something different to me. I want Carlos Tevez alongside Messi and Suarez and that would make for a vicious attack full of intelligence, technique and experience.

LR: Ter Stegen; Bonucci, Pique, Barzagli; Alves, Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Neymar.

Buffon is evidently a living legend and an incredibly competent goalkeeper, Mina, but Ter Stegen's ability with both feet has been a huge asset for Barcelona. Remove that and they would be weakened significantly.

A three-man back-line with Gerard Pique, Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci would be an absolute dream, offering pretty much everything you could ask for from central defenders -- aerial prowess, great passing out from the back and the leadership of Barzagli to help maintain everyone's focus.

With those three rocks together, Alves could to stay in midfield and use even more of the quality passing he has shown off when allowed to this year. The Brazilian is 32 now remember, all that tracking back Luis Enrique demands can't be much fun at his age.

Elsewhere I don't think there is a net gain to be had from replacing any of Iniesta, Rakitic or Busquets with members of Juve's midfield, an area where I and Mina perhaps won't see eye to eye! I like Tevez a lot, but 117 goals between the Blaugrana's forward line means it picks itself.


Prediction

MR: 2-1 Barcelona.

This is the greatest Messi has ever played in what can only be described as the fittest and most versatile Barcelona we have seen for decades. It's difficult to bet against a Catalan win, even if their defence is capable of a mistake or three.

LR: Here's something we both agree on -- 2-1 Barca is my shout too.

My gut says it's Juve's year but my head can't see past Barcelona. In particular I can't see past a better-than-ever Lionel Messi.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

Xavi: 'Juve, Pirlo is Italy's best'

Jun 5, 2015

Barcelona icon Xavi believes his Juventus counterpart Andrea Pirlo was 'always the best in Italy'.

The 35-year-old is not a guaranteed starter for the Blaugrana in tomorrow evening's Champions League final between the two sides, but he could join the fight in the second half.

Asked by La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport about his rival Pirlo, Xavi had nothing but praise.

“An unquantifiable talent, a marvel to watch, I am his fan,” he said. “To me, he's always been the best player in Italy.

“I may be biased as a midfielder, but I really have no doubts.

“He's always been a reference to the other players, the one that others identified with and who had the greatest influence on the game.

“He was already the game-breaker at the age of 18 and he's like that now, except that he plays a little further back on the pitch.

“We underwent the opposite evolution. I started as a playmaker and moved forwards, he went back.”

Many think that tomorrow could be the last great game between these two champions, and the Spaniard feels the same way.

“We could meet again, in Qatar or in Ibiza, but in terms of football it's no longer going to be the same.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

Juventus have no chance if Barcelona reach their level - Desailly

The Serie A champions are heavy underdogs as they chase a first Champions League
triumph since 1996 on Saturday and one former winner doesn't think it will be their day.

Jun 5, 2015

Juventus have no chance of beating Barcelona if the Catalan giants reach their level in Saturday’s Champions League final, according to Marcel Desailly.

Massimiliano Allegri’s men will be heavy underdogs in Berlin despite seeing off Real Madrid over two legs of a tense semi-final last month and claiming a fourth successive Serie A title at a canter.

They face a fearsome Barcelona front trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez that have plundered 120 goals between them in all competitions this season. Even more ominously, key defender Giorgio Chiellini will miss Saturday’s game with a calf injury.

Juve’s predicament has evoked comparison with Desailly’s AC Milan side that went on to shock Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona ‘Dream Team’ and the rest of the football world with a 4-0 victory in the 1994 Champions League final in Athens.

But Desailly, who scored Milan’s fourth goal that day, believes that Juve’s underdog mentality will not benefit them much if Messi and his team-mates find their groove at Olympiastadion.

“It doesn't count,” the World Cup winning Frenchman told Goal. “If Barcelona play at their level there's no chance for Juventus.

“How many teams have been trying to compete, press or handle the front three of Barcelona? The psychological part doesn't count at all.

“Barcelona is not under pressure. They are a club that have that winning mentality already in their blood.

“They are a collective side that can play all together but at the same time they have individual talent that at any time can make the difference.”

Desailly believes Juve’s only hope of a first Champions League triumph since 1996 is capitalising on any complacency or lack of focus in the Barcelona team.

"If they are not in a good day they could be at risk, because Morata is doing well, Tevez is fighting a lot and Allegri has done well with their tactical set-up,” he added.

“But it depends more on how Barcelona will start the game.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

Why Arturo Vidal Will Be Key to Champions
League Final Victory for Juventus

Jun 5, 2015

Having reached the European Cup or Champions League final on no fewer than seven previous occasions, Juventus will hope to improve on their poor record when this year’s edition gets underway on Saturday evening. Winning just twice—with their last victory coming in 1996—the Bianconeri will undoubtedly be huge underdogs for this clash with Barcelona.

Yet having enjoyed some excellent performances thus far in European football’s elite competition, they will hope for one last victory that would cap an incredible campaign. Indeed, if they are to add a third trophy to the domestic double they have already clinched, the Turin giants will need Arturo Vidal to be at his very best.

After a poor start to 2014-15, the Chilean midfielder once again became key to Juve’s success, making a series of crucial contributions as the season drew to a close. Only Carlos Tevez, Alvaro Morata and Paul Pogba bettered his tally of eight goals in all competitions this term, while he also weighed in with four assists.

His most recent strike came in a difficult away meeting with Sampdoria on May 2, and it secured a 1-0 victory that delivered the crucial points needed to seal the Serie A title. Vidal has netted just once in the club’s march to the Champions League final, but that, too, was a vital effort that ultimately saw them progress from their quarter-final meeting with AS Monaco.

Chances proved difficult to come by in a tense first leg, and when Ricardo Carvalho's trip on Alvaro Morata saw the referee point to the spot, it was Vidal who was ultimately handed the responsibility. The pressure was immense, with missed penalties against Olympiakos and Cesena surely replaying in his mind as he stepped up in the 57th minute.

Having blazed a shot over just before the break, he would blast the ball home in emphatic fashion, and reveal afterward that he had actually asked for the opportunity. “I felt confident, so I asked Carlitos [Tevez] for the ball and then I scored,” Vidal told Sky Sport Italia after the final whistle (h/t Football Italia).

“We don’t have a first choice penalty taker, it’s whoever feels most up to it will take it,” he added, showing the confidence he has in his own ability, and Juventus have come to rely on him heavily since his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen back in 2011.

The 28-year-old has often been deployed in a more advanced role since Massimiliano Allegri moved away from the 3-5-2 formation this term, often playing slightly ahead of the other midfielders and finding himself in better attacking positions than he previously enjoyed.

Paul Pogba often switches places with him during games, but Vidal has never shirked his defensive duties no matter how Juventus have lined up. According to statistics from WhoScored.com, he has averaged no fewer than 4.5 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game in the Champions League, numbers that hint at just how hard he works to recover possession.

That effort is part of an incredible spirit that runs throughout the side, and one the player himself hinted at as being crucial to their hopes of ultimate glory when he spoke to Sky Italia shortly after helping the Bianconeri to overcome Real Madrid in the semi-finals.

“Barcelona have extraordinary players, but so do we and in Berlin we’ll play the game of our lives,” Vidal said as he left the field at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu (h/t Football Italia). “We have a very united squad, we are all brothers here because we’ve known each other for a few years now.”

“What Juventus have is a great team,” he added, and while that is undoubtedly true, the Old Lady will need Arturo Vidal to once again deliver if she is to see off the challenge of Lionel Messi’s side.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

Xavi: 'Juve, dangerous final'

Jun 5, 2015

Barcelona's Xavi believes the Champions League final against Juventus will be 'closer than it looks'.

The Blaugrana are generally viewed as favourites in tomorrow's highly-anticipated game, but the 35-year-old feels they shouldn't take their opponents lightly.

“It's a dangerous final,” he told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “Everybody thinks that Barca is going to win but Juventus have an exceptional squad.

“I have a theory that when a team wins two, three, four titles in a row, there's nothing accidental about it.

“I know some people think that Juventus win the Scudetto with ease and therefore with no great merit, but that's what it looks like because they do things the right way.

“They're strong, they defend well, they have a great keeper, they control the rhythm of the game, they can play with and without the ball, they have experience and talent.

“And they have players like Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli, Claudio Marchisio, Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, who've been playing and winning together for many years.

“I see them as a great family. I don't know them, but I'm sure that's what it's like.

“They're a winning team, and when you're like that, you really hate to lose.”

The Spanish playmaker then went on to discuss the merits of his own team.

“The presence of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez affects us. We used to take 30-40 passes to dominate, now we no longer need so many touches.

“They generate numerical superiority simply by beating their opponent. We used to have no-one but Messi who could do that, and sometimes Andrés Iniesta.

“Otherwise it took a pass from myself or Sergio Busquets.

“Now we have Neymar and Suarez, and we're even more dangerous.

“It kills an opponent because they don't know whether to hold back or press forwards.

“If they press, we can play some direct football and stab them, as against Bayern [Munich on May 6, 3-0 for Barca].

“If they let us play, then they let us do something we've already been doing for 15 years.

“That said, this goes for Juve too. If you wait for them you're taking a risk, because they play some excellent football, they have Pirlo, Marchisio, Vidal, Pogba and some fast wingers.

“But if you press them, the speed of Alvaro Morata and Carlos Tevez can become decisive.

“I see a closer final than what people think.”

“Pirlo said he'll leave Juventus if he wins the Champions League? Let's hope he loses then, for the good of football!”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

Can Messi, Neymar and Suarez be stopped by Juventus in UCL final?

Jun 5, 2015

Of all the individual and collective goal-scoring statistics concerning Barcelona's front three of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, the most telling figure has barely been mentioned. It's simple: the proportion of goals scored by Barcelona's forwards, and it has never been higher.

In 2008-09, Pep Guardiola's first season as manager, 71 percent of Barcelona's league goals were scored by forwards. It was 72 percent the next season, before falling to 67 percent in his third campaign. From there, it gradually rose again: 69 percent in Guardiola's final campaign in 2011-12, 70 percent under Tito Vilanova, and 75 percent under Gerardo Martino.

This season has seen a staggering rise. Now, 90 percent of Barcelona's goals are scored by their forwards. It underlines the shift toward a team almost totally dominated by its front three.

That figure, it should be noted, takes into account goals scored by the understudies, Pedro Rodriguez, Munir El Haddadi and Sandro Ramirez. But the vast majority, of course, are courtesy of Messi, Suarez and Neymar, the most devastating front trio in recent memory who have scored 106 overall goals in the league and Champions League between them.

They fit together quite wonderfully. Everything works nicely: They originate from the three major South American footballing nations, they line up wearing Nos. 9 (Suarez), 10 (Messi) and 11 (Neymar). They're all brilliant goal scorers, but also notable for their selflessness in possession.

You might expect Andres Iniesta to be playing the decisive passes for the front three, but the midfielder has, amazingly, recorded only one league assist and four in the Champions League all season. The assists (46 overall in the league and Champions League), as well as the goals, come from the forwards -- all three are playmakers as well as goal scorers. This is a front three capable of destroying almost any opponent.

The optimum word, though, is "almost." Somewhat surprisingly, no fewer than six opponents this season have faced Messi, Suarez and Neymar and managed to prevent all three from scoring. The roll of honour is: Celta Vigo, Valencia, Real Sociedad (for half an hour with Messi and Neymar coming on as subs), Malaga, Celta Vigo again, and only one club in the Champions League, Manchester City.

The first thing to note is that all six of these games finished 1-0, with three Barcelona defeats, and three victories when Sergio Busquets, Jeremy Mathieu and Ivan Rakitic (members of the "other 10 percent," if you like) were on hand to provide the only goal. It might sound simplistic, but Juventus' best chance of stopping Barcelona's front three in Saturday's Champions League final is to ensure the game isn't open, end-to-end and full of chances. A game with five goals will favour Barcelona. A game with only one goal, and Juventus could cause a shock.

The second thing to note is attempting to work out precisely what Celta Vigo were up to. Their success against Barca's front trio was, in truth, a bit of everything: some brave defending high up the pitch, some last-ditch scrappiness in their own box, and a decent helping of fortune, too. In their first game against Barca in November, a shock 1-0 victory at the Camp Nou, Barcelona hit the woodwork four times. Messi and Neymar twice each.

Celta's second performance was also encouraging, despite their 1-0 loss in April. It was a more positive display that involved taking the game to Barca, and depending upon good individual performances from their centre-back pairing, who played relatively high up the pitch.

The interesting thing here is that both their centre-backs knew Messi well. Andreu Fontas was a young understudy at Barca for three seasons (current Barcelona manager Luis Enrique, interestingly, was the man who converted him from a midfielder into a centre-back when he coached at Barcelona B) and Gustavo Cabral won the World U20 Championship with Messi back in 2005.

Of course, plenty of players have been familiar with Messi, and still not been able to stop him. Nevertheless, perhaps this experience gave them the confidence to play an aggressive defensive line.

The positioning of the backline is probably Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri's most important decision. Juve simply can't play too high up the pitch, because the pace of Barcelona's attackers will destroy them. But dropping needlessly deep isn't a viable strategy either, because the Spanish champions' dominance will eventually break them down.

Messi is a genius in tight spaces, his ability to change direction suddenly making him a master poacher, while Suarez has a handy knack of aggressively barging past defenders while dribbling, somehow collecting deflections and ricochets when the ball appeared lost. The unfortunate loss of Giorgio Chiellini due to a calf injury might encourage Juventus to play slightly higher up the pitch. Chiellini is Juve's defensive leader, but his game has gradually changed over the years.

Physically he now struggles against sheer pace, outwitted last year in the Champions League by Cristiano Ronaldo in the channel, and struggling badly against Costa Rica's Joel Campbell at last summer's World Cup. Chiellini would have wanted to play deep against Suarez, and concentrated on winding him up, as he did before last summer's infamous biting incident.

His likely replacement, Andrea Barzagli, isn't the quickest either. But he's arguably superior in his reading of the game, a more intelligent defender who is capable of powerful challenges and niggly defending, but doesn't regard it as the natural approach. Alongside Leonardo Bonucci, Juventus' centre-back pairing will be calm and composed, and that's probably the best approach for playing against Barcelona.

Juve must also remain disciplined in midfield. While they will start with a diamond midfield on paper, it's likely that quartet will flatten into a more conventional midfield four with Arturo Vidal dropping in alongside Andrea Pirlo, and Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba covering wider areas. Expect them to stay narrow and compact, much like Atletico Madrid, and prevent easy passes being played into the dangerous front three. Ivan Rakitic and Andres Iniesta will have plenty of the ball, but Juventus will accept them having possession in front of them -- they don't want to be penetrated from behind.

Last, but not least, Juventus need a huge performance from goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who has never faced Messi before. While still world-class, Buffon has allowed errors to creep into his game over the past couple of seasons, and must be absolutely flawless in Berlin, on a ground where he has won the World Cup in 2006.

Even that might not be enough. In Barcelona's previous Champions League final, a 3-1 victory over Manchester United in 2011, the "MVP" front three of Messi, David Villa and Pedro Rodriguez all scored. Don't bet against something similar happening this time -- Barcelona aren't as good overall, but their attacking trio is better.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

Laudrup Fears Juventus Can’t Stop Barcelona Trident

Jun 5, 2015

Former Danish international Michael Laudrup has weighed in with his own views on tomorrow’s Champions League final between former clubs Juventus and Barcelona.

The ex-Swansea City manager featured for both clubs during his glittering career, tasting success in Spain as well as in Italy.

“Barcelona are the favourites as they have so much squad depth,” he told Danish media outlet DR. “I’m certain they will want to dominate the match right from the start and will force Juventus into defending.

“Lionel Messi is just special, but even if Juve manage to stop him they still have to deal with Neymar and Luis Suarez who can both decide any match.

“Stopping all three for 90 minutes is impossible.”

Laudrup is currently coaching Qatar side Lekhwiya and lead his team to a domestic league and cup double in his first season.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

Marquez: Pogba has been Juventus' most impressive player

The former Barcelona defender believes the Frenchman has risen above even
the likes of Carlos Tevez and Gianluigi Buffon as his team seeks to complete a treble.

Jun 5, 2015

Paul Pogba is the Juventus player most capable of hurting Barcelona in the Champions League final according to their former defender Rafael Marquez.

The Italian side are expected to face a battle to hold on to Pogba after Saturday's clash in Berlin and Marquez, who now plays for Hellas Verona, believes he has risen above even the likes of Gianluigi Buffon and Carlos Tevez.

"The player of Juventus who has most impressed me is Pogba because of the maturity he shows on the pitch despite his youth," Marquez told Goal.

"He's made a difference to the team, obviously helped by Tevez, Buffon and [Andrea] Pirlo, but maybe as a reference I would make Pogba the most impressive of the Juventus players."

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

Preview: Champions League final -
Juventus vs. Barcelona

Jun 5, 2015

Berlin hosts the Champions League final for the first time this Saturday as the European season comes to a conclusion at the Olympiastadion with a battle between the champions of Italy and Spain.

Both Juventus and Barcelona have already done the domestic league-and-cup double and will be hoping to complete a memorable treble in the German capital.


Juventus

The Old Lady have been the dominant side in Serie A for four seasons, this year winning the league by 17 points - the same margin they had to Roma a year ago.

However, until this term they have disappointed on the European stage in recent years. This is their first Champions League final for 12 years since the defeat to AC Milan at Old Trafford in 2003. They haven't won Europe's elite competition since 1996 when they beat Ajax on penalties in Rome.

That was their second victory in the competition and if they triumph on Saturday they will become the ninth side with at least three European titles.

In all competitions and the Champions League, Masimilliano Allegri's side are unbeaten in nine games and they are desperately hoping not to become the first team to lose in the final of the European Cup/Champions League six times.

Their route to the final has included victories in the knockout stages over Borussia Dortmund, Monaco and, most notably, last year's winners Real Madrid in the semi-finals.

A Barca-Real El Clasico showdown was expected in Berlin, but Allegri's side upset the odds with a 3-2 aggregate victory against Los Blancos.

In fact, the Old Lady will have played all of Spain's big three in this year's competition after being draw with Atletico Madrid in the group stage.

Four of Juve's squad - Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan 2003, 2007), Patrice Evra and Carlos Tevez (Manchester United 2008) and Alvaro Morata (Real Madrid 2014) - have Champions League final-winning experience.

Talismanic goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is the sole survivor of their last final appearance in 2003, when Pirlo was on the opposing side.

Recent Champions League form: WWWDWD
Recent form (all competitions): DDWWWD


Barcelona

Barca wrapped up their fith La Liga title in seven years by finishing two clear of Clasico rivals Real this season. On Saturday they added the Copa del Rey with a 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao.

They are appearing in their first final since 2011 with arguably the greatest ever club squad and perhaps the best player to ever kick a football. Lionel Messi's solo effort to open the scoring on Saturday was arguably the finest goal of his career.

A goal for the Argentinian wizard this weekend would take him above Cristiano Ronaldo in the all-time Champions League scoring charts - they are currently both on 77. He would also become the first player to score in three separate finals if he finds the net after bagging goals in the 2009 and 2011 victories over Man United.

The Catalans' deadly front three of Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar have scored a whopping 120 goals between them in all competitions this term, surpassing the 118 Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain managed for Real in 2011-12.

Barca are in the final following victories over Manchester City (3-1), Paris Saint-Germain (5-1) and Bayern Munich (5-3) in the knockout stages.

After a sensational 3-0 win over Bayern in the first leg, Barca lost the second leg 3-2 and that put an end to a nine-game winning streak in Europe. Still, they will enter the match as favourites.

Like opposite number Allegri, Enrique is trying to complete the treble in his first season in charge.

Recent Champions League form: WWWWWL
Recent form (all competitions): WWLWDW


Team News

The big news that emerged on Thursday is that Juve centre-back Giorgio Chiellini will not be fit for Saturday's showpiece and a reunion with Suarez after the Uruguayan bit him at last year's World Cup.

The warrior-like centre-back hasn't recovered in time from a calf injury and his absence will be a huge blow to Allegri, who is already without Martin Caceres and might also be unable to call upon Andrea Barzagli.

The latter returned to training yesterday but is not 100% fit and the Turin side will either have to risk the 34-year-old, or instead opt for Angelo Ogbonna, who has played just once in the Champions League this season, in Chiellini's place.

Allegri has no worries further forward and is likely to start Alvaro Morata with Carlos Tevez in attack after the former scored in both legs of the semi-final against former club Real.

As for Barca, Enrique will probably name the same XI that started both legs of the semi-final against Bayern.

They have eight survivors from their 2011 winning squad and it is likely that six of them - Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta, Javier Mascherano, Sergio Busquets and Messi - will start. Xavi and Pedro are the other two.

Xavi will make his 767th and final appearance for the club if he plays, but a start seems unlikely for the Spanish veteran who has predominantly come off the bench in Europe this season.


Juve possible starting lineup:
Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Barzagli, Evra; Pirlo, Pogba, Marchisio, Vidal; Morata, Tevez

Barca possible starting lineup:
Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Neymar, Suarez, Messi

Referee: Cuneyt Cakir


Head To Head

The duo's only previous Champions League meeting was in the 2003 quarter-finals, when Juve won in extra time at the Camp Nou thanks to a 114th-minute goal from Marcelo Zalayeta before going on to lose to Milan in the final.

They have met on eight total occasions in European competition. Juve lead the head-to-head record with four wins to two (D2).

If Juve win on Saturday they will join an illustrious list of treble winners - Celtic (1967), Ajax (1972), PSV Eindhoven (1988), Manchester United (1999), Barcelona (2009), Inter Milan (2010) and Bayern Munich (2013).

A Barca victory, meanwhile, would be the first time in European club history that a team has done the league, cup and European treble on more than one occasion.

Both sides will appear in their eighth Champions League final, with Juve winning just two of their previous seven and Barca claiming victory in four.

In fact, Barca have won their last three finals in 2006, 2009 and 2011 - all against English opposition (Arsenal once and Manchester United twice) - while Juve have lost their last three finals.

Italian and Spanish sides have met in the final on seven occasions before, with the Spaniards winning five of those meetings. The last was in 1998 when Juve fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Real in Amsterdam.

This is the first time that the final has been held in June.


We say: Juve 1-3 Barca

Juve have finally brought their A-game from the league to Europe, but it's a huge task to overcome this Barcelona outfit. Beating holders Real in the semis was some feat and the Old Lady will no doubt enter the match full of confidence. However, they are light at the back and Chiellini's absence could be huge. Barca's MSN front three will fancy adding to their humungous 2014-15 total goal tally and we think it will be a fifth Champions League title for the La Liga side.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

Maldini: 'Juve, Messi tips scales'

Jun 5, 2015

Paolo Maldini backs Juventus for the Champions League final, but is in awe of Leo Messi.

The Bianconeri will be facing Barcelona tomorrow evening for their biggest game in years, and the Milan legend knows which side he'll be on.

“I'm certainly going to be supporting Juve,” he told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “I have friends in that team.

“I've had everything from life, and while banter is fun, I'm not the type to hope for somebody's defeat.

“And Buffon deserves the Champions League. He is the strongest goalkeeper of the last 30 years, an icon for world football.

“He's always smiling, always chilled. Sometimes he gets criticised for no other reason than his age.

“Mistakes that would be forgiven when he was younger now are not, I know that by experience.”

When it comes to the final, however, Maldini agrees with most bookmakers that Barcelona walk in as favourites.

“Leo Messi tips the scales, that's beyond question.

“I think he's reached and surpassed Maradona. He does incredible things, at a speed that is insane.

“But Juventus in Europe are the best at defending themselves as a team. They have a chance.

“And their great results so far are a prize for the solid plans developed by the club.

“Barcelona's attack? It's always best to face an exceptional team. If you can beat them, it makes for an epic triumph.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

The second coming of Juventus

Ripped apart in the summer of 2006, Juventus had to start again with
the remaining heroes of Berlin and stars of tomorrow. Luca Cetta writes.

Jun 5, 2015

Nine years on from winning the World Cup, Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo and Andrea Barzagli are back at Berlin’s Olympiastadion. A venue which holds precious memories and could well be the scene of yet another.

Of the trio only Buffon wore black and white in 2006. Only he experienced the highs of Berlin and weeks later fronted up at Rimini’s Stadio Romeo Neri for the start of the Serie B campaign. Only Buffon can attest to going from ‘Berlin to Serie B to Berlin again’.

And so when referee Jonas Eriksson signalled the end of a gripping semi-final tie at the Bernabeu last month Buffon turned to the away support high up in the stands, fists clenched, roaring with joy. The hard times of a near decade-long recovery traded for an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. While Barzagli and Pirlo arrived in the embryonic stages of the rebirth, Buffon’s journey best typifies the at-times arduous journey.

“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,” Buffon mused this week.

On that day eight Juventus players were involved in the World Cup Final. Another three were former Bianconeri players. Only Buffon and Alessandro Del Piero walked out in Rimini in early September. Mauro Camoranesi was a substitute and David Trezeguet was not in the squad. Beset by summer departures, Juve returning to their former level would be a significant undertaking.

That quartet, plus Pavel Nedved, would form the backbone. Nedved retired in 2009, while Trezeguet and Camoranesi departed a year later as Juve turned the page. Then came Del Piero’s tearful farewell in 2012. But the club would also need to place faith in tomorrow. Part of a squad which visited some of Italy’s less heralded stadia that season were Giorgio Chiellini and Claudio Marchisio.

Buffon, Chiellini and Marchisio – a season on loan at Empoli aside – have seen the journey through. All three were significant in Juventus wresting domestic dominance from the Milanese clubs. Along the way Buffon’s comrades from the German campaign arrived, Barzagli and Pirlo also proving important figures.

With promotion came, initially, positivity. Juventus immediately returned to the Champions League and then finished second in Serie A. But this was not the Bianconeri of old on and off the field. Ill-conceived transfers hurt. The club was not in the greatest financial shape, at the time financing the construction of its new home and still feeling the after-effects of 2006. After finishing seventh in a disastrous campaign, changes at board level set to put the Old Lady’s straight. The Andrea Agnelli era started slowly, but with the arrival of Antonio Conte a year later the resurgence was well and truly on course.

The former captain demanded success. Conte knew no other way. He had the senators in tow and shrewd signings ensured a squad capable of challenging for the Scudetto. Juventus did more than just challenge. Conte steered the club to three successive championships, going undefeated in the first and breaking the 100-point barrier in the third.

Europe was the next step. While Conte’s shock resignation could have rocked Juve, Massimiliano Allegri delivered on their considerable promise. In the knockout phase the Bianconeri grew in stature to defeat Borussia Dortmund and Monaco. Eliminating Real Madrid announced to the world the Turin club was again a force. Juventus had qualified for a first Final since 2003. All the while Allegri led it to a first domestic double since 1995.

Just one more obstacle stands in Juve’s way of an historic treble, even if Buffon acknowledges this is the toughest test yet: “Against Real 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.”

Berlin proved the culmination of one era. The same city could provide a defining moment in this latest era for a club which fought back from the brink. For those about to warm up in the same dressing room as nine years ago there will be fond memories. While one step remains, there’s no doubting Juventus is back.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

How Juventus' Diamond Can Stop
Barcelona's Messi-Suarez-Neymar Attack

Jun 5, 2015

The curtain is about to come down on the 2014-15 season, but first of all, the biggest prize in the European game needs to be awarded to the side who will rightly be crowned as the best around, with the Champions League final seeing Juventus against Barcelona.

Regardless of the result, both teams have had compelling, exciting and memorable campaigns thus far, with both now chasing trebles having won both league and cup in their respective domestic divisions.

For Juventus, Serie A dominance might be an expected eventuality, but as Bayern Munich showed, even the very good, the very dominant, don't necessarily extend that superiority into European competition.

Juve's campaign has exceeded most people's expectations, and nobody can say they have had an easy passage, having seen off Borussia Dortmund, Monaco and Real Madrid en route to the final.

That said, Barcelona will start as favourites in most people's eyes, and perhaps rightly so. La Liga is stronger overall than Serie A, and the Catalan club have one of the most balanced, focused and offensive-minded sides constructed.

Even so, is the difference as great as is being made out? Juventus did, after all, beat Real Madrid in the semi-finals. In two fixtures against the winners of this very competition a year ago, Juve didn't lose on either occasion: a 1-1 draw away and a 2-1 win at home against the side who finished the league season only two points behind Saturday's opponents, Barcelona.

Juventus have no reason to fear Barca, even if the Blaugrana are overall the technically better team, and can be justifiably confident that they can keep the vaunted three-pronged attack of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez at bay.

Part of that confidence will stem from Real not being able to break Juve's defence down consistently. Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice over the two legs, but aside from him being one of the world's best, one was a penalty and the other came from a yard out. Real saw lots of the ball in promising areas but didn't really create great swathes of outstanding, clear-cut chances—and this is a team who scored almost 120 goals in league play alone, with another 24 in the Champions League.

Against Barcelona, the 90 minutes will require even more concentration, positional awareness and tactical cohesion from the Italian side to keep the South American front three under wraps.

Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri typically uses one of two systems: a back three with wing-backs, or the system they went with in both the Champions League semi-finals and the Coppa Italia final, the midfield diamond.

Given the psychological ramifications of admitting that an opponent in a final is superior and the fact Juve have already proved they can create and score against a top opponent, going with the diamond again seems the more sensible and likely approach, with the option always there to revert to three at the back if needed.

The four-man midfield still leaves plenty of space for the full-backs to push on in attack, while the likely arrangement in the middle will see Andrea Pirlo central, Paul Pogba to the left, Arturo Vidal on the opposite side and Claudio Marchisio with more intent to pick up the ball further upfield. It is a hard-working, technically blessed quartet with power and energy aplenty distributed across the pitch.

Tactically, without possession the Bianconeri will often settle into a flat three across a narrow area, closing out space and Marchisio dropping in whichever side he is needed to further stop through-ball opportunities by the opposition.

That will be of particular importance against Barcelona, on account of their main methods of attack.

The at-times unstoppable trio of Neymar, Suarez and Messi have not just the work rate and talent between them, but also positional rotation and Messi's playmaking in deeper areas. Because Suarez occupies the centre-backs by himself, constantly moving and opening his body to receive a pass facing goal or quickly link play, other defensive players have to become involved to stop the wider Barcelona frontmen.

So often this year it has been seen: Messi drops from the wing into the channel, into an attacking midfield position slightly right of centre, while Neymar drives on through the defence to create a diagonal. The quality and timing the two have in that movement has caught out so many back lines as to almost be a set piece play which the opposition know is coming, but still can't do anything about.

To stop that, and the inevitable shooting chance it creates, the wide Juve midfielders become paramount: Pogba dropping deep to negate Messi dropping into that space to dribble into the box or chip his pass over, while either Marchisio or Vidal will have to track the run of Neymar—or at the very least drop into the space to block off the run.

If right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner is charged with actually tracking the Neymar run, Vidal could spend a lot of time as a stop-gap right-back to subsequently mark or block off the secondary threat from Jordi Alba.

It's not all about the front three for Barcelona, of course. Ivan Rakitic has been, almost from the first game of the season, an absolutely pivotal part of this reformation of the Catalan club. He will pass earlier and more directly, he will run further beyond the forwards, and he will shoot from range at times—all dynamic aspects of play that Pirlo will have to deal with.

Going forward, Juventus can be as expansive and entertaining as many sides with the offensive qualities possessed in that quartet, even before considering the likes of Carlos Tevez up front. They cannot, however, go toe-to-toe with Barcelona in trading attacks and expect to lift the trophy.

First they must stifle the flow and movement of the Blaugrana attack; only then will chances to exploit spaces in turn be presented to them.

In Pogba, Vidal, Marchisio and Pirlo, the Italian side have four technical players of immense ability, but it is their tactical dedication, endurance and focus in a defensive capacity that will dictate whether Juve can even begin to challenge for the trophy this time, or whether Messi and Co. will be out of reach long before the final whistle goes.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

Messi doesn't scare us - Morata

The Juventus striker insists that, while his team-mates have a great deal of respect
for the Argentine, they are not worried about the thought of facing him in Berlin.

Jun 5, 2015

Alvaro Morata says the prospect of facing Lionel Messi in the Champions League final does not scare him and his Juventus team-mates.

The Bianconeri face Barcelona on Saturday in the European showpiece at the Olympiastadion in Berlin and, while Morata accepts that Messi is one of the world’s greatest players, he insists there is no fear in the Turin side's dressing room.

"He does not scare us, other things in life scare me," Morata told Marca. "We all respect Messi and he is one of the best players in the world. He and Cristiano Ronaldo are above everyone else, but we have a great defence that he has to negotiate."

The former Real Madrid striker admits his previous spell with Real Madrid makes the match-up with Barcelona an even greater event.

"I would be lying if I said it is not a special motivation. I grew up at Real Madrid and played their a long time. I have many friends there and a Juventus victory would make both camps happy."

Morata came on as a substitute in Madrid's final victory in 2014, and he says the experience is one he would love to repeat.

"Our team is very motivated. We know it is a Champions League final and we could make football history by winning. Playing a Champions League final is a special feeling. We know it will be very difficult to win because we face a team that is in great form and I think we will have to play a great game to win.

"They have a great team. We have a chance to win, but they are the favourites."

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

The road to the Champions League final
for Juventus and Barcelona

Ahead of the big match in Berlin, Goal takes a look at the route
to the final for Europe's two best teams of 2014-15.

Jun 5, 2015

A total of 77 teams from 53 associations entered the 2014-15 Champions League and only two remain. On Saturday, Juventus and Barcelona will battle it out in Berlin for Europe's premier club title.

The Bianconeri are surprise finalists having initially struggled in their group. Despite opening Group A with a 2-0 win over Malmo, they suffered consecutive 1-0 losses to Atletico Madrid and Olympiakos. But they sneaked into the last 16 in second place behind Atletico by taking seven points from their last three games.

Barcelona, meanwhile, have been outstanding throughout the competition. The Blaugrana topped Group F with 15 points and goals from their six games, although they did suffer a 3-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in France on matchday two.

In the knockouts, both Juve and Barca had interesting journeys to the final. Check out their routes in the below graphic.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

-

 
 

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

Paul Scholes: 'Juventus will need to counter-attack
in order to beat Barcelona'

Jun 5, 2015

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has insisted that Juventus will need to play an adroit counter-attacking game if they are to beat Barcelona in the 2015 Champions League final.

United were on the receiving end of a humbling defeat when they tried to play Barcelona at their own game in 2011, and Scholes has suggested that Juve will instead need to defend well and look to attack on the break if they are to stand a chance of winning.

"I don't see any alternative for Juventus," Scholes wrote in his column for the Independent.

"You try to beat this Barcelona team at their own game and, over the course of 10 games, you lose every time. Defend against them and then counter-attack, and perhaps you win once or twice in 10."

"It is not a pleasant reality to have to face but it is one that you must accept if you are to have a chance of winning a final against Barcelona."

The Old Lady will be seeking to claim their first Champions League crown since 1996 when they face Barca in Berlin on Saturday night.