Juventus Season 2014-2015

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

Morata: 'Juve can win in future'

Jun 6, 2015

Alvaro Morata scored in the Final against Barcelona and remains confident Juventus “can win the Champions League.”

The Spanish striker scored his fifth goal of the last seven European games, but Barca emerged 3-1 winners in Berlin.

“We had the chance to win it, we didn’t take it and I don’t know when this opportunity will return again,” Morata told Sky Sport Italia.

“This is a great squad, a great family and we must continue working hard. This team has no limits, it can win the Champions League and the directors are working to build an even stronger side.

“I want to thank the fans who came out here, as we are honoured to wear the jersey for them.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

Barcelona Sink Fighting Juventus
For European Glory And Treble

Jun 6, 2015

The Olympiastadion at Berlin was packed to the rafters and an estimated 300 million more fans sat in front of screens to watch the culmination of a year long competition – the UEFA Champions League Final. The two sides – Barcelona and Juventus. Both sides have a glorious European track record and have won the domestic league and cup in their respective countries. The Champions League winner would also complete their treble for this season.

Juventus were clearly the underdogs at the start of the game and Max Allegri would have been aware of this. He chose to ask his team to attack Barcelona early and his team delivered. Right from the get go, Juventus pressed a high line and forced Mascherano into making desperate clearances. It was therefore against the run of play when Barcelona opened the scoring in just the 4th minute.

A swift exchange between Neymar and Iniesta at the edge of Juventus’ box culminated with a ball across the face of goal that Rakitic latched onto and buried into Buffon’s net even as the veteran goalkeeper tried to dive to get to the ball.

Having opened the scoring, Barcelona settled down with the ball and controlled the tempo of the game. There were a few exciting exchanges between the three frontmen of Barcelona but nothing came off them. Frustration was creeping in and Arturo Vidal was its first victim as he recklessly began fouling players on the ball. He received a yellow card shortly for his pains but it hardly did much to assuage his behaviour as he trod a very thin line and every time a player went down in his vicinity, the Juventus supporters were looking at referee Cuneyt Cakir hoping he was not pulling out the dreaded card. Barcelona did test Buffon a couple of times but the veteran keeper was up for these shots and made sure his team held their 1 goal deficit as they headed into the half time break.

The second half began in much the same manner and Buffon was forced into making saves early on to keep Juventus in contention. Ten minutes into the second half, Tevez unleashed a shot at goal but it was saved by ter Stegen. However, Morata was present in the right place at the right time and gratefully swept the rebound into Barcelona’s goal. Juventus’ joy over equalising was however short lived when Barcelona returned the favour in the 68th minute, Suarez scoring off a rebound off Buffon from a Messi shot on goal. 3 minutes later Neymar thought he had doubled Barcelona’s lead when he headed into Juventus’ goal but was adjudged as having handled the ball as the ball bounced off his arm inadvertently on its way into the goal. Juventus turned up the heat and there were many high intensity exchanges between the two sides as the Turin club looked to equalise against the Catalans. The wishes of many spectators especially Barcelona supporters were granted when Luis Enrique substituted Xavi on for Iniesta in the 78th minute, bringing on the experienced midfielder for one last time in Barcelona colours. In spite of Juventus’ best efforts, the score line stayed that way till late in injury time when Neymar put in the ball in the 97th minute to close the game out 3-1.

Juventus lost the game on the night but had nothing to be ashamed of. They played a good game and by most measures had already done well to enter the finals of the competition. The scoreline would suggest a domination of the Scudetto by the La Liga champions but in reality the game was much closer. Unlike other teams that were blown away by Barcelona’s firepower, Juventus seemed to have come to grips with it after the opening salvo and were actually on an even keel right till the end. Fortune favoured both the teams for the second half goals and eventually Barcelona’s superior quality did shine through but the Bianconeri gave them a fight and a half for it.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

Buffon: Juventus Showed Their
Quality Against Barcelona

Jun 6, 2015

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has said that the side have shown their quality despite the loss to Barcelona.

La Vecchia Signora lost 3-1 to the Spanish giants in Berlin to give the Spaniards the Champions League title, but the score line was at 1-1 at one point with the Italians dominating the game and Buffon has said the side were optimistic at that stage.

“At one point we could we could win, but we did not succeed,” the 37-year-old told Mediaset.

The Italian international also remained positive about the skill level the side has got despite losing 3-1, saying every player is a good player but they couldn’t help being the worse team on the night.

“The defeat is not our fault, but the quality shows after 90 minutes,” he continued.

“As a team and as individuals we have shown our quality.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

Enrique: 'Juve are a great side'

Jun 6, 2015

Barcelona Coach Luis Enrique “expected” Juventus to trouble them.

The Azulgrana emerged with a 3-1 victory in Berlin, though the second goal came against the run of play.

“It was as dangerous as expected. Juventus are a very strong side, but we did well to stay in the game and take our chances. I think we are worthy champions,” Enrique told Sky Sport Italia.

“I am sorry for Buffon and Pirlo, as this was a unique opportunity to win, but they remain wonderful champions.”

Enrique took over from Pep Guardiola, so did he expect to win the Treble?

“It’s always difficult when you start work for a new season. You try to do your best.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

Marchisio: 'Heads held high'

Jun 6, 2015

Claudio Marchisio felt Juventus “have our heads held high” after a 3-1 Champions League Final defeat to Barcelona.

“The dream was to come here and live through this night. We didn’t crown it with a victory, but the fact remains we had a great season, we reacted to their early goal and acted as a real team,” Marchisio told Sky Sport Italia.

“We had some excellent chances, almost a penalty on Paul Pogba, but we knew Barcelona were a great team.

“We leave this Final with our heads held high, aware we gave it our all. From the start we tried to cover on their players down the wings and you can’t press Barcelona for 90 minutes.

“In the second half we managed a few more counters and caused them problems. Once we got hold of the ball and got over the early tension, as for many of us it was the first Champions League Final, we proved ourselves. If we had found the goal to take the lead, it would’ve been a different game.”

This was the first Bianconeri Final since 2003, which they also lost to Milan on penalties, and in fact this was Juve’s fourth consecutive Final defeat.

“The Coach was the first who believed we could reach the top four, while we were dubious to say the least. The Juventus DNA means suffering together to push forward through obstacles.

“We know we’re not the best team in Europe, but we tried everything we could. Unfortunately the history of Juve in this competition is not good.

“Now we are here, we’re experiencing a fantastic campaign and from tomorrow will focus on the Nazionale. There’s an important qualifier against Croatia.

“For tonight it’s important to continue experiencing this Final, as we still had a great campaign and put in a good performance.

“I am just happy to be here, playing against maestros like Andrea Pirlo, Xavi and Andres Iniesta. Of course, I’d have been happier with the trophy in my hand.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

No shame in losing to brilliant
Barcelona for brave Juventus

Juve may have fallen short of a record-breaking treble in Berlin, but they have
nothing to be ashamed of after another gallant display at the end of a superb season.

Jun 6, 2015

By Kris Voakes | International Football Correspondent

It was a gallant effort, but in the end Barcelona were just too good.

Since Juventus turned around their fortunes four years ago and began collecting Serie A titles for fun again, the lack of progress in the Champions League had been the only stick left with which to beat them. This season they finally returned to the very top level of European football, it was just a shame that Luis Enrique’s side have worked their way into a whole new stratosphere.

The 3-1 defeat in the Berlin final will not go down as one of their better performances. Too many of their players took too long to get started. At crucial moments, they too often arrowed shots straight at the palms of Marc-Andre ter Stegen rather than truly testing the German. A normally durable defence was at sixes and sevens for long stretches too.

But the wider picture is a brighter one. The Bianconeri have given their all this season under Massimiliano Allegri and it took a brilliant Barcelona side to prevent them from walking off with an otherwise-deserved treble. As was the case for Manchester United in 2011 when the Blaugrana last lifted the Champions League trophy, they can have few regrets.

For the 13 minutes between their equaliser and the killer second goal by Luis Suarez, Juve were not just level, they were in control of proceedings. They had Barcelona scrambling, they were showing that when the Catalans don’t have the ball they can be left chasing shadows. But nobody keeps the ball off Barcelona forever.

Allegri has confounded critics, not least amongst the Juventus fanbase, to lead his side to the biggest stage. Alvaro Morata, who netted the Italians’ equaliser, has developed from a dangerous substitute to a European star. Players like Carlos Tevez, Arturo Vidal, Leonardo Bonucci, Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba might not have covered themselves in glory in Berlin, but they will look back on 2014-15 as huge moments in their careers.

There were tears shed by Juventus players young and old at the end, but they can be dried quickly enough. Nobody gave them a hope at the season’s start, and a return of two domestic trophies and a major European final is a success rather than a failure.

"In football there are moments of great joy and others of great disappointment," Gianluigi Buffon told Sky Italia following the match. "We had so many great joys before this defeat, and we are sorry not to be able to get to the end as we wanted and deserved. Tonight, for a moment, I almost believed."

Questions will be asked as to whether this marks the end of the cycle for this Juventus after they selected the second-oldest line-up ever to compete in a Champions League final. But there are plenty of reasons to be hopeful, not least the fact that silencing critics has fast become par for the course on the road to Berlin.

Juventus came so near, and it took a magnificent Lionel Messi and a wonderful Barcelona to beat them. There is certainly no shame in that.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

Messi's treble: Leo the hero again
as Barcelona make history in Berlin

The Argentine did not score at the Olympiastadion but had a hand in all of the
Blaugrana's goals in their 3-1 win over Juventus, thus underlining his incredible influence.

Jun 6, 2015

By Mark Doyle

Every expert was asked in the lead-up to the Champions League final: how does one stop Lionel Messi? Typically, Marco Materazzi gave the most brutally honest answer. "In my opinion, you should pray and then commit a foul on him,!" the former Italy and Inter defender told Goal.

The truth is, though, that there is no way of nullifying the diminutive No.10. Whenever he is fouled, he simply picks himself back up without complaint and gets on with the game. His game. And that’s the other thing: there’s no point in asking for Divine intervention when it comes to Lionel Messi. As Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini admitted before the final, "Messi is now the God of football.”

Chiellini, of course, had claimed that Messi would never have scored the kind of sensational solo strike he produced in the Copa del Rey final if he were up against Italian defenders. And Juventus certainly did a decent job on curbing the Argentine’s attacking threat in Berlin. But they could not contain him.

True, Messi did not score, but his contributions were once again crucial. Indeed, he was involved in all of Barca’s goals in their 3-1 win. It was his pass which picked out Jordi Alba on the left-hand side in the lead-up to Ivan Rakitic’s wonderfully worked opener, a perfect example of the playmaking responsibilities which he has embraced so wholeheartedly for the good of both Barcelona and Argentina.

Messi is a fantastic individual but he’s also a great team player. As evidenced by the way in which he handed over a penalty to Neymar in the Liga rout at Cordoba. Messi was on a hat-trick and fighting for the Pichichi with Cristiano Ronaldo but Neymar had yet to net. Consequently, Messi selflessly stepped aside.

Yet it is the way in which he has so consistently stepped up that prompts one to herald Barcelona’s treble triumph as Messi’s treble triumph. He has been the difference this year. In every game that mattered.

It was he who side-stepped his way through the Atletico Madrid defence to dethrone the reigning Spanish champions in their own backyard. It was he who left four men trailing in his wake before opening the scoring with a sensational goal in the Copa del Rey final win over Athletic Bilbao. It was he who booked Barcelona’s ticket for Berlin with a stunning double in the semi-final first-leg win over Bayern Munich.

Make no mistake about it, he has been wonderfully aided by Neymar and Luis Suarez, who both scored against Juve. Messi now has a supporting cast befitting his remarkable talent.

But it is Messi who lifts Barcelona when they are down. Indeed, they were being bossed in Berlin for 10 minutes after Alvaro Morata’s equaliser but then Messi intervened, charging forward towards the Bianconeri defence before deftly side-stepping Andrea Barzagli and then unleashing a low drive that Gianluigi Buffon could only parry into the path of Suarez.

Messi even played his part in the third goal by releasing Neymar in midfield, merely underlining that he is the key component in what is a fantastic Barcelona team.

Messi told Times of India beforehand, “Last year I had an inconsistent season. I was out for a long time due to injuries and I missed a lot of matches. When I returned to the field I never felt right. Thankfully, now I feel very good.”

And what this 2014-15 campaign has emphasised is that when Lionel Messi feels good, he is simply too good for everyone else in the game.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

Paul Pogba: 'Barcelona deserved to win'

Jun 6, 2015

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has conceded that Barcelona deserved to win the 2015 Champions League final in Berlin.

Juve levelled the scores early in the second period through Alvaro Morata, but eventually lost 3-1 after two late goals from Luis Suarez and Neymar.

"Barcelona were better than us. Congratulations to them," Pogba, who played the full 90 minutes against the Spanish champions, told ITV.

Juve, like Barca, were also chasing a treble in Germany, but still ended the season with both the Serie A title and Coppa Italia.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

Xavi, Iniesta, MSN and the rest of the
Champions League final facts

Check out the facts from Saturday's showpiece in Berlin.

Jun 6, 2015

Barcelona completed a domestic and European treble with a 3-1 Champions League final defeat of Juventus on Saturday.

Here are the facts from a compelling night in Berlin.
- Juventus’ starting XI for the final had an average age of 30y 156d, meaning the eight oldest starting XI’s in the 2014-15 Champions League were all by the Italian champions.

- Only AC Milan in 2007 (31y 34d) have named an older starting XI in a Champions League final.

- Ivan Rakitic’s strike was the third quickest goal in a Champions League final. The only two that were quicker were Paolo Maldini (AC Milan v Liverpool in 2005 – first minute) and Gaizka Mendieta (Valencia v Bayern in 2001 – third minute).

- Rakitic's goal was the first Barcelona goal from open play without a Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez or Neymar goal/assist since February 28th, 2015.

- Andres Iniesta became the first player to assist a goal in three different Champions League finals (2009, 2011 & 2015).

- Alvaro Morata has scored in five of his last seven Champions League appearances for Juventus.

- Morata is only the second player in Champions League history to score in both legs of the semi-final, as well as in the final. Arjen Robben in 2012-13 for Bayern Munich is the other.

- Suarez scored his 25th goal of the season (all comps); including seven in 10 Champions League games for Barcelona in 2014-15.

- Neymar’s injury-time goal meant that for the first time in a single Champions League campaign, a team has two players with 10+ goals (Neymar and Messi for Barcelona).

- The attacking trio of Messi-Suarez-Neymar has now scored 122 goals in 2014-15.

- Xavi came on to make his 151st Champions League appearance – more than any other player in the competition.

- Barcelona won their fifth European Cup/Champions League title – only Milan (seven) and Real Madrid (10) have won more.

- Juventus have now lost more European Cup/Champions League finals than any other team (six).

- This is the first time since 1990 that a nation has seen a club side win the European Cup/Champions League in successive years (Real Madrid in 2013-14, Barcelona in 2014-15). The last time this happened, Italian side AC Milan won it in 1988-89 and 1989-90.

- This was the fifth successive Champions League final that both sides have scored in.

- The Bianconeri have lost their last four Champions League finals, after winning on penalties against Ajax in 1995/96.

- Barca have won the last four finals they’ve played in the Champions League - the last final they lost was against AC Milan in 1993/94.

- Barcelona became only the eighth side to win a treble (league, domestic cup and EC/CL) and the first club to do this on two occasions after their success in 2008-09.


Statistics provided by Opta

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

Juventus Should Remain Proud Despite
Champions League Final Loss to Barcelona

Jun 6, 2015

Juventus knew that, from the moment they secured their place in the Champions League final, they would be seen as huge underdogs against Luis Enrique’s free-scoring Barcelona.

The Bianconeri may enjoy unrivalled dominance in Serie A but were fully aware they remained some way short of Europe’s very best side. Yet the confidence of the Turin giants was boosted by their win over Real Madrid in the semi-finals, and they headed to Berlin determined to give a good account of themselves.

“We started out with the important aim of getting into Europe’s top eight. We’ve gone beyond that and are in the final two. Now we’ll look to finish first,” coach Massimiliano Allegri told reporters this week, per his club’s official website.

“We mustn’t think about how to stop Barcelona, but instead how to build the play ourselves, because it’s unlikely the game will finish goalless,” he added, which was an apt point considering Juve’s hopes of holding off Barcelona were dented severely by the loss of Giorgio Chiellini to injury just a few days earlier.

Allegri’s analysis was proved correct within four minutes, as Andres Iniesta ran unchecked into the box and linked up with Jordi Alba. The Barcelona skipper then slipped a superb pass to Ivan Rakitic, and the Croatian side-footed past a helpless Gigi Buffon to hand his side the lead.

Arturo Vidal had a chance to equalise but blazed his shot over the bar and lost his head from there. Lunging into a string of ill-advised challenges, the Chilean—the first man from his nation to play in a Champions League final—eventually received a yellow card for a foul on Neymar.

Buffon made an excellent stop from Dani Alves moments later, and the Catalan side were unfortunate not to take a greater advantage into the half-time interval.

The Juventus captain made another excellent stop after the break from Luis Suarez, and then Lionel Messi missed under pressure from Stephan Lichtsteiner.

Then, just when the Spanish champions seemed set to be runaway winners, the Bianconeri came storming back into the match. A neat backheel from Claudio Marchisio sent Lichtsteiner away down the right, the Swiss full-back finding Carlos Tevez with a neat pass of his own.

The Argentinian—so key throughout the campaign for La Madama—fired in a shot, which Marc-Andre ter Stegen could only parry. Alvaro Morata reacted quickest, tapping in the rebound to net his fifth goal in his last seven Champions League games, the former Real Madrid star enjoying his strike to the fullest.

For the next few minutes, Juventus stood toe-to-toe with Barcelona, showing that they once again belong among the European elite. While their opponents would net twice more to win the game, the Italian giants should reflect on that period, proudly seeing themselves as worthy of a place in the continent’s most prestigious fixture.

While much has been made of their poor record in European Cup finals—winning just twice in eight appearances—reaching this stage is an accomplishment in itself. It will take time for the pain of defeat to ease, but Allegri and his players should enjoy what has undoubtedly been a remarkable campaign.

Now attention will move to continuing their good work, and Morata perhaps summed up the situation best at the final whistle. Speaking to Sky Italia immediately after the game, the Spanish striker said (h/t Football Italia): "This is a great squad, a great family and we must continue working hard. This team has no limits, it can win the Champions League and the directors are working to build an even stronger side."

With the likes of Paulo Dybala already signed for next term, the Old Lady—winner of the last four Serie A titles—will certainly look to do just that.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

Player Ratings: Barcelona 3-1 Juventus

Jun 6, 2015

Barcelona beat Juventus 3-1 in the Champions League final on Saturday evening despite a spirited performance from the Serie A giants.

Goals by Ivan Rakitic, Luis Suarez and Neymar were too much for the Bianconeri who had Alvaro Morata to thank for giving them something to cheer on a tough night in Berlin.

The Blaugrana dominated much of the match, though the Turin side did have a good spell in the second half but failed to add to the brief Morata equaliser.

 

Barcelona

Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 6 – Shaky - One save from Claudio Marchisio in a quiet first half but looked anything but calm in the second as Juventus began to create opportunities. Fortunate that the Bianconeri forward line had forgotten their shooting boots in Italy.

Dani Alves – 6.5 – Juggernaut - The right back left his defensive duties on the tactics board, spending all evening breathing down Patrice Evra’s neck and galloping forward for the entire match.

Gerard Pique – 6.5 – Ordered - Dealt with most things, which wasn’t that much to be honest as Juventus threatened very rarely through the middle but looked equal to much of which came at him.

Javier Mascherano – 6.5 – Timing - Intelligent defending when necessary from the former West Ham player, though had little problems dealing with an off-form Carlos Tevez.

Jordi Alba – 7 – Charger - Brilliant work down the Barca left flank giving Stephan Lichtsteiner little respite all game. Got back well but his positive wing play is a joy to watch.

Ivan Rakitic – 7 – Opener - Important early goal and worked hard to negate the threat of Vidal and Pogba alongside Busquets.

Sergio Busquets – 7 – Link - Ran the midfield almost single-handed for much of the match knitting defence and attack whilst maintaing possession at all times. Unnoticed, but Barca can’t function without him.

Andres Iniesta – 6 – Organised - Uncharacteristically anonymous game for much of his time on the pitch though played an important part in the Rakitic goal. First to be subbed in the second half to give the legendary Xavi his swansong.

Lionel Messi – 7.5 – Winner - The world’s finest player lived up to that billing, his incredible dribbling and passing skills put the rest of the field to shame. Crucial role in the Blaugrana goals and was only really stopped by fouls or tackles bordering on fouls. Might not have scored but this player is 75% of the entire Barcelona team.

Luis Suarez – 7.5 – Bite - Isolated in attack but that’s just how the Uruguayan likes it. Personal battle with Gianluigi Buffon who denied him on at least three occasions before finally beating the Italy international and handing his side the lead just when Juve looked to have got a hold of the match.

Neymar – 7.5 – Danger - Devastating first few minutes with clever work on the left helping to craft the opening goal and always a problem when he ran at the Juve defence. Scored with the last kick of the game to top off a good performance, if a little frustrating at times.


Substitutes

Xavi (77 mins) - N/A

Jeremy Mathieu (91 mins) – N/A

Pedro (95 mins) – N/A


 

Juventus

Gianluigi Buffon – 7 – Captain - Two great saves from Luis Suarez in first half and another early in the second period kept his side in the tie just when it looked to have slipped away. Despite his years, Buffon is still one of the finest goal keepers on the planet and showed it tonight on the biggest stage.

Stephan Lichtsteiner – 6 – Stifled - Suffered badly with Neymar and Jordi Alba giving him the runaround for much of the match. Unable to exploit his attacking tendencies in a back four like he does when Juve play with three central defenders, except on one crucial occasion which got his side, if only briefly, back on level terms.

Andrea Barzagli – 6.5 – Faithful - Some important tackles and looked in great form given the extent of the Barcelona front line he faced. Suffered the pace of the Barca attacks but despite this, still managed to keep the opponent honest and was not ‘hung out to dry’ like many believed he could have been.

Leonardo Bonucci – 6.5 – Concentrated - It cannot have been easy for Bonucci to face the likes of Suarez, Neymar and Messi without Giorgio Chiellini by his side but with Andrea Barzagli, the centre back did as well as could have been expected. Had little chance to offer much in attack as he often does but this was no regular match for the Italy international.

Patrice Evra – 6.5 – Experience - Looked slightly more at ease than Lichtsteiner, balancing his attacking runs whilst maintaining close contact with Lionel Messi and Dani Alves. Had a fine second half and can be proud of his contribution on the night.

Paul Pogba – 5.5 – Disappointment - Very average from someone supposedly worth more than €60 million, the French star did not steal the show in the way many fans would have liked. Was cumbersome and poor when in possession. On a positive note, it may now put off some of the many suitors that have been trying to tempt Pogba away from Turin.

Andrea Pirlo – 5.5 – Flashes - Like a classic Italian sports car he took about 20 minutes to warm up before he really had an impact on proceedings. It does look the right time for the play maker to perhaps move on, that yard of pace that has long since gone now really giving the legend problems when playing at the very highest level.

Claudio Marchisio – 7 – Class - Couple of decent first half long-range efforts and then THAT back heel which helped create the Bianconeri equaliser. Worked tirelessly, box-to-box, and can consider himself unfortunate to be on the losing side given his excellent display.

Arturo Vidal – 5 – Tense - Early nerves with two poor fouls costing him a yellow after just ten minutes put the Chilean under pressure for the rest of the tie. Not so much swashbuckling on a night when Juve needed some real swordsmen given the opponent,

Carlos Tevez – 5.5 – Missing - Little impact in the first half and only a marginal improvement in the second period from the player the Bianconeri were hoping would be their match winner. Found little space between Pique and Mascherano, struggled when dropping deeper where he faced Busquets and rarely went wide. Of all the nights to have a bad game, he chose this one.

ALVARO MORATA – 7.5 – Heavenly - The kid just went stratospheric! Alongside Buffon, the young Spaniard was the best Juventus player on the pitch. Looked the biggest threat, using his surprising turn of pace and dribbling skills to save Juventus from an embarrassing performance. His goal not only re-ignited the game but also announced him to the world as one of the new stars of European football. Forget Pogba and Vidal, Juve want to make sure they keep hold of Morata.


Substitutes

Roberto Pereyra (79 mins) – N/A

Fernando Llorente (85 mins) – N/A

Kingsley Koman (89 mins) – N/A

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

Bonucci: 'Juve respected in Europe'

Jun 6, 2015

Leonardo Bonucci is “proud to be part of this team and Juventus will be respected in Europe from now on.”

This was their first Champions League Final since 2003, which ended in a 3-1 defeat to Barcelona.

“At the end of the day, we put in a great performance and during our best period of the game with a dubious incident on Pogba, Barcelona went on the counter to punish us,” the defender told Sky Sport Italia.

“Credit goes to a great Barcelona, but tonight Juventus did everything we could. Perhaps we lacked something in the box, but I am proud to be a part of this team.

“Every player wants to go all the way and win. It’s never nice to see the others celebrate. This Juve reached a maturity on a European level that we’ll be able to rely on for years.

“From now on, Juventus will be respected in Europe the way we used to be.”

Bonucci was asked about tactical problems, particularly in the first half where Juve struggled.

“With a trequartista it’s normal to allow some space for the full-backs, especially as Jordi Alba and Dani Alves are not afraid to burst into the box.

“We had the first two attacking moves of the game. Barcelona were better at finishing the chances they created, especially after four minutes.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

Allegri: 'Juve lacked experience'

Jun 6, 2015

Max Allegri felt Juventus had “an extraordinary season,” but the second Barcelona goal was due to inexperience.

The Bianconeri had recovered from an Ivan Rakitic goal to equalise with Alvaro Morata and were dominating for a 10-minute spell, only to concede on the counter with Luis Suarez in an eventual 3-1 defeat.

“We had an extraordinary season, a great final and in our best moment of the game conceded a silly goal,” Allegri told Sky Sport Italia.

“There were the chances to equalise, but Barcelona have three amazing players in attack and you have to take your opportunities.

“We had trouble at the start finding our shape and the right channels. We had several attempts, including the first of the game, and played well. In some situations we could’ve done better.

“At that moment we were pushing for the second goal and left ourselves open to concede on the counter from a goal kick.

“I think Juventus had a remarkable season with the Scudetto, Coppa Italia and reaching the Champions League Final. What more could we have done?

“Now our task is to consolidate our position in the top eight of Europe, which in turn will make us even stronger in Serie A.”

Neymar scored on the counter with the last kick of the game, leading to an overly-harsh result on Juventus.

“The goal for 3-1 was when the game was practically over. I think it’s another part of the growth process, as when you feel that the match is in hand, you need to be more careful.

“It was incredible to concede that second goal in those circumstances against the run of play. We had numerous opportunities and luck wasn’t on our side, as the deflection off a shoulder went over the bar, there was a push on Pogba, so we did have our say.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

Suarez: 'Juve made us suffer'

Jun 6, 2015

Luis Suarez admits Juventus made Barcelona “suffer” in the Champions League Final on their way to a Treble.

“Winning the Champions League is something I’ve only ever dreamed of,” said the Uruguayan, who scored the second goal in a 3-1 result.

“To win these tournaments you have to suffer, otherwise you won’t succeed, and we did that.

“Juve equalised after pressing a little more and had chances, but we have players who make the difference, and they put us back ahead.

“We always wanted to better our objectives. La Liga became the Copa del Rey final and now we have the treble.

“Humility and our togetherness throughout the season is the key to our success.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

Barzagli: Juventus Tried Their Best
But Barcelona Had Great Quality

Jun 6, 2015

Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli has said his side tried their best in the Champions League final.

La Vecchia Signora ultimately lost 3-1 to Barcelona in the conclusion of Europe’s biggest club competition, but Barzagli said that the Italians put in their best efforts..

“We knew of their great quality, we put in all our effort on the pitch and we tried our best,” the 34-year-old told Sky Sport Italia.

“Unfortunately it went wrong tonight.

“We did well to get the goal and make them worry for five or 10 minutes, their great quality made the difference.

“We tried our best, it’s hard to accept because no one likes to lose.”

The Italian also highlighted the hunger within the Juventus squad to reach more finals.

“The club and the team are growing, we all want to play in another final as soon as possible.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

Bonucci: Juventus Played Well
Against Barcelona

Jun 6, 2015

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci has said his side played well against Barcelona.

La Vecchia Signora lost 3-1 to the Spanish side in the Champions League final in Berlin, but despite the score line the Italian said that the side played a good game and that he is proud to be part of the squad.

“Tonight we played a great game, something was missing in the penalty area but we did well,” the 28-year-old told Sky Italia.

“I am proud to be part of this team.”

The defender also said that, thanks to the Italian side’s involvement in the final this season, they will be more internationally recognised and respected as a good quality team.

“It’s never nice to watch the others celebrating, but this level of awareness in Europe will help us, from now on Juventus will be respected.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

Pogba: 'Juve heads dropped'

Jun 6, 2015

Paul Pogba concedes Juventus “heads went down” during a 3-1 Champions League defeat to Barcelona.

The Bianconeri had equalised with Alvaro Morata, but against the run of play Luis Suarez restored the Azulgrana advantage in Berlin.

“I think we tried our best, but Barcelona were better than us and they had something that we didn’t have, so congratulations to them,” the midfielder told Sky Sports UK.

“We believed when we scored and thought we could win the game. But when they scored the second, our heads went a bit down.

“A final is never over and we tried and tried again, but they scored another and it killed us.”

Pogba was asked whether he will remain at Juventus, but the €100m rated midfielder shrugged off the question.

“I’m not thinking about my future. I was thinking about the Final and we lost it and the future is ahead so I don’t think about it.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

Allegri Satisfied With Juventus, But
Unhappy With Second Barcelona Goal

Jun 6, 2015

Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri was satisfied with his side’s performance in the Champions League final loss to Barcelona, but was angry at conceding the second goal.

The Blaugrana were 3-1 winners over the Bianconeri after goals from Ivan Rakitic, Luis Suarez and Neymar, cancelled out a Alvaro Morata strike.

“We [Juventus] had a fantastic season and played a great final,” Allegri told Sky Sport Italia after the game.

“I am satisfied with the performance from my team, but understandably I am a little disappointed.

“In our best moment of the game we conceded a goal like chickens (idiots) We then had an opportunity to draw level. I would say finals are decided by little episodes and played a great team that has three forward players that are more than extraordinary.

“I won’t have anything bad to say to the guys.”

When asked if his side were a little in awe of Barcelona at the start of the match, Allegri was clear.

“We were more than in awe,” the tactician continued. “We couldn’t find the right distance on our passing, and put the ball out on a few occasions.

“In the initial moments Vidal had an effort at goal, the first of the game. I think we played the game well, in certain situations we could have done better, we conceded a goal right after the restart of play, which could have been avoided.?

Allegri was then asked if he could reduce the gap to Barcelona.

“I believe that this year Juventus were amazing,” he said. “We got to the final of the Champions League, which was more than we could have dreamed.

“I think that Juve need to consolidate its position in the top eight of Europe, and after this year we have a strong starting point from which to get even stronger.”

Looking back at the match, Allegri wasn’t happy with the two goals conceded on the counter-attack.

“The 3-1 scoreline especially the two goals conceded on the breaks shows we need to improve,” Allegri went on.

“When you play against great players you have to be more careful when you think you are in control of the game, especially the second goal, it was incredible, because we got a number of chances against Barcelona, but in the end we can’t accuse the team of anything.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

CL: Juventus Player Ratings

Jun 6, 2015

Gianluigi Buffon - Was at fault for the second goal, parrying the ball to an unmarked Luis Suarez, but had kept the Bianconeri in it before then with great saves. Unlike the 2006 World Cup final, the majesty of Berlin eluded him this time. Determined.

Stephan Lichtsteiner - Unusually quiet, as the Swiss international had to contend with Neymar most of the night. Didn’t really put a foot wrong defensively, but rarely made his trademark runs forward to offer an option out wide. Disappointing.

Andrea Barzagli - Was brought in to deputise for the injured Giorgio Chiellini. Much like centre back partner Bonucci, kept Barcelona in check for periods of the game. Predictive.

Leonardo Bonucci - Made some good interceptions early on. Tasked with keeping Barcelona’s forwards at bay. Could not really be considered at fault for any of the goals. Solid.

Patrice Evra - Had to keep Suarez honest on the left hand side and largely did his job. Failed to make forward runs due to his defensive duties. Ineffective.

Paul Pogba - The in-demand Frenchman flattered to deceive in the biggest game of his young career. Had a decent penalty appeal turned down. Undeniably a real talent in world football, but prospective buyers won’t be overly bowled over by his display. Lacked impetus.

Andrea Pirlo - For what could amount to his last game for the Old Lady after a sensational time in Turin, the veteran failed to force the initiative to push his team on. Anonymous.

Claudio Marchisio - Had a couple of decent long range efforts on goal, but largely quiet in midfield and failed to positively affect the game. Quiet.

Arturo Vidal - Irresponsible at times in the tackle and was lucky to remain on the field, especially in the first half. Desire can’t be faulted. However he was smartly substituted to avoid dismissal. Reckless.

Carlos Tevez - The Argentinean’s shot led to Alvaro Morata’s leveller. Never really got in the game offensively. A relatively quiet night for Juve’s top marksman. Meek.

Alvaro Morata - Initially drifted wide to get the ball, but a classic poacher’s goal momentarily gave the Bianconeri hope of a famous win. The young Spaniard showed his predatory instincts yet again on the big stage, scoring against both Real Madrid and Barcelona in successive games. Instinctive.


Substitutes

Roberto Pereyra - The first substitute to be introduced by Allegri with 10 minutes to go. Didn’t have sufficient time to make an impression. Ineffective.

Fernando Llorente - The big Spanish striker was a like-for-like change for compatriot Morata and went close to setting up a goal for fellow sub Pereyra. Battering ram.

Kingsley Coman - The raw Frenchman barely had a kick of the ball. He is a massive talent though. Late.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

Pogba: Juventus should have had a penalty

The France international was unhappy he was not awarded
a spot kick after a second-half clash with Dani Alves.

Jun 6, 2015

Paul Pogba conceded that Barcelona deserved their Champions League success on Saturday, but felt Juventus were on the wrong end of a pivotal refereeing decision in the 3-1 defeat in Berlin.

Pogba was adamant the Bianconeri should have been awarded a penalty shortly before Luis Suarez made it 2-1 to restore Barca's lead.

The Uruguayan's goal came shortly after Alvaro Morata had cancelled out Ivan Rakitic's fourth minute opener. It put Barca in the ascendancy and Neymar added a third late on as Luis Enrique's men completed a domestic and continental treble with a victory.

Asked if Juve should have been given a spot-kick after a tussle between himself and Dani Alves inside the area, the France international told Sky: "Yeah. I think the ref made some mistakes tonight but that's football. We cannot do anything about it, we have to learn."

It was a valiant effort from a Juve side also gunning for the treble but Barca's attacking power finally saw them through.

"We tried our best but Barca were better than us," Pogba admitted. "They had something that we didn't have tonight.
"We believed that we could win the game when we scored but after they got the second one, our heads went down. We tried again but they scored again and that killed us."

Pogba has been linked with a move to a host of top European clubs this summer but refused to discuss it in the immediate aftermath.

"I am not thinking about this," he said.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

Andrea Pirlo Cries After Champions League
Final Loss, Still Applauds Barcelona

Jun 6, 2015

Gary Lineker ✔@GaryLineker
One Juve player was applauding as Barça lifted the trophy. Needless to say it was Pirlo. Class act.

Barcelona's glory meant heartbreak for Andrea Pirlo and the Juventus team, and the midfielder let his emotions show as he cried after the final whistle.

And just to remind us of what a class operator he is one more time, Pirlo stayed on to applaud Barcelona on their triumph.

The moment Xavi and Pirlo shared at the end of the game was another reminder of the end of an era.

GeniusFootball @GeniusFootball
Absolute heroes leaving European Football...

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

Morata: Juventus may never have
another shot at the treble

The Spanish striker scored the equaliser for Massimiliano Allegri's men in their
Champions League final defeat by Barcelona but Luis Suarez and Neymar saw them off.

Jun 6, 2015

Alvaro Morata fears that Juventus may have blown a once-in-a-generation chance at winning a European and domestic treble by losing Saturday's Champions League final to Barcelona.

Ivan Rakitic set the tone in the Catalans' favour with an early goal but Morata pounced on a rebound 10 minutes into the second half to level the score in Berlin.

However, Luis Suarez swiftly restored the lead for Luis Enrique's men before Neymar scored in stoppage time to trigger treble celebrations for Barca following May's Primera Division and Copa del Rey wins.

It left Juve having to settle for a double with their success in Serie A and the Coppa Italia and Morata feels that his side getting another chance to win a treble in the near future is extremely unlikely.

"We had a chance to win but we didn't do it," he told Sky Sport. "I don't think that such a treble opportunity will happen again but we must work next season and we can come back fighting.

"The board are working to build an even stronger team for 2015-16, we are proud to represent this team."

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

Marotta: Juventus Should
Have Had A Penalty

Jun 6, 2015

Despite a penalty decision going against Paul Pogba at a crucial time in their Champions League final defeat to Barcelona, Juventus director general Giuseppe Marotta remains delighted with the club’s campaign.

The Bianconeri picked up a fourth straight Serie A title and added the Coppa Italia to their trophy cabinet before falling in Berlin.

Marotta remained upbeat despite the disappoitment, and when speaking to Canale 5.

“Tonight was the culmination of a fantastic season,” he admitted, “I want to thank the players, the staff and all the fans who were at the stadium and in the city and who gave us the drive to play a great game.”

“Now we are obliged to the think about the first game of next season’s Champions League.

“There was a penalty for a foul on Pogba, but we do not want to focus on the incident.”

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

Juventus 1 - Barcelona 3: Initial
reaction and random observations

Jun 7, 2015

Nobody wants to write this. Nobody wants to even think about writing this. I didn't want to even think about writing this when Juventus fell behind 1-0 after just three minutes and change. Yet we're stuck here writing this because of what just happened in front of our eyes, a 3-1 Barcelona win over Juventus in the Champions League final.

The favorite beat the underdog. The €80-something million summer signing full of controversy and so much vitriol got Barcelona the winning goal it so desperately wanted. It was, well, as cliche as it sounds, one of those games where the better team one.

In the end, Barcelona proved to be the machine they have been both domestically and in Europe all season long. Try as hard as Juventus did, it proved that it wasn't enough. It looked like it might be when Álvaro Morata scored against yet another Spanish opponent, but Juventus could never get the lead at any point of the second when it looked as though they might.

And as was pointed out on Twitter by Michael Cox of Zonal Marking fame, Barcelona's first two goals came as Juve were starting to play really, really well. This game isn't nice to us sometimes.

Daniel Taylor @DTguardian
Allegri impressive and dignified in press conference here. "They were extraordinary, and we were not able to contain them," he says of Barca

It is disappointing to come this far and end up going home with a second-place medal. We can say "Regardless of the result I am proud of my team!" all we want, but there's going to be disappointment when it comes to a game you thought your team could have been one. Am I proud of Juventus? Hell yeah I am proud of Juventus. Am I disappointed that Juventus failed to score a second goal when they had clear chances to do so? Of course.

But Barcelona were better than Juventus on Saturday night. That's the easiest way to say it, I guess. This isn't the end of Juventus' journey and the end of the club's run of success by any means. Juventus' roster will look different next season because that's just the nature of the beast. If you're not excited to see Paulo Dybala wear a Juve jersey next season, then you might want to see what he did at Palermo this season and the reassess things.

Getting to this point of the Champions League was a wonderful accomplishment and completely unexpected 11 months ago. That would have been the case even with the manager who is no longer the manager at Juventus. That's why Juventus should leave with their head held high. And also the fact that they gave the best team in the freaking world a pretty darn good run for their money in Berlin.

I'm sure a lot of other clubs would love to "settle" for a domestic double.


Random thoughts and observations

So proud of this team — for the game they just played and the season they just finished They made it a game when people were counting them out four minutes in. That's Juventus, that's the famed grinta, that's what this team has proven to be all season long. Nothing about this season was easy. Nothing.

At the age of 37, Gianluigi Buffon was easily one of the best players on the Olympiastadion field on Saturday. If you were to comprise a ranking of Buffon's greatest saves, I wonder where his left-handed swat as he went the opposite direction in the first half ranks on the list. That was an absolute thing of beauty for a guy who has a thing for making top-class saves during finals in Berlin.

Best in the damn game. Still. At the age of 37. I believe you can also spell that G-O-D.

Just a personal opinion, but I like the Uruguayan on Juventus' roster more than the one Barcelona has. That's just me, though, so feel free to think otherwise.

Within about a three-minute span, Dani Alves hauled Paul Pogba down in the box like he was trying to tackle a running back and then went crashing into a referee on purpose as he argued Neymar's non-goal. He was not disciplined for either of these things. You learn something new everyday, I guess. (But just remember that Juventus gets all the calls.)

Álvaro Morata in the knockout round of the Champions League this season: Seven games played, five goals scored. And what were Real Madrid fans saying about Morata not being a big-game player? I seem to have forgotten...

Claudio Marchisio closed out a great season with another fantastic showing. That pass that lead to Morata's goal, just everything that he continues to add to this team and the midfield. The match commentator here started talking about how Marchisio is trying to get things in order during a first-half free kick and could only just nod my head and think "That's Claudio." He's as smart of a tactical player as we've seen put on a Juventus jersey in a long time. I'll be watching the video of that pass for weeks.

Arturo Vidal racked up fouls like they were going out of style in the first half. Talk about a guy coming in way, way too ramped up for his own good. You want Vidal to play with tons of energy and do his usual thing — tackle, tackle and more tackle — but not so much to the point where he's risking getting sent off with every tackle he commits. It was a bad and forgettable game for Vidal, who had been so good the last couple months of the season. No doubt about it.

If this does end up being Andrea Pirlo's last game with Juventus, I just have two words for him: Thank you. That's all.

Fino Alla Fine.

[Socrates 8516]

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA

1 - 3

Ivan Rakitić (4')

Álvaro Morata (55')

Luis Suárez (68')
Neymar (95')

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

Iniesta: Juventus Put Up A Good
Fight Against Barcelona

Jun 7, 2015

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has said Juventus made the game tough to win for his side.

The Spanish giants defeated La Vecchia Signora 3-1 in the Champions League final to win their fifth title, but despite the two goal difference in the scoreline, the Spaniard said the Italian champions put up a good fight.

“All finals are tough, Juventus made it really difficult today but it was a spectacular day,” the 31-year-old told the press.

He also commented on Barcelona coach Luis Enrique, saying he wants him to stay in the job.

“He is our coach and we hope he stays on, we must take advantages of his presence and his talent.”

Barcelona became the first European team in history to win the treble twice, which Iniesta says he didn’t think would happen.

“We didn’t think we could do it again, but we will celebrate with everyone.”