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JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Evra: I will shake hands with Luis Suarez The Juventus defender says he expects no repeat of the moment the Uruguay international snubbed him during their racial abuse feud. Jun 6, 2015 Juventus defender Patrice Evra says he will shake hands with Barcelona’s Luis Suarez in Saturday’s Champions League final. The two were embroiled in a race row during their time in England when Suarez was found guilty of racially abusing the then Manchester United defender during a clash with Liverpool at Anfield. Suarez was handed a ban but, upon his return, caused more controversy by snubbing Evra in the pre-match handshakes. “I will shake his hand – I am a professional,” the Frenchman told Sky Sports. “Like I’ve said many times, I’m proud of my colour and it doesn’t matter. I’m playing against Barcelona, I’m not playing just against Luis Suarez. “Every player in the team, they will feel me, because I will play a really important game.” Evra also revealed his surprise at the workload expected of players in Italy, insisting he has never felt better. “It was a shock at the beginning because, to be fair, I did not expect the way Juventus Football Club were working," the 34-year-old added. "They work really hard. “I think the training sessions are more difficult than the game. In pre-season I remember the manager [Massimiliano] Allegri always asking me ‘Pat, are you OK’ – I was always saying ‘for the moment I’m still alive’. And it was true, because it was difficult. I’d never worked so hard in my life. “It’s a great experience because, even for my age now, I feel like I’m more powerful than when I was younger. I qualify myself like a bottle of wine – the more I get older, the more it tastes sweet!” Both Juventus and Barcelona are on the hunt for a treble after both earned domestic league-and-cup doubles.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Boniek: 'Barca not better than Juve' Jun 6, 2015 Zbigniew Boniek expects an open final: 'Juventus have the better defence, Barcelona the better attack'. The Polish football legend won the Champions League final in 1985, though that occasion was tarnished by the Heysel Stadium disaster. Asked by Gianluca Di Marzio to forecast tonight's game, he disagreed with the consensus that saw Barcelona as favourites. “It's going to be a great match, between two excellent teams,” he said. “Allegri has a brilliant group, and some brilliant players. “I believe the match is going to be open, because Barcelona isn't so much stronger than Juventus. “The Bianconeri's goalkeeper and defence have the edge, while the Blaugrana are stronger upfront.”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Juventus €222m v Barcelona €345m – the wealth gap between the Champions League finalists The two clubs have put together first-team squads of very different compositions in the transfer market. Jun 6, 2015 By Kris Voakes | International Football Correspondent When Juventus and Barcelona face off in Berlin in Saturday’s Champions League final, it will be a clash of not just two differing football philosophies but also of opposite spending tendencies. While many have pinpointed the contrasting styles of play as a key component of the European showpiece, it is fair to say the two clubs have already gone about constructing their first-team squads in very different ways. Despite basing their side around a large pool of home-grown talent, Barca have spent huge amounts in putting together the squad which has already secured the Primera Division title and the Copa del Rey. Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets number among nine players trained in their own youth ranks who have gone on to be key members of their Champions League run. And yet for every local boy there is a big signing. Luis Suarez’s €81 million move from Liverpool ahead of the 2014-15 season followed an even bigger and more controversial transfer involving Neymar 12 months earlier. The Brazilian cost €86.2m in the end, with the club admitting the full extent of their total spend on the ex-Santos player months after claiming the cost had been around €30m less. Add in hefty fees for the likes of Dani Alves, Javier Mascherano and Ivan Rakitic and Barcelona's squad value surpasses the €340m mark. Over in Turin, the Bianconeri have spent significantly less on building a side to challenge in Europe, but they have laid out money for a far greater number of players in the process. Their cheaper €222m squad conversely includes only five players who cost the club nothing, with Claudio Marchisio the sole product of their youth system to have remained with them throughout. The key is that they haven’t splashed out on nearly as many big-money signings, with only Gianluigi Buffon’s phenomenal €52.9m 2001 deal costing them more than €20m. Elsewhere around the squad, the Italian league and cup winners have been able to find top players for reasonable fees and have been topped up with free transfers for the likes of Paul Pogba and Andrea Pirlo. The Champions League doesn’t come cheap these days, with mega money involved in building a side worthy of a final, but Saturday’s interesting clash of approaches suggests there is more than one way to construct a winning outfit.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) 'Juve, here's key to beat Barca' Jun 6, 2015 Angelo Di Livio recommends “fast breaks” and a clamp on Leo Messi for Juventus to beat Barcelona. The respective champions of the Italian and Spanish leagues square off tonight to take home the Champions League, an opportunity that hasn't presented itself for the Bianconeri in 19 years. “It's hard to say how this game should be prepared,” former Champions League-winner Di Livio told Gianluca Di Marzio. “Games such as these aren't prepared, they prepare themselves. “It's a single match, and Juventus are up against the best team in the world. “They'll have to keep an eye on all the details and try and double down on [Leo] Messi. “The tactical key for Allegri is going to be ball possession and fast breaks, because Barcelona will look to dominate from the outset.” The 48-year-old was also asked how important the absence of defender Giorgio Chiellini was for Juventus. “It matters a lot. And I'm sorry for Giorgio too, I know him and I played with him, and I know how keen he was on playing this game. “It makes for an influential absence in terms of character, but also because of his leadership skills. He'd have played even on one leg if he'd had that option, I expect.” Finally, Di Livio was asked to compare the current Juventus squad with that which snatched the Champions League trophy in 1996. “It's hard to compare two teams of such excellence. I can say that I recognise my own Juventus in terms of personality. They have the right spirit. “I haven't heard [Gianluigi] Buffon and Chiellini, to be honest. But I can wish them the best of luck. “If there's a message I want to send out it's that Juventus have a great opportunity and they mustn't let it slip. “The game must be lived without pressure. They must play with a free and open mind to make their dream come true.”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Spanish papers fear Morata Jun 6, 2015 Spanish papers note Barcelona are “clear favourites” in the Champions League Final, but fear Alvaro Morata for Juventus. The showdown kicks off in Berlin this evening at 20.45 CET). In conjunction with our sister site Football Espana, we bring you the front page headlines from Spain’s media this morning. Marca leads with Lionel Messi walking out on to the turf and the headline: ‘The man of the Final.’ It points out Barça “rely on a full-fledged Messi to win their fifth Champions League. Clear favourites against a versatile Juventus, who also aspire for the Treble.” The biggest concern seems to be Spanish striker Morata, whose goals already eliminated Real Madrid in the semi-final. Indeed AS have Morata on the cover given equal billing with Messi: ‘Treble or Moratazo.’ “Barcelona are favourites in the betting,” but Juve have their own Spanish weapon. Mundo Deportivo has the trio of Luis Suarez, Messi and Neymar charging across the Brandenburg Gate like the statues of horses. “Forca Bar5a” is the headline, reminding readers this would be the club’s fifth Champions League as well as a Treble and seeing Berlin painted in Azulgrana colours. Luis Enrique explains “we have the best players in the world, but we’re a team.” Max Allegri counters by telling fans “not to expect 0-0.”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Champions League Final, Juventus vs. Barcelona: Five keys to the Battle of Berlin Jun 5, 2015 Barcelona's front three of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Luis Suárez has contributed 120 goals so far this season. The South American trident represents the end-level boss of this season's Champions League, and Juventus will have to be at her absolute best on Saturday. Below are five things that could be key to determining which side lifts the big-eared cup. One of the many subplots of Saturday's Champions League final is that the last game of the season will also be Xavi Hernández's last in Blaugrana. It may be Andrea Pirlo's last in Bianconero, possibly others as well, but none of the players on either side represent a style in the same way Xavi does. Xavi represents midfield possession and positional play of the highest level, seeking to control the match first and create goalscoring chances through that, prioritizing safety and preventing counters through careful management of turnovers. But Xavi is all but gone. This is Ivan Rakitić's Barcelona, tailored to the directness of Luis Suárez and Neymar. Lionel Messi and Andrés Iniesta, for their dribbling brilliance, seem to fit well in any style of play. Luis Enrique deserves credit for embracing a shift towards a more direct, punch-and-counterpunch Barcelona that wants to get the ball to its forwards quickly and in space, no matter what that means for potential loss of possession and positional balance. But most of the merit must go to the players, who made it work and got the results to keep the pressure off. At least since the turn of the year. So yes, Barcelona is very good. But, and this is maybe a forgotten point in much of the media, so is Juventus. With that in mind, here are five keys that may determine which side lifts the European Cup. 1. Lionel Messi The Argentine magician has been in some of the best form of his career in recent months, at times making world-class stars like Neymar and Suárez look like third-rate chancers by comparison. Returning to the wing but retaining his complete centrality to Barcelona's attacking play, Messi has taken on a greater importance to the team's buildup, occasionally dropping to collect the ball from defense. He is of course most dangerous when he starts dribbling past you -- Juventus will have to be very disciplined, keeping the Argentine in front of them and presenting him safe options, preventing the number 10 from accelerating play, because when he does nobody else can keep up. Giorgio Chiellini would have been a vital piece of the Messi plan, and without him there is some uncertainty as to who will be Messi's most direct opponent. Whoever is tasked to stop him, Messi's performance (or, more accurately, how many goals Messi creates) will be vital in determining the champion. 2. Andrea Pirlo The bearded maestro has had ups and downs this season, with this match possibly representing his last in Italy. But the talent that marks him out as perhaps the best ever in his role remains, the ability to put a teammate in on goal with a perfect ball at any moment, or to effortlessly curl a free kick past wall and goalkeeper. Having Pirlo in your team of course also means a certain level of defensive vulnerability. He has never been the best at tracking runs, and age hasn't helped in that respect. Barcelona will certainly try and test the defense by running across Pirlo. The success they have attacking Pirlo's zone, and Pirlo's ability to create chances at the other end, could have a big impact on the scoreline. 3. Paul Pogba or Ivan Rakitić? Whichever midfielder can put his stamp on the game will put his team in pole position. While neither is a Xavi- or Pirlo-style dictator of a game's tempo, both are versatile and can hurt you in several ways -- getting wide to put in a cross, running into the box to support the forwards, playing the delicate through ball, or crashing in shots from distance. If Massimiliano Allegri and Luis Enrique each choose the players in their most frequent starting positions they will be put face-to-face, and whoever gets the better of their battle will create real problems for the opposing defense and goalkeeper. 4. High Pressing Barcelona's game is not as reliant on suffocating possession and positional rigor, ties closely to a very aggressive press, as they once where, however the old Pep Guardiola method still shows up now and then when the opposing defense sits back. Ivan Rakitić has brought a new energy to the press when it is employed, eliminating one of the weaknesses that cost Barcelona under Tata Martino and during the too-short tenure of Tito Vilanova. Juventus, for their part, are also occasionally very aggressive with their pressure, with Arturo Vidal especially among the best in the world when asked to get aggressive further up the pitch. Both teams have had some difficulty playing out from the back this season (another element of the Rakitić-for-Xavi swap in central midfield), so whichever team is more effective with its press, and more able to generate the good opportunities that come with winning the ball high up the field, will have a great chance to win. 5. Set-Pieces and Aerial Play Barcelona have mightily improved their set-piece defense this season, one of the keys to their league success, but they still fundamentally only have about three guys who you would trust to win their defensive headers-- Gerard Piqué, Sergio Busquets, and Suárez. Javier Mascherano is as tough a customer as you're ever likely to see, but he, like fullbacks Jordi Alba and Dani Alves, can be regularly beaten in the air, which is something Juventus must look to exploit. At the other end, a major part of Barcelona's success in transition has been the forwards' ability to win the high ball and start the quick counter. Suárez and Messi are fantastic at reading the flight of the ball, even against bigger opponents, and if they are allowed to make good first contact on high balls out from defense it will be a very long night. Just ask Bayern Munich. It's a final, after all, and these things tend to come down to small margins. By competing in these key areas, and maybe getting the better of a couple of individual matchups, Juventus can overcome the odds and lift a historic third European Cup.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Zidane: No Team Should Be Favoured Over Juventus Jun 5, 2015 Zinedine Zidane has unsurprisingly revealed that he will be supporting Juventus during Saturday’s Champions League final against Barcelona, also admitting no side should ever be favoured over the Bianconeri. Zidane, twice a Champions League runner up with Juventus during his five seasons with the Turin outfit is hoping to see his former side emerge victorious and has openly admitted his support for Massimilliano Allegri’s team. “Yes, I am supporting Juve even though it is said that Barcelona are favourites,” Zidane told SportMediaset. “But one must remember that no team is favourite against Juve. “The key players for Juventus will be [Carlos] Tevez and [Paul] Pogba. [Lionel] Messi? He never stops.” After leaving Juventus for Real Madrid, Zidane endured greater success in the Champions League, winning the trophy in 2002 after his sensational volley saw Madrid home against Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Cafu: Barcelona Will Have Tough Time Against Juventus Jun 5, 2015 Former Brazil and AC Milan full-back Cafu thinks that Barcelona will have a difficult time against Juventus in the Champions League final, contrary to popular belief. The Bianconeri are preparing for their first European final since their defeat to a Milan side featuring Cafu in 2003 and are hoping to avoid a record sixth defeat in the final and Cafu believes that Massimilliano Allegri’s men can overcome the odds. “I am expecting a very tough final,” the 44-year-old told Sky Sport Italia. “So many people think it will be an easy final for Barcelona but for me it won’t be because Juventus will put up a fierce struggle and the game will be difficult for the Catalans. “Juventus can also win it if they play like they have been playing up until now. “Tactically, Juve are perfect squad, they don’t give space to their opponents and they strike so quickly on the counter attack, if they play this way, they can win.” Turning his attentions to Barca’s Brazilians, Neymar and Dani Alves, he admitted he rates them highly and that the latter could do well for his former side, Milan. “Neymar is so good, I always cheer for him, it will be a beautiful game to see him in. “Dani Alves to Milan? He is one of the greats and one of the strongest full-backs around, he has won everything and could do well at Milan.”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) UEFA Champions League Final Preview: Juventus vs. Barcelona Jun 5, 2015 You remember all of those games that we've called 'the biggest game of the season' during this magical 2014-15 run to the Champions League final? Go ahead and throw them out the window. Nothing will match what we are about to witness in Berlin Saturday night. Nothing. This is the biggest game there is no matter what we compare it to. Nothing else can come close outside of what Juventus played in to get to this point. Juventus, the champions of Italy. Barcelona, the champions of Spain. Both teams are looking to win the same trophy and cap off a treble-winning season in the best possible way. Many expected Barcelona to be here. They've got three of the best strikers this game we love has to offer. And it's not like those three guys suddenly caught fire. They've pretty much been like this all season. Juventus, though? Not many expected them to even make it to the semifinals, let alone slay Barcelona's No. 1 rival and defending European champions in the process. A season full of proving people wrong — from the new manager to the ability to get it done in Europe and all the way back again — has been wonderful to witness. (Unless you root for Inter or something.) Saturday night is the final stop in a 2014-15 season where Juventus has firmly put its foot down and squashed talk that they're still on the outside looking in when it comes to Europe's elite. We've seen a massive figure resign on the second day of preseason training only to be replaced by somebody who was fired six months before by Milan. And, as the season has gone on, the managerial change proved to be something that was the perfect ingredient to make this team be great outside of just Serie A. But this test, in the biggest game Juventus has played in years, is unlike any they have seen this season. Makes sense at this stage of the game, doesn't it? JuventusFC ✔@juventusfcen .@gianluigibuffon: "Barca are favourites, that's to be expected with the players they possess. But we're not here to make up the numbers." Like San Gigi said, Barcelona are the overwhelming favorites entering the grand finale. And you know what? That's perfectly okay. Juventus has thrived as the underdog this season — especially so in Europe. They've overcome the imposing Westfalenstadion and subsequently silienced it, then took down the reigning European champions in their own house and got to do some dancing on the Bernabéu turf. Good times, man, good times. Maybe it's fate that Juventus are playing the same they beat on their way to the 2003 Champions League final. Or maybe it's simply a coincidence and we can throw it right out the window. As much as it's an accomplishment to even get to this point, winning it would be so, so, so much sweeter. Go right ahead and win it for Gigi, win it for Pavel, win it for ADP, win it for all the Juve players of the past who never got here. Just win it. This is a chance that doesn't come around very often. So why not make the most of it now that we're finally here? JuventusFC ✔@juventusfcen .@OfficialAllegri: "We needed to reach Europe's top eight, we're in the top two. Now we must finish first." GOOD NEWS Let me check... Oh yeah, tomorrow is the Champions League final and Juventus is playing in it. BAD NEWS Giorgio Chiellini just had to go and hurt his calf a few days before the Champions League final, huh? Fitting that in the last game of the season that this section of the preview is filled with injury news since it's been like that from Giornata No. 1 back in late-August onward. WHAT TO WATCH FOR 1. Juventus' defense vs. Messi-Surarez-Neymar. Because, let's face it, this is going to ultimately determine whether Juventus heads home with more silverware strapped into a seat on their team plane like after the Coppa Italia final or get second-place medals. It's not so much trying to stop Messi and his friends completely, but more having to avoid complete disaster compared to anything else. As dangerous as Neymar and Suarez can be, Messi is just on a whole different planet. That means the contributions of the left side of Juventus' defense, Patrice Evra and Leonardo Bonucci, will be vital without Chiellini in the lineup. We could sit here and break down the individual matchups, but defending such a talented and dangerous trident isn't going to come down to one single person. Trying to slow them down will be something all four at the back — and probably some saves from Gigi Buffon — as well as the midfield. This is just what needs to happen when you're going against three of the best around. JuventusFC ✔@juventusfcen .@OfficialAllegri: "Stopping @FCBarcelona's front three won't be enough. It's unlikely the game will finish 0-0, so we'll need to score." 2. The health and effectiveness of Andrea Barzagli. Considering how up and down Chiellini's form has been this season, some folks are thinking that Barzagli coming into the starting lineup for the Champions League final isn't such a disaster like others might perceive it as. I've gone back and forth on it about 20 times while writing this part of the preview, and I think it will be that as the countdown clock winds down to kickoff Saturday night. But I keep coming back to this one central focus: Having a healthy and match-fit Barzagli in the lineup is never a bad thing. Ever. That's why many folks aren't throwing themselves down a flight of stairs because Chiellini is out injured. Barzagli has been Juventus' best defender not named Leonardo Bonucci this season, so it's not like a total scrub is stepping in for Chiellini. And even though he is just getting over his own injury problems, he has been training for most of the week and every indication is that The Great Wall of Barza is ready to roll. That Tuttosport headline of "STATE CALMI C'E' BARZAGLI" definitely seems pretty handy right now. 3. How does Allegri play this one? As we've come to see about Juventus in Europe, a classic counterattack has proven to be their best friend. The same can be said about pressing high and putting the opposition under pressure. But will that really work against a team like Barcelona that can destroy any opponent in what seems like the blink of an eye? I'm not so sure, unless you feel like trying to stop fire with fire. (Or something like that.) Does Allegri go conservative or does he crank up the pressure in an attempt to catch Barcelona off guard? This in lies the external struggle of trying to read a manager's mind before the match actually begins. I guess the only real thing we know is that a late-game switch to a 3-5-2 formation is out of play with Barzagli stepping in for Chiellini. At least we can figure that out, which is better than just sitting here completely clueless. 4. Juventus' midfield vs. Barcelona's midfield. Rewind to whenever you read the Q&A session with our friends at Barca Blaugranes. What's the one weakness they identified within the Barcelona ranks? Yeah, the midfield. The same one that has Andres Iniesta, Ivan Rakitic and Sergio Busquets. But when you can counter with Arturo Vidal, Paul Pogba, Claudio Marchisio and Andrea Pirlo, you're setting yourself up for a pretty good fight. A lot like the defenders above, a collective effort is crucial here. And it could hinge on Vidal, who will be going directly up against Busquets for most of the night. Even though Vidal will be in his unnatural spot as a trequartista instead of playing alongside Pirlo, he will incredibly important to the cause. And if Pogba plays more like the pre-injury player compared to the post-injury one who is still finding his match fitness, then Juventus winning the always-important battle in the center of the park. It worked against Real Madrid, right? My starting XI (4-3-1-2): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci, Evra; Marchisio, Pirlo, Pogba; Vidal; Morata, Tévez

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Pirlo: There Is Great Desire In This Juventus Team Jun 5, 2015 Andrea Pirlo has revealed the desire that burns inside this Juventus side as they take on Barcelona in the Champions League final on Saturday. The 36-year-old joined Juventus from AC Milan in 2011 and since then has gone on to win four straight Serie A titles as well as the Coppa Italia. “I needed a change,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “To find new ideas and Juve was the project that fascinated me most because they hadn’t won anything for years. “Conte put us under a lot of pressure, but there was a great desire among the players because of the two poor years in the championship. “Allegri arrived with great motivation and wanted revenge. We met at Juve we started from the beginning. as though nothing had happened before.” Looking to the final of the Champions League, Pirlo said he is happy to be back with his last outing being the 2007 game in Athens when his AC Milan side beat Liverpool 2-0. “I am happy to be back,” he exclaimed. “I am happy to have these emotions again. The first being the anxiety you have to live with but also the desire, though there was a new one… The expectation. “Now I am calm, but with the same wants and same desire as the first time. When I arrived [at Juventus] I remember a conversation with the president [Andrea Agnelli] whose goal, even then, was to win the Champions League again. “Within us, there was a great anger, we wanted to go further, but something always happened. We took a seat and found that extra energy needed to get us up there. “We knew Monaco would be a tough game, and Real Madrid presented a fascinating challenge, we played at a level where we knew we could hurt them at any time.”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Luis Enrique challenges Barcelona's 'unique generation' The club could become the first team two in two trebles if they win Saturday's Champions League final. Jun 5, 2015 Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has challenged his "unique set of players" to rise to the occasion and create history by winning Saturday's Champions League final against Juventus. No club in European football has won the treble twice, but Luis Enrique's men could achieve just that at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. In a quirk of fate, Massimiliano Allegri's Juve are also in the hunt for a treble this season to add another fascinating sub-plot to the biggest game in club football. Speaking at his pre-match media conference, Luis Enrique said: "We've got where we set out to and now we hope to leave an important mark in the club's history. "I think we will have more possession; we hope to spend more time in their half. We’ll have to play at a high level, it's going to be a difficult match. "Juve have a very similar style to ours, they also need the ball. They're very good in defence, they're very resourceful and that's why they're in the same position as us – they can win the treble too. We'll have to see what happens. "We've scored lots of goals in the Champions League but we know finals are very different; there's a lot of tension so we'll have to block that out. "We know that throughout the match we'll find a Juve who wants to have the ball and they're going to pressure us. Who will win depends on who adapts better to those situations. "We have a unique set of players, a unique generation given the number of trophies Barcelona have won. I hope we see a great final, an open fun game – that would be great for football, and the one who wins would be the better side. "I don't think we can compare what we have and the other doesn't – we're both here in the final and can write history for our clubs. "Each team has its own identity, its virtues and weak points. I think this is going to be one of the best matches you can watch – the champions of Italy and Spain. It's going to be a spectacle of football."

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Juventus hope to dedicate Champions League win to Heysel victims - Bonucci Jun 5, 2015 Juventus hope to dedicate a victory in the Champions League final to the victims of the Heysel disaster. The Italian side play Barcelona in Saturday's final in Berlin, 30 years after 39 supporters -- mainly from Juventus -- lost their lives when Liverpool fans rioted in the Heysel stadium in Brussels. Juve defender Leonardo Bonucci told a news conference at Berlin's Olympic Stadium: "As regards the Heysel tragedy, I went to a commemoration last week for the victims. "The memory of what happened there is a further stimulus for us because we hope to dedicate the victory to those who lost their lives that night." Juventus manager Max Allegri added: "Heysel will always be one of the dark pages of football history -- and not just for Juventus but all football. For us, it is important to remember the victims and commemorate their deaths." Bonucci insisted Juventus were not too concerned by the renowned attacking threat of Barcelona's front trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar and that their 3-0 win in Germany against Borussia Dortmund had given the Italians confidence. He said: "It will not be the Barca attack against the defence of Juventus. The game in Dortmund made us realize that we are a great team, gave us that awareness . "We come here knowing that we are probably a rung below Barcelona, but in a final the differences dwindle. "It is up to us to fight for every ball. We will not be the victims here."

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Neymar: Juventus Are In The Champions League Final Because They Are A Great Side Jun 5, 2015 Barcelona striker Neymar has labelled Juventus a ‘great side’, stating it is no surprise they have made it to the Champions League final. The Blaugrana and the Bianconeri will square off in Berlin on Saturday and the Brazilian believes there is no clear cut favourite to lift the trophy. “It is difficult to label a favourite because there are 90 minutes to play and we must give it our all,” he stated at a pre-match press conference on Friday. “They are a great side, they aren’t here by chance. It will be difficult. “[Gianluigi] Buffon? He is one of the greatest players, when I was young and I played PlayStation I was one of his biggest fans. I would be happy if I scored on him. “I am hoping to score but the most important thing is to win. I’ve played in a lot of finals but this is the most important of my life. It is a dream that I’ve had since I was a child.”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Revenge Of The Sixth: Luis Enrique’s Juventus Pain And Calcio Nightmare Luis Enrique will face Juve in the Champions League final, and will surely want to win this game at all costs to write his own name into the history books. Jun 5, 2015 The Bianconeri have been written off by many, and with Barcelona installed as firm favourites, Enrique might expect to reach the pinnacle of his career tomorrow and win Europe’s premier competition. But for the 45-year-old on a personal level, glory may not be the only motivation. Any Barcelona coach has a point to prove from the moment he is appointed, such is the nature of being at a top club anywhere, but especially at one of the big La Liga giants. However, Luis Enrique may well feel that he has a point to prove in Italy. A torrid spell in charge of Roma saw the Giallorossi finish in a disappointing seventh position in the 2011-12 season. Beating a domestically dominant Juventus on the biggest stage possible, might bring some redemption to the man and silence his critics who were so glad to see him leave Serie A. It was Enrique’s first major job after an accomplished player career when he had won three La Liga titles, a European Cup Winner’s Cup and an Olympic gold medal. As a coach however, he only had three years at Barcelona B. The season was one full of hope at the outset with possible European football in the Europa League, and aspirations to significantly improve on a sixth place finish the season prior under Vincenzo Montella’s brief stewardship. But much like Roma’s most recent campaign, a European nightmare sent it crashing down. A tricky qualifying round tie against Slovakian champions Slovan Bratislava was always going to be awkward to negotiate, but progression was still expected. A 2-1 loss on aggregate courtesy of a late goal in the second leg at the Stadio Olimpico cast a shadow over Enrique’s tenure before it had even begun. The controversial withdrawal of talismanic ‘il capitano’ Francesco Totti also set tongues wagging about his credentials. The Giallorossi failed to find anything resembling the form required to push for the higher positions in the table after that. An opening day defeat to Cagliari at home also did plenty to set the tone, and crushing defeats at the hands of AC Milan, Fiorentina, Atalanta and Lecce followed. As if to compound the Roma faithful and Enrique’s misery further, Lazio did the double over them — a failing that is rarely abided. Enrique’s experience in Italy was nothing short of a nightmare both for himself and the club. His tumultuous reign was not aided by a Juventus side charging towards their first Scudetto since 2003 and the Calciopoli scandal. Although Enrique saw his team muster a draw against the Bianconeri in December at the Olimpico, it would be the Bianconeri that would have the last laugh. One of the final nails in the beleaguered coach’s coffin was the 4-0 hiding that his 10-men received at the Juventus Stadium in April. While plenty of Juventus fans sang and jeered him that day, Enrique may well have been able to hear a fat lady singing, as time was soon called on a season to forget in a since vastly improved coaching career.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Enrique: ‘Juventus and Barça similar’ Jun 5, 2015 Barcelona Coach Luis Enrique predicts his side will have more possession in the Champions League final, but Juventus ‘have a style similar to ours’. The two sides meet in Berlin tomorrow, with each side seeking to complete the treble, having won their domestic League and cup. “It’s a game where we’ll have more possession of the ball,” Enrique predicted in the pre-match Press conference. “But we’ll have to be alert to a range of problems, because they’ll try and play. They have a similar style to ours. “They have a very good defence, and, like ourselves, they’re going for the treble. Already Allegri has done well to secure the double. “I hope it’s an entertaining match, and we want to win. We’ve done our homework, and each team has its way of playing. “I think it’ll be quite a spectacle, the champions of Italy against the champions of Spain. We’ve won two trophies and now we want to win another.””

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Allegri: An Italian Team In The Champions League Final Is Important Jun 5, 2015 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has said it’s good that his side are in the final of the Champions League for Italian football. La Vecchia Signora face Barcelona in Berlin on June 6 to conclude this season’s top European club competition, with the last time an Italian team being crowned winners of the whole tournament being Inter in 2010, which is also the last time a club from the peninsula have reached the final. “It is important to have an Italian team in the final, especially as a champion,” Allegri told the press. “It is good for our whole national game,” the 47-year-old added. Inter beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in the 2010 final, while the last time Juventus were in the final of the Champions League was in 2003. when they lost to AC Milan on penalties. Since then, apart from the Nerazzurri, Italy have only produced a finalist on two occasions, both being the Rossoneri, coming second place in 2005 and winning it in 2007.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) 'Juventus dangerous on counter' Jun 5, 2015 Gerard Pique says Juventus’ counter-attacks will be Barcelona’s biggest worry in the Champions League final. The centre-back spoke alongside Neymar and Coach Luis Enrique at the pre-match Press conference, and highlighted the threat the Italian side pose. “I think we’ll have possession, and then there will be counter-attacks from them,” Pique explained. “They have players who can go from one end to the other very quickly, and I’m not just talking about Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata. “We’ll have good control of the ball, but the Italians can hold on, we saw that at the Bernabeu and we know what they can do. “We’re ready to exert pressure, we want to drive the ball forward and create chances. “We’ve worked all year, and we want to win. “We have to play, we’re 90 minutes away from perfection.”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Lippi: ’40 per cent chance for Juventus’ Jun 5, 2015 Marcello Lippi believes Juventus have a ’30 or 40 per cent chance’ of beating Barcelona in the Champions League final. The Bianconeri will face the Catalan side in Berlin tomorrow, their first final in the competition since Lippi himself guided them there in 2003. “They definitely have a good chance of succeeding,” the World Cup winner told SuperNews. “That Barcelona have more is something everyone is convinced of, but Juventus also have a chance. I think the team has a ’30 or 40 per cent chance of succeeding, and that’s not small.” The Old Lady will face arguably the best player in the world in Lionel Messi, how can the Argentine be stopped? “With the compactness of the team, only with team cohesion. No one player can stop a phenomenon like him. “He’s the kind of player who you have to face with the compactness of the whole squad, and fortunately that’s a quality Juventus have.”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Buffon: Juventus have a chance against Barcelona The Italy international has acknowledged the Catalans' awesome attacking arsenal but pointed out that the Bianconeri have great players too. Jun 5, 2015 Gianluigi Buffon has insisted that while Barcelona are the clear favourites to prevail in Saturday's Champions League final, his Juventus side "have a chance" of causing an upset. The Bianconeri were dumped out at the group stage last season and little was expected of the Old Lady this season, particularly after the shock departure of influential coach Antonio Conte and subsequent arrival of Massimiliano Allegri as his replacement. However, Juve stunned Real Madrid in this year's semi-finals and Buffon believes that they can spring another surprise in Berlin, even though the goalkeeper concedes that Barcelona's star-studded line-up will take some stopping. "In a one-off final, quality on the pitch will determine the outcome," the Italy icon told reporters on Friday. "As I've been saying for the past week, objectively Barcelona are the favourites because they have great individuals with great skills. "It's only fair to say a team with players like [Lionel] Messi, [Luis] Suarez and Neymar, and [Andres] Iniesta in midfield, are the favourites – of course they are when they're lucky enough to have players like that. "However, when you meet a team like Juventus with [Carlos] Tevez, [Paul] Pogba, [Claudio] Marchisio, [Leonardo] Bonucci etc, we're not scapegoats – we have a chance." Buffon was in between the sticks the last time Juve made the final, in 2003, when the Bianconeri were agonisingly beaten on penalties by fellow Italians AC Milan. As a result, the 37-year-old World Cup winner has since been driven by the desire to lift the most prestigious trophy that has thus far eluded him. "This has been a target that I've pursued over the last few years with my team-mates and the club," Buffon added. "Probably we didn't think that this would be a good year, or the ideal year, for us to reach the final – most importantly a great change because we have a new manager. "We thought it would take two or three years for us to reach the final. We've achieved this objective before that, which is a pleasant but very nice surprise – and we're very happy about it."

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Bonucci: Juventus not in Berlin to be Barcelona's 'victims' The Italy international says that the Bianconeri are a "great team" too and insists that they can cope with the loss of fellow defender Giorgio Chiellini. Jun 5, 2015 Leonardo Bonucci has conceded that Juventus are "one step below" Barcelona - but warned that Massimiliano Allegri's men have no intention of being the Blaugrana's latest "victims" in Saturday's Champions League battle. The Italians have already completed a domestic double and disposed of last year's winners Real Madrid in the last four yet are considered rank outsiders going into their meeting with Luis Enrique's star-studded side in Berlin. Indeed, just like Juve, Barca are bidding for a treble and few pundits are giving the Bianconeri much chance of shutting down 'MSN', particularly with defender Giorgio Chiellini having been ruled out with a calf injury. However, Bonucci says that Juventus have gone from strength to strength since seeing off Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 with a dominant 3-0 win at Signal Iduna Park and claims that the Italian champions' offensive capabilities should not be underestimated. "This game cannot be summarised as Barcelona's attack against a strong Juventus defence," the centre-half told reporters on Friday. "Barcelona are not only strong in attack; they only conceded 20 goals in the league so they're strong at the back as well. "The game will be won and lost in midfield, that's where you'll see the technical skills. "We're going to put on a strong display as a team as we did against Borussia Dortmund. "That was a turning point for us. That's when we realised we're a great team, and that's why we're here. "We got here knowing we're one step below Barcelona but it's a final, one game, so differences will be reduced. "It will be up to us, all 11 of us, to fight for every ball. We're not here to be victims." Bonucci also argued that in Andrea Barzagli, Juve have a world-class replacement for the injured Chiellini. "Losing Giorgio is significant, not just on the pitch but in the dressing room," the Italy international added. "He'll be here supporting us but his character and determination would have been important for us. "But, on the other hand, Italian teams traditionally make the best of difficult situations. "Also, Barzagli is one of the best defenders in the world. He's very strong, particularly in one-on-ones, and there's very few like him in the world. "We come here knowing we're a good team and we're going to do our best to win; we'd dedicate the win to Giorgio."

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Allegri: ‘Barça have weaknesses’ Jun 5, 2015 Juventus Coach Max Allegri believes Barcelona ‘have weaknesses’ and Lionel Messi is not ‘unstoppable’. The Bianconeri will take on Messi and his teammates in Berlin tomorrow night, as they seek to win their first Champions League since 1996. “Tomorrow night, everyone will give their all,” Allegri told the world’s media in the pre-match Press conference. “It’s a one-off game, so we’ll have no chance to get revenge. We’ll have to be in the best physical condition, which we are, and the best mental condition, which we are. “We’re playing against a team which has great individuals, and also a great collective. But, like every team, they have weaknesses. “Is Messi unstoppable? I hope tomorrow he’s stoppable. That’s what we’re here for, otherwise we’d do something else…” Gigi Buffon said earlier in the conference that he wouldn’t ‘tear my hair out’ if the Old Lady are defeated. Will Allegri be tearing his hair out? “No, because I don’t have much as it is!” Allegri laughed. “Tomorrow we have to try to take the final step. It will be difficult, but so is every game in the Champions League. “We started with a big goal, to make the last eight. We did better than that, we’re in the last two. Now we want to be first. “I think tomorrow we’ll be very focused on the game, because it will be a great game. As with every final, a bit of luck will be needed, but we’ll have to be very good to make sure the luck is on our side.”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Allegri: ‘Not about stopping MSN’ Jun 5, 2015 Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri says he’s more concentrated on his team scoring than stopping Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. The Bianconeri will meet Barcelona and their much-vaunted ‘MSN’ front-three in the Champions League final tomorrow, but the tactician is focused on his own side. “Messi-Neymar-Suarez, the talk is always ‘how do you stop them, how do you stop them’,” Allegri said in the pre-match Press conference. “We’ll have to play very well, and score, because it’s difficult to see it finishing 0-0. “Tomorrow night, one of the teams will win the treble, hopefully it’s us. I congratulate [barcelona Coach] Luis Enrique, it’s not easy, it’s never easy for the big teams, even if it looks that way from the outside. “He struggled at Roma, but that’s normal, given he was coming in as an outsider. You could see he had good ideas, and the right ones.” The Coach also confirmed Andrea Barzagli would replace the injured Giorgio Chiellini, provided he is fit enough after an injury lay-off of his own. “I’m sorry about what happened to Chiellini. We’ve lost a guy who has gone all the way in the Champions League, and playing very well. “Fortunately we have Barzagli and Ogbonna. If, as seems to be the case, Barzagli is fine, then Barzagli will play. “If Barzagli has some difficulty, Ogbonna will play.”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Bonucci: ‘Barzagli one of the best’ Jun 5, 2015 Leonardo Bonucci assures Juventus can cope without Giorgio Chiellini in the Champions League final as Andrea Barzagli is ‘one of the best in the world’. Chiellini was ruled out of tomorrow’s match with a calf injury, but his defensive partner insists it will not be a problem to play alongside Barzagli. “I’ve been described as a player with personality, and I want to prove it again tomorrow,” Bonucci told reporters in the pre-match Press conference. “Barzagli has been unlucky for a year, but he’s one of the best in the world. He’s physical, and there’s no-one better than him one-on-one. “The loss of Giorgio is important, it makes things more difficult. But as Italians, its in these moments that we are at our best, we’ve worked well, and we want to dedicate this dream to him, as he’s worked so hard to get here. “We want to dedicate it to him and all of Juventus.” The match comes not long after the 30th anniversary of the Heysel Stadium disaster, in which 39 Juventus fans lost their lives, and Bonucci admits it will provide extra motivation. “The memory of Heysel is an emotional one. The memory of that tragedy is an extra motivation to win the Champions League, to dedicate it to those who lost their lives in pursuit of a dream.” One person who wasn’t happy about the trip to Berlin, is Bonucci’s young son. “Lorenzo asked me, ‘Dad where are you going?’,” the defender smiled. “I told him ‘Berlin’, and he said ‘Ugh, I wanted to go to the beach’. “I told him that on Sunday I will take him to the beach with mamma, and it will be a nice gift.”

Zidane: Pogba should join Real Madrid The Castilla boss wants to see his compatriot join him at the Santiago Bernabeu if he were to leave Juventus and feels it would be a good career move for the young midfielder. Jun 5, 2015 Zinedine Zidane says Paul Pogba should follow in his footsteps by swapping Juventus for Real Madrid should his fellow Frenchman decide to leave Turin. Pogba has developed into one of the best midfielders in the world since joining the Bianconeri on a free transfer from Manchester United in 2012, with the 22-year-old playing a key role in three successive Serie A title triumphs, as well as this season's run to the final of the Champions League. Pogba's remarkable rise has seen him repeatedly linked with a lucrative move to one of Europe's richest clubs and his agent, Mino Raiola, has previously stated that his in-demand client will move on inside the next 18 months. Zidane, who established himself as the best player on the planet during his five-season spell with Juve, retains the utmost respect for the Old Lady but believes that if Pogba really wants to leave, he should ignore other possible destinations and head straight for the Santiago Bernabeu. "I don't know where he will end up, I have no information," the Real Madrid Castilla coach told Radio Monte Carlo. "Pogba has the quality to play wherever he wants. "Now, if he has to leave Juventus... I adore Real Madrid and the best players play here, so I think it would be good for him to come. This is not a current issue right now but he has incredible potential." Pogba has the chance to endear himself to Madrid fans by inspiring Juve to victory over Real's great rivals Barcelona in Saturday's Champions League final in Berlin.