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JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Barcelona have faced nothing like Juventus - Lippi The former Bianconeri boss insists the Spanish champions will have to be on their guard on Saturday as they come up against a new challenge in Juve. Jun 5, 2015 Juventus' 1996 Champions League-winning coach Marcello Lippi believes the Bianconeri will present Barcelona with their toughest tactical proposition in some time when the two sides meet in the 2015 final in Berlin on Saturday. Lippi, who also led Italy to World Cup glory in 2006, has told Goal that the Serie A champions have qualities that Barca have yet to face under Luis Enrique, making them something of an unknown quantity to the Catalans. "These are the best two teams in Europe this season, but when a team gets to this point in a continental competition there are no certainties," explained Lippi. "In my opinion, Luis Enrique and his side have not faced a team so compact, sturdy and so willing to defend as Juventus. "But the Bianconeri also know how to counter-attack with speed when they regain possession, and this could be a factor in how the game turns out. Barcelona are favourites, of course, but I don't think it will be as easy for them as many seem to think. "The Catalans have Martians in their attack in Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, and that will make life very complicated for Allegri. But Juve are organised and tough, and we mustn't forget that Buffon is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. I expect a more balanced game than most seem to think it will be." The 67-year-old added that he sees something in this Juve side that he has seen somewhere before. "This Juve is growing similarly to my side back in the 1990s, first in Italy and then in Europe. Perhaps before long they will find themselves winning the Club World Cup just as we won the Intercontinental Cup in 1996. I would be delighted if Allegri were to win the trophy. I am not envious as they are all feelings I experienced and they are intoxicating." And Lippi agrees that Juve have shown a flexibility in their Champions League campaign which bodes well ahead of the final. "I have no doubt about it, just look at the things we've seen from this side. In Dortmund, for example, Juventus really took the initiative, showing superiority and a real awareness of their potential. Then against Madrid they got on top in the home leg, and while they were forced to suffer a little in the return that is normal for any side at the Bernabeu. They could even have won that game when you consider some of the chances they created. "After three league titles, Allegri has come in and really added something. He has removed any anxieties from the squad and they have grown tactically. They now play in two different shapes without any transitional issues. This I how huge teams function. "Luis Enrique has had a similar impact at Barcelona, and has got the best out of Suarez, Neymar and Messi while at the same time they recognise that he is the leader. We all know how the Blaugrana play, the way they use the ball so well and are hard to break down, but they have never faced a team like Juventus, who are so willing to defend so Messi and company will find it difficult "Juve, though, must believe in themselves and take advantage of Barca's weaknesses. They must not be in awe of the opposition, and remember that all of the pressure is on Barcelona. I expect Juve to be tactically astute, and in 90 minutes anything can happen." The former Napoli and Inter boss, who had two separate spells in charge of both Juve and the Italian national side, insists there is no set way to prepare for a final. "Everyone has their own way to prepare for such an event. The important thing is to be focused on the goal, on the field. In a final you have to expect that there will be slight deviations to the general rules, but the only important thing is the result."

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Simeone: Barcelona are much more complete under Luis Enrique The Atletico Madrid coach believes the Spanish champions are now playing as a team, not individuals - but insists Juventus have an equally good chance of victory in Berlin. Jun 5, 2015 It will be a fascinating final. No two teams in the Champions League have been more consistent this season than Barcelona and Juventus. Two strong sides, with very different styles, meet in Berlin – and both of them are going for a treble. Barcelona have had a magnificent season. Their attacking strength and growth in defence has helped them to achieve so much already in 2014-15. Their attacking potential is impressive. Be it on the counter-attack, in individual moves finished by Neymar, Lionel Messi or Luis Suarez, or in their passing play, they have so many tools with which to decide a match. Between December and now, they have improved immensely. The great virtue of Luis Enrique and the club was to get their excellent individuals gelling as a team. Messi returned to the right wing, with Luis Suarez in the position where he has thrived his whole career. Neymar as well. That has made the team much more complete and it’s the great thing about football: if the best players understand better how to play as a team, everything is much stronger. That's what happened at Barcelona as the coach and the players understood what was best for the team and the collective – not only individuals. When that happened, the collective became much stronger – and they haven't looked back. Messi scored another wonderful goal in the final of the Copa del Rey last Saturday. Year after year, he continues to surprise us. Last season, he perhaps lacked the consistency we have become accustomed to from him. But this year, he is at such a high level that we expect something different from him every week. In the final of the Copa del Rey, he showed once again what a great player he is. If you don't control him from the first instant, he makes things even harder for you because he sees things before anyone else. That's why he is the best in the world. It is impossible to control him in any case. You try to control him with spaces, looking at where he can get to and where he is dangerous. But he moves inside and outside, down the wing, on the left. It's very difficult to think about controlling a player who is uncontrollable. There's no way. But it's only one game and Juventus have as much chance as Barcelona. Anything is possible over 90 minutes and Juventus have their weapons, too: they are strong defensively, very good at dead balls and have a powerful attack. They are capable of playing an extraordinary game. We all talk about Barcelona's brilliance, but let's not forget that Juventus have won the Coppa Italia and their league as well. Italian teams are used to competing in the big tournaments like this. We have seen it in World Cups, in European Championships and now in the Champions League too. This game for Juventus is interesting because it is probably the last for a group of footballers who have been working towards this moment for several seasons. It looks like Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez and Paul Pogba could be moving on in the summer – and they will want to sign off with a win. The midfield battle will be key. Arturo Vidal and Roberto Pereyra, if he plays, can help Juventus in the transition between defence and attack. Barcelona press high up the pitch, so their role in moving the ball forward quickly and with quality will be vital. Likewise Ivan Rakitic and Sergio Busquets because they will compensate for the attack by adding the balance Barcelona have had this season. That has allowed Andres Iniesta, Neymar, Suarez and Messi to showcase their attacking qualities - but they wouldn’t be able to do so as effectively without that support from midfield. Also in midfield, this will be the last time we see Xavi and Pirlo together in a big match like this one. They are two wonderful footballers and I would advise any young players to watch them: the way they compete, their behaviour on the pitch, their movement, personality and the way they live this sport. They have played the game with a style that is completely different from any other footballer in their position over the last few years - and they have left their mark on Italian and Spanish football. There is also the prospect of a fantastic duel between Messi and Tevez. One of the two will be champion again – and that makes us Argentines happy. All in all, it will be a great spectacle.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Van Nistelrooy reveals the secret to stop Messi, Neymar and Suarez The ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid star believes he has worked out a formula for Juventus to use in order to keep the Barcelona attack quiet on Saturday. Jun 5, 2015 Former Manchester United goal machine Ruud van Nistelrooy has offered Juventus some advice on how to stop Barcelona's fabled front three in this weekend's Champions League final. Luis Enrique's men are favourites for the clash in Berlin mainly thanks to their all-star front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar who have broken all kinds of scoring records this season. "I have found the secret to stop them and it could be good information for their opponents," Van Nistelrooy told Goal at the #ChampionTheMatch event organized by Heineken in Mexico City. "I think the only way to stop Messi, Neymar and Suarez is to block the other eight players of the team. You must stop the passes coming into them. "When Neymar, Suarez and Messi are functioning, Barcelona have the best attack in the world." Van Nistelrooy enjoyed an illustrious career, scoring almost 400 goals for club and country as he starred for the likes of Manchester United, Real Madrid and PSV. The Dutchman commented on the decision by his former club United to allow Juventus star Pogba to leave for Italy on a free transfer in 2012. "It is easy to say it was a mistake in hindsight," he noted. "If you see the player that he has became, then obviously United should never have let him go, but when he left he was very young. A team makes its decisions and sometimes it can go the other way." The former striker also revealed his favourite team-mates from his career as well as his toughest opponents. "I played against so many good defenders in my career, the best I remember playing against were Milan's backline of Cafu, Jaap Stam, Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini and Dida. They were the strongest," he stated. "The best partnership I had in attack was with Raul at Real Madrid or with Luc Nilis at PSV. Paul Scholes made be a better player and striker at Manchester United."

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Juventus - Barcelona Goalscorer Betting: Is there a better bet than backing Messi to break the deadlock? The Argentine is the shortest priced player to find the back of the net but there are plenty of other options for those looking to back a goalscorer in Saturday's final. Jun 5, 2015 Trying to pick a goalscorer bet for the Champions League final is a little like letting a child loose in a sweet shop. In the same way that an infant would fill up their bag with sugary delicacies given free reign, punters must try and avoid filling their betslip with a number of different names of potential scorers. And there are a great many. bet365's and, with so many goalscorers on show, it could be a profitable game for those who choose wisely. The online bookmaker will match each customer's biggest pre-match bet (up to £50) with a risk-free bet of the same value. Leading the market, naturally, is Lionel Messi, with the Argentine having recently enjoyed some of the best months in his already legendary career. Scoring, assisting and generally looking as close to unstoppable as it is possible for a footballer to look, Messi has surpassed our already stratospheric expectations of him. And yet, should he fail to deliver in the final of the Champions League it might just be the tiniest blot on an otherwise impeccable season. He has scored in each of the two finals he has contested in this competition and bet365 currently price him at to find the back of the net once more in Berlin. To practically double your money by backing Messi to score is probably too tempting for most and the price will no doubt be eagerly devoured by punters, so expect it to come in before kick-off. He is not the only attractive proposition in the goalscorers market, though, with forward partners Neymar and Luis Suarez both excellent options in their own right. Between them this season, the trio have scored 120 goals, and in the Champions League Suarez in particular has been impressive. The Uruguayan has scored six goals in nine appearances and can be backed at to add to that tally, the same price as his Brazilian counterpart. In truth, punters can back any one of these three to score at any time and be confident in their investment, while there are also a number of options in the Juventus side as well. Their shortest priced player to score is Carlos Tevez, offered at and also extremely easy to invest in given his form. The 31-year-old ended the Serie A season with 20 goals, the second highest campaign tally of his career, while in Europe he has flourished, scoring seven in the Champions League, including the winner against Real Madrid. Speaking of the Blancos, their former striker Alvaro Morata, the man who netted in both legs of the semi-finals, is available at . Those are the front-runners but there are many other players capable of scoring, the likes of Andres Iniesta available at - a man who knows what it is like to score a big goal - or Paul Pogba, the prodigiously talented Frenchman offered at the same price. Last year, it was a centre-back who scored the vital strike, with Sergio Ramos' 93rd minute equaliser going down in history as one of the most dramatic goals ever scored in a Champions League final. Could a defender prove equally as valuable this season? Barcelona's Gerard Pique is offered at to score, while for Juve, Leonardo Bonucci - who has netted four times this season - is available at . Those are the main options, although what most potential investors in the game will be thinking is: is there a better bet than Lionel Messi to score first at ? The answer, is probably not.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Ferocious Italian defending makes Juventus best bet to finally stop Barcelona Previous Champions League opponents have tried to out-play the Catalans, but the Serie A winners' mix of brutal defending and counter-punching poses a new test. Jun 5, 2015 Juventus do not merely need to be good against Barcelona, they need to be flawless. Luis Enrique's side – and their superlative-defying No.10 – have risen from the ashes of a seven-goal thumping against Bayern Munich two years ago to become the most attractive and dominant team in Europe once more. The Bavarian beating they took was supposed to herald the end of club football's greatest team, but this new iteration may be even more explosive and dangerous than any before it. The club's 'MSN' attack – an acronym of a defunct messenger service hardly seems to do Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar justice – have scored a barely comprehensible 120 goals in all competitions this season. No three-piece has ever been so prolific, and there is no team in world football that has managed so many goals in their domestic season – it's a tally that is 16 per cent higher than the Premier League record. How can a side look to temper such firepower? Bayern boss Pep Guardiola, more familiar with the coruscating Catalans than anyone else, tried to man-mark every player on the pitch when he took his current club to Camp Nou in the semi-finals, a tactic that had troubled his own Barca when they were hounded by Marcelo Bielsa's Athletic in 2011. Guardiola, though, was forced into a very early reshuffle after Manuel Neuer's reflexes were put to the test again and again. Unlike on previous occasions, this was not a pre-planned rouse; even Guardiola had misjudged how lethal his opponents were, and the contest was over when Messi meme-ified Jerome Boateng before dinking the ball over Neuer. Bayern did reclaim some pride in the return leg - though the contest had long since been decided – and became only the second side to beat Barca in their last 34 matches. Indeed, both the Catalans and Messi have been different beasts since the turn of the year; they have won 84% of Liga matches in the second half of the campaign, while Messi has 35 goals and 18 assists in 2015 already, including that stupendous solo goal in the Copa del Rey final. The Argentine was one of few people not to be tickled by Cristiano Ronaldo's Ballon d’Or-winning war cry, motivated instead to ensure it is he who gives next year's speech. Criticised not so long ago for eating too much pizza, he - and Sergio Aguero - sought the help of Italian dietician Giuliano Poser to overhaul his eating habits. He's leaner, stronger, vomit-free and evidentially more chiselled – and arguably in the best form of his glittering career. Stopping him, and Barca, is a near-impossible feat. The Blaugrana are like a footballing hydra, cut off one head – or nullify one threat – and two more pop up in its place. They have been prevented from scoring just five times in all competitions this season, by Malaga, twice, Celta Vigo, Getafe and David Moyes's Real Sociedad. But it is Malaga who provide the closest thing to a blueprint for beating Barca. "You have to control the game through good defensive work, not through possession, because you cannot do that against Barcelona," explains los Boquerones boss Javi Gracia. "The player who wins the ball back must play it forward immediately, to bypass their initial press. The forwards must be waiting for that moment, to offer themselves in the spaces we know will be there if their full-backs are pushed forward. If you do not break and hold the ball against Barcelona, you never get out. They have possession, possession, possession, and in the end you are exhausted – and then you are in trouble." Malaga surrendered possession - 27%, their lowest tally of the season - congested the midfield, double- and treble-marked Messi in dangerous areas and funnelled the play out wide. Not only did that entice the full-backs higher up the pitch, and thus grant more space to counter-attack into, but it also forced Barca to cross more. Their 38 open-play crosses at home to Malaga was the most they attempted in a single match this season. Interestingly, of the top nine games in which Barca attempted their most crosses, four saw them fail to score; the more they cross, the less dangerous they are. In the end they mustered just four efforts on target against a side who would finish the season in ninth. The success of Malaga's gameplan hinged on an acceptance that they could not match Barcelona, that they were inferior. It is that mindset that most Champions League clubs, usually so dominant in their own countries, are reluctant – unable, even – to accept. PSG, Manchester City (whose manager, Manuel Pellegrini, said they would play against Barca as they had Newcastle three days earlier) and Bayern all looked to beat Barca at their own game. But in Juventus, finally there is a challenger who will adapt. The Italian champions are the first side Barcelona will face in the Champions League who positively embrace defending. Though domestically they are far superior to any other side, usually dominating possession and dictating tempo, they are just as adept, and perhaps even more comfortable, sitting back and absorbing pressure. In the final half hour at the Santiago Bernabeu in the semi-final second leg, they afforded Real Madrid 64% possession but gave up just one shot on target. If Barca's supply of attacking threats never depletes, then the same is true of Juve's defenders. La Liga-taunter Giorgio Chiellini, absent through injury, is likely to be replaced by an arguably even purer defender in Andrea Barzagli, assuming he can shake off a knock. Following Malaga's lead and forcing Barca to cross feels like the perfect ploy for a side with more headed clearances (165) than any other team in this year's competition. "We need to stay compact and keep it tight," says Max Allegri, and his Bianconeri side are well placed to do just that having kept six clean sheets in their 12 Champions League outings this term. They have conceded a mere five goals from inside the box – Bayern and PSG, obliterated by Barca, conceded 12 apiece. But as Malaga boss Gracia points out, you cannot merely defend against Barca, and what makes Juventus such a threat to the Catalans is their ability to marry their solid, rugged back-line with a quick-transitioning midfield and explosive front-line. If Juve can negotiate Barca's first pressing wave, they will find less resistance in midfield where the lung-busting energy of Paul Pogba, Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal will take over. One thing Bayern did well was to harass and harry Barca's midfield, stopping Sergio Busquets from providing his usual calm control of the ball (his passing accuracy dipped almost 10% in that game compared to his season average) and Juve's likely midfield diamond – which will naturally push Barca out wide – is even better equipped to cajole their opposite numbers. Up front, meanwhile, Carlos Tevez is virtually the perfect striker to lead the line against the overwhelming amount of possession Barca are expected to have. The Argentine has played this game before – for Manchester United in 2008, specifically – and is able to drop into midfield when needed, hound Barca's isolated centre-backs and exploit the space left by marauding full-backs. Always possessed of the ability to produce a moment of pure magic, his duel with countryman and one-time West Ham team-mate Javier Mascherano could be decisive, as will Juve's set-piece threat. Juventus, then, are that rare breed of a side: an elite team capable of elite defending. There are almost shades of the Italian national side that won the World Cup in 2006 in terms of the belief and resolve that pulses through the side. There will be no bold tactics, no outside-the-box scheming, just defending at its most simple and effective. The onus is on Barcelona, and Messi, to find a way through without getting burned on the break.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Juventus - Barcelona Betting: Allegri's men can frustrate the Catalans but the favourites should prevail With both sides seeking a treble, the Champions League final could be a keenly contested affair, but ultimately the Blaugrana should be too strong for the Italians in Berlin. Jun 5, 2015 While it may not be the final that many expected after the draw for the last four was made, Saturday's Champions League showdown in Berlin has the potential to be quite a spectacle and is sure to add to the occasion for bettors. It sees the meeting of two giants of world football, both in exceptional form and both on the verge of completing an historic treble. Barcelona's exceptional run since February has been well documented, with the Blaugrana steadily gathering momemtum, sweeping all before them and playing the kind of football synonymous with their lauded heritage. They are quite rightly favourites in Berlin because, for one thing, they have Lionel Messi. Whether or not this has been Messi's best ever season is open to debate, but what is more clear-cut is the fact that it has almost certainly been his most effective campaign. Not only has his blistering scoring continued (58 goals in all competitions) but he was also La Liga's leading giver of assists, which is testament to the understanding he has build with fellow forwards Neymar and Luis Suarez since thier arrival at Camp Nou. Between them the trio have netted 120 times this season and, couple that with a defence which conceded just 21 goals in 38 league games, it is evident that there is a balance in the Barcelona side which is a recipe for success. And yet they face a Juventus team who too have been exceptional this season. The Old Lady of Italian football has topped Serie A for the fourth successive year, boasting the best attack with the meanest defence and in the Champions League semi-finals against Real Madrid they were magnificently organised. There is, however, a feeling that perhaps Juve were better set up to deal with the threat of Madrid, as Massimiliano Allegri's team forced the Blancos out wide and then dealt effectively with their crosses. Barcelona will be harder to nullify, especially without key defender Giorgio Chiellini, and Juve are rank outisders priced at to win in 90 minutes with bet365, who are top priced on a Catalan triumph at with the draw offered at . Only the most hardened of punter will be investing in a Barcelona win outright, although there are better ways to back the Spanish champions. The price of for them to score over 1.5 goals is not enormous but might be large enough to tempt some, given it has paid out in 10 of Barcelona's last 11 matches in the competition. This is an extremely solid selection considering Chiellini's absence, but those seeking a more adventurous option could do worse than investing in Draw/Barcelona in the half-time/full-time market at . It is easy to see Barcelona coming out strong in the first half, Juve wearing the storm but ultimately succumbing in the second period. The Italians were level at half-time in three of their last last four Champions League matches and they are capable of matching the Blaugrana for 45 minutes. But not for the whole game. The draw at the break is offered at which itself is worthy of consideration, but for the biggest club game in world football we will be a little bolder and back Barcelona to win in 90 minutes after being level at half-time.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Juventus Vs Barcelona – Preview: Bianconeri To Battle In Berlin For The Treble Jun 5, 2015 Juventus are bidding to become just the second Italian club to win the Treble as they take on Barcelona, who are also on course for their own Treble, in the Champions League final at Berlin’s Olympiastadion on Saturday night. Both sides will be featuring in their eighth European Cup final, with Barcelona having been victorious on four previous occasions while the Bianconeri will hope to avoid an unenviable record of losing six finals. This will be the first meeting between the two sides since the 2002/03 edition of the competition when Juventus emerged as 3-2 winners on aggregate in the quarter-finals. Marcelo Zalayeta scored an extra-time winner at the Camp Nou to give the Bianconeri a famous 2-1 victory in the second leg, their first win on Spanish soil for 33 long years. Juventus have seen of the challenges of Real Madrid, Monaco and Borussia Dortmund in the knock-out stages to reach the show-piece final in Berlin. Barcelona on the other hand overcame Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City. Two players still remain from those previous meetings, Gianluigi Buffon for Juventus and Barcelona’s Xavi. Current Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique captained the Blaugrana in the second leg, while former Bianconeri coach Antonio Conte was an unused substitute in both games. Massimilliano Allegri has a selection headache as Giorgio Chiellini is set to miss the final after picking up a injury to his left calf on Wednesday, he could be replaced by Andrea Barzagli has recovered from a thigh problem just at the right time. Luis Enrique has a fully fit squad at his disposal, aside from Andres Iniesta, who missed training on Tuesday but should be ready for Saturday. In what is his final appearance in the famous Blaugrana shirt, Xavi will likely have to be content with a place on the bench. All eyes will be on this season’s leading Champions League goalscorer, Lionel Messi who has been superlative alongside Luis Suarez and Neymar. The deadly trio have scored 25 goals between them throughout the competition, nine more than the entire Bianconeri squad have mustered. Form Guide: Juventus (D-W-D-W-W-W) Barcelona (L-W-W-W-W-W) Expected Starting XIs Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Barzagli, Evra; Marchisio, Pirlo, Pogba; Vidal; Tevez, Morata Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Neymar

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Luis Enrique, Allegri deserve respect for reaching Champions League final Jun 5, 2015 It's the pinnacle of any manager's career, but the contradiction is that winning the Champions League doesn't always necessitate peak managerial performance. Take the contrast with which some victorious managers are viewed. While those like Brian Clough and Ernst Happel are rightfully seen as geniuses for delivering the trophy, the same compliments are not extended to other winners like Dettmar Cramer or Roberto Di Matteo. Context is of course crucial to this, and some coaches are clearly the grand architects of victories, while some are merely lucky enough to oversee the finishing touches. That is also what makes the context of the 2015 final all the more compelling, and the wonder is how either Luis Enrique or Max Allegri will be remembered by history once the trophy is lifted on Saturday. Right now, one of the strands of this year's showpiece is that both are considered relatively minor factors in how Barcelona and Juventus got this far. The general feeling prevails that they have mostly just acted on the work of others, and neither is really rated in the way some of their predecessors were. The way in which their role has been minimised also goes against the recent history of the competition. Just as the Champions League has come to be dominated by super-clubs, that has been driven by the grandest managerial names of the past decade. All of Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and, to a lesser extent, Jupp Heynckes and Carlo Ancelotti were seen as finishing their sides with specific qualities that only those individual coaches could have offered. That has not been the case with either Luis Enrique or Allegri. A widespread opinion is that the majority of competent coaches could have managed what they did. Luis Enrique has had the benefit of one of the best attacks ever put together at Barcelona, a fine base beyond that, and the historic brilliance of Leo Messi. The Spanish coach may even be dispensed with this summer due to the politics of the club, regardless of what happens in Berlin. Allegri, meanwhile, had the foundation laid by Antonio Conte, as well as a very lavish house on top of it with pretty much a penthouse view. The Juventus he took over in July were three-time champions and at the peak of their powers. It's fair to say neither man is the main story in this final, but that in itself is what makes their own stories so rich and engaging. While it is possibly true that neither Luis Enrique nor Allegri could have built these teams up to the level they were at when they took over, the way in which they have steered the sides since should not be dismissed. The latter is a skill in itself, and the history of the European Cup has repeatedly proven it. There are actually a fair few examples of fine squads that just needed an astute tweak, rather than a touch of genius. As Franz Beckenbauer said of the Bayern Munich side that won three European Cups between 1973 and 1976, the squad was so good they didn't really need a manager. They needed "a psychologist." It was not too different with Real Madrid in 1955-60. They won five successive European Cups but also had five different managers throughout that time. A Barca with someone as good as Messi are perhaps comparable to these sides. Similarly, some champions only moved on to the next level thanks to the insight of otherwise moderate managers who were not at the same level as their predecessors. Take perhaps the greatest European champions ever, Ajax 1970-73. Although Rinus Michels was the visionary who put it all together, he won only one of their three European Cups, and the team arguably surpassed even that level under his successor Stefan Kovacs. "With Kovacs, we played even better," former Ajax midfielder Arnold Muhren argued, "because we were good players who had been given freedom." It was not that Kovacs could have done what Michels did. He couldn't. It would have been beyond him. It was that he had the detached view to spot the small things that hadn't yet been done that completed the team. A similar dynamic played out at Liverpool between Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan in the 1980s, and then at Milan between Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello in the 1990s. Sometimes, it's the case that the original manager is too invested in the project to take an objective view on the final touches necessary to go further. That is arguably what happened with Juventus. Conte constructed the team but was also obsessed with that team always being fused together by ferocious intensity. The energy of their pressing marked the side apart, but one problem was the Italian didn't know when to set some games apart and turn it down a notch. It meant they were often off peak condition when it came to the big Champions League games. Allegri, by contrast, surveyed all of this and made the right amendments. Although he generally kept Conte's structures, he realised there was no need for such energy in routine league games. Allegri also trusted his players to know when to raise it. The semifinal against Real Madrid was the perfect example. Juventus managed the momentum of both legs supremely, and were arguably at their strongest and most robust in the closing minutes of the second leg. Those in the team also say there was no grand turning point when the squad accepted him. There was no need for one. He came in and gradually altered things in a nuanced way. That was not the case with Barca and Luis Enrique. There was a distinctive turning point, and a dire need for one. That was down to the fact Luis Enrique initially tried to do too much, instilling too much discipline. It backfired, leading to the infamous personality clash with Messi after January's 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad. That looked like the moment it was all going to fall apart. Instead, it was the moment it all came together, as the two sides -- the leading players and the manager -- also came closer together. As technical director Charly Rexach admitted, Luis Enrique "relaxed" his many rules, and Messi acquiesced a bit. A recent El Pais report claimed much of the credit for the latter should go to Xavi, who had a proper discussion about it all with the Argentine, but that has also been part of Luis Enrique's learned astuteness. He has allowed players like Xavi and Messi to influence the team's tactics, and that has in turn allowed another aspect of the manager's discipline to assert itself -- namely, his rigorous dedication to fitness. Through Luis Enrique's work with his longtime physical coach Rafel Pol, he finally has the Barca squad looking as powerfully fit as it did in that historically good Champions League final win over Manchester United in May 2011. That marks some change given the general fatigue that seemed to afflict the side over the past three years, and is the change that was needed. That, again, is not to be so readily dismissed. Luis Enrique ultimately has a host of brilliant players back in the type of condition where they can produce their best form when it matters most. It seems elementary, but it makes such a big difference. It means you always have a big chance. Of course, it has only emphasised Messi's importance to this team above anyone else, but that is the point of management: to get the best out of your available resources. That should not be forgotten, regardless of how either of these managers will be remembered.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Juventus-Barcelona: Champions League final predicted XIs Jun 5, 2015 The Champions League final sees Italian champions Juventus take on Spanish champions Barcelona in Berlin this Saturday. Both teams are aiming to do the Treble, but who will prevail? All the latest team news and the predicted starting XIs below. Juventus vs. Barcelona Juventus team news: Barring any more late injuries -- Giorgio Chiellini was ruled out on Thursday with a calf strain he picked up in training on Wednesday -- Massimiliano Allegri should have no doubts about his starting XI to face Barcelona on Saturday. Andrea Barzagli should recover in time to take the place of Chiellini, but if he doesn't, then Angelo Ogbonna, who made 16 starts in Serie A this season, will be thrown in. The former Torino central defender has made only one appearance in the Champions League this season -- in the 1-0 defeat at Olympiacos in the group stage, but Allegri will need him to complete his back four. Up front, Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata have become Juve's first-choice attack over the course of this season, and both have had their appearances dosed in recent weeks to ensure they will be fit for the final. If there is any doubt at all, it comes in midfield, where the post-injury form of Paul Pogba has caused a little concern. He has had a few weeks of reduced activity in a bid to get back to peak condition, however, and is normally a first-choice starter. Roberto Pereyra or semifinal surprise pick Stefano Sturaro are the alternatives. Barcelona team news: Barcelona's only selection concern was over midfielder Andres Iniesta, who picked up a calf injury in Saturday's 3-1 Copa del Rey final win over Athletic Bilbao, but he returned to training on Thursday and should be OK to start. Veteran Xavi Hernandez or youngster Rafinha Alcantara are standing by if required. Centre-forward Luis Suarez returned from a hamstring problem against Athletic and looks sure to start again up front with Lionel Messi and Neymar. Versatile Argentina international Javier Mascherano should again play at centre-back, although Frenchman Jeremy Mathieu is likely to play some role off the bench over the 90 minutes.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Champions League treble: The seven clubs who claimed the prize Jun 5, 2015 On Saturday, both Barcelona and Juventus will be aiming to complete the eighth treble in European club football history. Here's a look at the previous seven... Celtic, 1967 The first European Cup won by a British side was secured by a team of players all born within 30 miles of Celtic Park, but it's often forgotten that this was not the only trophy lifted by Jock Stein's side in 1966-67. In fact, while the qualifying factor for a "real" treble is the domestic league, main domestic cup and the European Cup, just to be on the safe side Celtic won absolutely everything they competed in that year, including the Scottish League Cup and the Glasgow Cup. They played 62 games in five competitions, losing just three of them and scoring an utterly absurd 196 goals in the process. Of the three big trophies, the Scottish Cup was the first to be secured as they beat Aberdeen 2-0 at Hampden Park, the goals coming either side of half-time from Willie Wallace. Then came the league, in which Rangers challenged them until the penultimate game of the campaign. That game, at Ibrox, saw Celtic needing just a point to claim the title and a brace from Jimmy Johnstone sealed a 2-2 draw. And then Lisbon. Internazionale were a fearsome machine, having won the European Cup in both 1964 and 1965 under Helenio Herrera, but Celtic beat them, coming back from a goal down to seal the 2-1 victory. Tommy Gemmell got the first with a rocket from outside the area, then Stevie Chalmers turned in the winner, seven minutes from time. "Winning the European Cup was the making of the club," winger Bobby Lennox told FourFourTwo a few years ago. "After that everyone knew about Celtic. We even beat Real Madrid two weeks later. They'd won it the previous year and they kept saying they were the real champions, but we went and beat them 1-0 on their own patch in front of 135,000 people." Ajax 1972 The aesthetes' choice, Ajax's European Cup win in 1972 was the middle of three in a row for the brilliant "Total Football" side of the early 1970s, built by Rinus Michels and led by Johan Cruyff. Michels actually left halfway through the season in late 1971 to manage Barcelona, so it was left to Stefan Kovacs to build on the work done by his great predecessor. In 1971, Ajax won the European Cup and the KNVB Cup, but finished second in the league to Feyenoord. The next year no such mistakes were made, and they lost just one game in the league, finishing a whopping (in the days of two points for a win) eight points ahead of Feyenoord, before securing the cup by edging FC Den Haag (now ADO Den Haag) out 3-2 in the final. Then the big one. After sweeping Marseille, Arsenal and Benfica aside, they faced Inter in Rotterdam. Ajax dominated the game; a defensive Inter side unable to hold back the likes of Cruyff, Johan Neeskens and Piet Keizer. It was Cruyff who scored the goals, one just after the break and the second 12 minutes from the end, to secure the game and Ajax's treble. For good measure, they won the Intercontinental Cup later that year too, beating Independiente of Argentina over two legs. PSV, 1988 Before taking over at PSV in March 1987, Guus Hiddink had never managed before (although he was PSV assistant to Jan Reker for four years), but he made the whole affair look implausibly easy, bagging a treble in his very first full season. What's more remarkable is that PSV achieved this remarkable feat having sold star midfielder Ruud Gullit, who had left for AC Milan after a disagreement with the club's hierarchy the previous summer. The Eredivisie title was signed, sealed and delivered with barely a bead of sweat breaking on their collective brows, losing just twice and winning with four games to spare -- nine points ahead of Ajax. They scored a remarkable 117 goals in the process: nine in a single game on two occasions, seven once and six five times. The cup was slightly more of a struggle, PSV requiring extra-time to beat Roda JC, with Soren Lerby scoring the decisive goal in a 3-2 win. However, while they had been dominant domestically, their European campaign was a harder task. Indeed, remarkable as it might seem, the 2-0 win over Austria Wien in the second round was the last game they actually won in a conventional manner, reaching the final by beating Bordeaux and Real Madrid with 1-1 draws in the away leg of both quarter and semifinals, before drawing 0-0 in the second match. They played Benfica in the final, but 120 minutes of play could not split the sides, and penalties ensued. Both sides scored their initial five; Anton Janssen converted the first sudden death effort for PSV before Antonio Veloso had his effort saved by Hans van Breukelen. Five of the PSV side -- Van Breukelen, Ronald Koeman, Wim Kieft, Berry van Aerle and Gerald Vanenburg -- would go on to help Netherlands to win Euro '88 that summer, their first and only international tournament success to date. Manchester United, 1999 The most remarkable of the many remarkable things about Manchester United's treble in 1999, the finest achievement by any English club side, is that on so many occasions it very nearly didn't happen. They were behind on the closing day of the league season, when a defeat would have cost them the Premiership title; they were a Dennis Bergkamp penalty away from losing in the semifinal of the FA Cup; and then of course there's the Champions League final against Bayern Munich. "I was just starting to adjust to losing the game," Sir Alex Ferguson said of the final, which saw United 1-0 behind as injury-time approached. "I had reminded myself to keep my dignity and accept that it wasn't going to be our year. What then happened simply stunned me." It stunned pretty much everyone else, too. United secured the league title with that final day win over Tottenham, goals from David Beckham and Andy Cole securing the victory required to win the prize by a single point from Arsenal. Then came the FA Cup final, which was a slightly curious non-event given the limp challenge offered by opponents Newcastle, and the resting of a few players for the clash with Bayern in the Camp Nou a few days later. And then the Barcelona final. What makes this perhaps the finest treble is the manner in which it was won; not the most dominant, nor probably the best team, but by some distance the most dramatic. Goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in injury-time -- after Bayern had led via a Mario Basler free kick since the sixth minute -- secured the treble in the most extraordinary manner. "I can't believe it," said then UEFA president Lennart Johansson, who had left his seat in the stands with United 1-0 down and arrived pitchside to present the trophy to them after the 2-1 victory. "The winners are crying and the losers are dancing." Barcelona, 2009 Looking back, appointing Pep Guardiola as Barcelona manager was a relatively ridiculous decision. This was, after all, not just a man who had never managed a senior team being put in charge of one of the biggest clubs in world football, but also a club that needed something of a revamp after the last days of Frank Rijkaard. But Guardiola made a mockery of sense and logic by casually winning the treble in his first season in charge, and building arguably the greatest club side Europe has ever seen. The season was marked out by significant victories: from the 6-2 demolition of Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the closing weeks of the league season, to Andres Iniesta's injury-time winner in the Champions League semifinal against Chelsea, to the final itself. The Copa del Rey was the first title, Barca storming back from a goal down against Athletic Bilbao with four in just over half an hour to win 4-1. La Liga was next, won by nine clear points, technically sealed after Villarreal beat Real in May but really secured when braces from Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry eviscerated and demoralised their great rivals 6-2 at the Bernabeu earlier in the month. And then the Champions League, sealed in Rome against Manchester United, with Samuel Eto'o and Messi netting in a 2-0 win that was one of the most dominant in recent memory. "We are not the best team in history," said Guardiola. "But we have played the best season in history to win the three titles." Inter Milan, 2010 If Jose Mourinho ever lifts the Champions League with Chelsea, he'll become the first manager to win the Champions League/European Cup in three different countries. In 2010 he achieved another first, specifically becoming the first Italian team to win a treble, doing so with an Inter side built entirely in his image. Mourinho was hired to replace Roberto Mancini, with the key directive of improving Inter's performance in Europe, something he of course did with some gusto. Indeed, this was a season characterised not only by Inter's own excellence, but by their frustration of basically everyone around them (and not just through Mourinho's antics), denying a couple of teams their own moments of glory. Serie A was won by just two points, Inter securing the title and holding off Roma with a 1-0 victory over Siena on the final day, the goal scored by Diego Milito, which came a couple of weeks after they had beaten the same opponents in the Coppa Italia final, again via a 1-0 victory thanks to Milito. After parking the bus to ensure his 10-men overcame Barcelona in the semi, Mourinho then relied on Milito to score both in the 2-0 Champions League final win over Bayern Munich, who were themselves chasing their country's first treble. It was Mourinho's last game, leaving Inter for Real Madrid with the words: "I want to become the only coach to win the Champions League with three different clubs. I'm not leaving Inter, I'm leaving Italy." Bayern Munich, 2013 There are good ways to go out, there are great ways to go out, and then there's the Jupp Heynckes way to go out. The German had already won the Champions League in his final game at Real Madrid in 1998 before they sacked him, in the way that only Real can, for a disappointing domestic showing. However, he topped that achievement at Bayern Munich, polishing off the first treble in German history in not only his final game with the Bavarians, but his final game as a manager altogether. "I had a worthy farewell," he said after his retirement, with considerable understatement. Bayern won the Bundesliga by the utterly absurd margin of 25 points from Borussia Dortmund -- who let's not forget were the defending champions -- losing only one game in the process and drawing a mere four. The title was officially wrapped up with a record-breaking six games to spare in early April, Bastian Schweinsteiger confirming glory with a backheel to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0. The whole season seemed to be a continued attack on Dortmund (they beat them in the Super Cup too), as Bayern eliminated Jurgen Klopp's side on the way to the DFB Pokal final, which unusually was the last leg in the treble -- the final in early June against Stuttgart where Mario Gomez and Thomas Muller scored the goals in a 3-2 win. Before that was the big one, as Bayern overcame Dortmund once again at Wembley in the Champions League final, which they reached by obliterating Barcelona 7-0 on aggregate in the semifinal. Arjen Robben was the scorer of the decisive goal, securing the 2-1 victory and Bayern's fifth European Cup with just a minute left of the game. "I don't think any team has played such a consistent season at such a high level," said Heynckes after the game, and while one can debate which treble-winning side was the best, there can be little doubt over which one was the most dominant.

Pirlo: MLS move a possibility if Juventus win the Champions League The veteran midfielder says the Bianconeri will be his last Italian club and admits losing the 2005 final was one of the worst feelings of his life. Jun 5, 2015 Andrea Pirlo says he could head off for a career-ending stint in another country if he wins the Champions League with Juventus on Saturday, with a period in America’s Major League Soccer a real possibility. The Italy midfielder, who already has two Champions League medals under his belt from his 10-year spell with AC Milan, will line up for the Bianconeri against Barcelona in Berlin in this season's showpiece. But Pirlo admits it may be his final act in European football if he gets his hands on the prized trophy for a third time. "If we win it I might move abroad because Juventus will be my last team in Italy," Pirlo told the Times of India. "MLS could be an idea, but for the moment I don't have any thoughts about it; Juve is the only thing on my mind. "But I won't stop playing, I'll go on as long as I have the same great desire to keep training every day." The 36-year-old might have plenty of experience, having also made 119 appearances for Italy during his storied career, but he insists that games like Saturday's are an entirely new prospect even to him. "This is my fourth final, but it doesn't matter. Such a final is always a unique and special game, and it's always different," he added. "We all at Juve know what we have to do. Barcelona are favourites, but anything can happen in football. "I know what it is like to win a Champions League final, but I also know what it is like to lose one. The loss in Istanbul against Liverpool in 2005 is not just one of the worst feelings in my career, but in my life. "I will think about that before Saturday, and I will use that feeling as an inspiration because I never want to feel like that after a game again. "I hope this winning cycle will end with a Champions League triumph for me. It will be a dream end for my spell here at Juventus and a great day for everybody at the club." Pirlo also believes team-mate Paul Pogba has everything it takes to be a real star regardless of whether he remains with Juventus in the longer term. "I don't know if he will stay or leave, but if Paul carries on the way he is then he will become the greatest midfield player in Europe and at his age he could keep that title for a long time."

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Juventus - Barcelona Preview: Two treble-chasers do battle in Berlin History will be made in Germany on Saturday, regardless of whether the kings of Spain or Italy are crowned champions of Europe. Jun 5, 2015 In Italian, the word is 'triplo'. In Spanish and Catalan, it's 'triple'. One word is dominating the build-up to Saturday's mouth-watering Champions League final between Juventus and Barcelona: treble. Juve and Barca have proven themselves the dominant forces in Italian and Spanish football this season, with both claiming domestic doubles. Now, it's time for one of them to make history by adding the biggest trophy of them all to their hauls. Only seven teams in history have won the treble, with Barca bidding to become the first club to achieve the feat twice - just six years after Pep Guardiola's 2009 vintage swept the board. Juve are not part of that elite group. They travel to Berlin bidding to become European champions for the third time overall and first since 1996. But while many make Barca overwhelming favourites to claim their fourth Champions League title in 10 seasons, coach Luis Enrique - who is looking to emulate his great friend Guardiola by winning the treble in his first season in charge at Camp Nou - is not so sure. "Winning the Champions League would signify a treble for us and it's something that excites everyone. It's happened just once in the club's history, and this tells you how difficult it is to achieve," he said. "But I'm concerned about everything Juventus have to offer. They possess quality players. I hope Pirlo doesn't have too much influence on the game, because we all know what he's capable of doing. "They have great defenders who know how to get things moving from the back. Alvaro Morata's been a big asset for the team and has a real nose for goal, while Carlos Tevez guarantees absolute quality." Luis Enrique's citing of Juve's defence is telling. If his front three of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez are the irresistible force, then Massimiliano Allegri's trio of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and centre-backs Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci have been the immovable object. However, Chiellini's absence due to a calf problem sustained in training on Wednesday represents a huge blow for Allegri. Buffon is Juve's captain, but it is Chiellini who is their on-field general; a leader of men who will be sorely missed as they attempt to contain Barca's stellar triumvirate. Either Angelo Ogbonna or Andrea Barzagli are Chiellini's most likely deputies. Without Chiellini, Juve will have to shackle Messi, Neymar and Suarez, who have scored a scarcely believable 120 goals between them this season. They put Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich to the sword en route to Berlin, while Messi scored a goal that can only be described as breathtaking even by his otherworldly standards in Barca's 3-1 Copa del Rey final victory over Athletic Bilbao last Saturday. But if any defence is streetwise, tough and downright good enough to stop them, it is Buffon and co, who are aided and abetted by full-backs Stephan Lichtsteiner and Patrice Evra. To say a team boasting the attacking talents of Tevez, Pirlo, Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal are relying on their defensive colleagues for glory this weekend would be doing them a disservice. But it was they who thwarted Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema in the semi-finals, as Juve eliminated Barca's great rivals and holders Real Madrid. And if Messi, Neymar and Suarez can be similarly frustrated, the 'triplo', rather than the 'triple', could very much be on the cards. OPTA FACTS This will be the first final in the Champions League history played in June. Juventus and Barcelona will play the European Cup/Champions League final for the 8th time in their history. Barcelona and Juventus will appear in their fifth Champions League final, level with Bayern Munich - only AC Milan (six) have been in more. Barcelona will play a Champions League final for the fourth time since 2006; more than any other team in the same period. The Bianconeri have lost their last three CL finals played, after winning on penalties against Ajax in 1995/96. The Azulgrana have won the last three finals they've played in the Champions League - the last final they lost was against AC Milan in 1993/94. This will be the 7th European Cup/Champions League final between an Italian side and a Spanish one: Italian teams have won only twice. So far Barcelona have won only two of the eight European meetings against Juventus (D2, L4). LAST FIVE MATCHES Juventus D W W W D 2015/05/30 - Hellas Verona 2 - 2 Juventus 2015/05/23 - Juventus 3 - 1 Napoli 2015/05/20 - Juventus 2 - 1 Lazio 2015/05/16 - Internazionale 1 - 2 Juventus 2015/05/13 - Real Madrid 1 - 1 Juventus Barcelona W D W L W 2015/05/30 - Athletic Bilbao 1 - 3 Barcelona 2015/05/23 - Barcelona 2 - 2 Deportivo La Coruña 2015/05/17 - Atlético Madrid 0 - 1 Barcelona 2015/05/12 - Bayern München 3 - 2 Barcelona 2015/05/09 - Barcelona 2 - 0 Real Sociedad HEAD TO HEAD 2003/04/22 - Barcelona 1 - 2 Juventus 2003/04/09 - Juventus 1 - 1 Barcelona

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Lippi Sees Juventus As Outsiders Against Barcelona In Champions League Final Jun 5, 2015 Marcelo Lippi believes that Juventus will be underdogs when they face Barcelona in the Champions League final. Lippi was the last coach to guide Juventus to the Champions League in 1996 and he has praised the current side. “I think Juventus will find it hard against such a strong Barcelona team, I would give them a 30-35 percent chance of winning,” Lippi told Sport Italia. “Juventus are defensively strong and they have characteristics that can cause Barca problems. “They have done incredibly well to reach the final, especially as it is Allegri’s first season in Turin. “Italian football is in a good place, with Juve in the final and two teams reaching the Europa League semi-finals. “Napoli are very promising, but they need a clear vision. “Juventus only buy a couple of players in each transfer window while Napoli panic and buy lots with no clear idea of how the team will line up. ‘I thought Roma would be closer to Juventus, but Garcia has still done a great job.”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Juventus name 22-man squad for Champions League final against Barcelona Jun 5, 2015 As the week began, we figured there would be a couple of training sessions, a couple of press conferences, and then Juventus would step onto the field Saturday night to try and win the Champions League for the first time in 12 years. Simple as simple gets, really. It's hard to draw things up any better than that. But as we found out early on Thursday, we can't always have things go the way we want them. All the usual and expected suspects have been called up by Juventus manager Max Allegri for Saturday night's Champions League final against Barcelona in Berlin. Well, all of those usual and expected folks were called up who aren't named Giorgio Chiellini. That's because Juventus' top brute-force defender won't be taking part in Saturday night's grand finale because of a left calf injury he sustained in training on Wednesday. Here's the full post from Juventus' official website: Massimiliano Allegri has named a 22-man squad for Saturday evening's Champions League final against Barcelona at Berlin's Olympiastadion. Giorgio Chiellini, who earlier today was officially ruled out of the game following tests on an injured calf, will travel with the squad regardless. The full list is as follows: 1 Buffon 5 Ogbonna 6 Pogba 7 Pepe 8 Marchisio 9 Morata 10 Tevez 11 Coman 14 Llorente 15 Barzagli 17 De Ceglie 19 Bonucci 20 Padoin 21 Pirlo 23 Vidal 26 Lichtsteiner 27 Sturaro 30 Storari 32 Matri 33 Evra 34 Rubinho 37 Pereyra Chiellini is obviously the suddenly-glaring and biggest absence because of when he got hurt and the magnitude of the game he will suddenly be missing. No matter what you think about Chiellini's form or how big of a loss he will truly end up being, having a starting defender with so much experience suddenly be unavailable to due an injury is a massive hit. Of course, there are the other injury-related absences, too. There's no Romulo and Martin Cáceres because of their respective injuries that have seen them sidelined for weeks and weeks and weeks. Kwadwo Asamoah isn't called up simply because he hasn't been included on the UEFA list since he injured his knee late in the calendar year of 2014. Those players not being included in the match squad for Barcelona were a given. The same can't be said for that of Chiellini when preparations for Saturday night's final got underway.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Andres Iniesta returns to Barcelona training after calf injury Jun 4, 2015 Barcelona look set to have Andres Iniesta available for Saturday's Champions League final against Juventus with the midfielder having returned to training after a calf injury. Iniesta, 31, missed his side's workouts earlier this week after being injured during last weekend's Copa del Rey final triumph over Athletic Bilbao but rejoined the squad in training on Thursday. That means Iniesta could yet line up alongside his long-time midfield colleague Xaxi for the final time in Saturday's final, which will be the last match in Barca colours for the latter. Club captain Xavi is leaving Barca after 24 years this summer to join Qatari side Al Sadd, and the 35-year-old playmaker is hoping to go out a winner. "We go into the final full of confidence and charged up," Xavi said to the Spanish press. Should Barcelona emerge victorious from the Olympiastadion, Xavi will leave with 25 trophies in his famous career with the Catalan club. Two of those titles have come this season, with the Blaugrana having already clinched the league title and a record 27th Copa del Rey in Luis Enrique's first year in charge. Barca are the only Spanish club to have won a Primera Division, Champions League and Copa del Rey Treble, something they did under Pep Guardiola in the 2008-09 campaign. Victory on Saturday would see Barca repeat that feat. "We already have a historic double and we want more," Xavi said. "We could equal the historic treble." Defeating Italian champions Juventus will be no easy task, though. Juve have already eliminated Barcelona's arch-rivals and reigning European champions Real Madrid in the semifinals, and are also on for a trophy Treble this season. "Juventus are a great team, with talent and physique," Xavi said. "Saturday's final will be my last for Barca and I hope to lift the trophy in Berlin." Barca will again be looking to star man Lionel Messi to try and break down the Juventus defence and possibly add to his remarkable total of 55 goals in all competitions this term. Xavi has been alongside Messi for most of Barca's triumphs in the last decade and the former Spain ace does not believe there has been anyone better to have played the game. "What Messi does is scandalous," Xavi said. "He is the best in the world and of the history of the sport. What he does is unique. The goal against Athletic in last weekend's final was one of his best. " Luis Enrique will take a full squad to Berlin, with reserve players Munir, Sandro and Samper also travelling to the German capital.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Zidane: 'Forza Juventus!' Jun 4, 2015 Zinedine Zidane is cheering on Juventus against Barcelona and admits he’d love Paul Pogba at Real Madrid. The two clubs face off in the Champions League Final in Berlin on Saturday evening. “In a single match anything can happen, especially when it comes to Italian teams,” Zidane told RMC Sport. “Italian football might not be as glamorous as the Spanish, but they are always up there. We have to really watch out for them. “I spent five years in Turin, so I hope they do well on Saturday. Juventus deserved to qualify in the semi-final against Real Madrid too.” Zizou is impressed with many of the Bianconeri players, but above all French midfielder Pogba. “Paul is someone everybody likes. Being in love with Real Madrid and talented players, naturally I’d love him to perform for the Blancos. “He has incredible potential and the many fine performances for the France team show he has character too.”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Barzagli named in Juventus squad for Champions League final The defender has recovered from a thigh muscle tear to give his side a boost after Giorgio Chiellini was ruled out with a calf injury earlier on Thursday. Jun 4, 2015 Andrea Barzagli has given Juventusa fitness boost after he was named in the 22-man squad to face Barcelona in Saturday's Champions League final. The defender has been battling to recover from a torn thigh muscle in time to make the game, with his inclusion even more important after Giorgio Chiellini was ruled out with a calf problem. Otherwise, there are few surprises in the Juve squad, with Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba and Carlos Tevez all included for the match against the Spanish champions in Berlin. Juventus Champions League final squad: Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon, Marco Storari, Rubinho Defenders: Angelo Ogbonna, Leonardo Bonucci, Paolo De Ceglie, Andrea Barzagli, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Patrice Evra Midfielders: Claudio Marchisio, Paul Pogba, Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, Simone Padoin, Kingsley Coman, Simone Pepe, Roberto Pereyra, Stefano Sturaro Strikers: Carlos Tevez, Alvaro Morata, Fernando Llorente, Alessandro Matri

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Barcelona favourites because of ‘best player in the world’ Messi – Dragan Stojkovic The Yugoslavia great and Italia ’90 hero is in awe at the brilliance of the Argentine star but believes Juventus can’t be written off on Saturday. Jun 4, 2015 Red Star Belgrade legend Dragan Stojkovic says that Barcelona are favourites to beat Juventus in Saturday’s Champions League final thanks to the presence of Lionel Messi. Stojkovic was one of Europe’s most admired playmakers during the late 1980s and early 90s, enjoying some titanic tussles with Red Star against Arrigo Sacchi’s AC Milan in the European Cup. The former No.10 agrees with the majority of experts that Barcelona will be hard to beat in Berlin. "I always expected to see Barcelona reach the final – even back in the autumn when they were receiving a lot of criticism from fans and the media. They are always contenders,” Stojkovic told Goal. “But I was pleasantly surprised by Juventus and I’m sure I’m not the only one who didn't expect them to go so far in the competition. Especially after they were drawn against the mighty Real Madrid in the semis. But, they deserve to be a part of the spectacle in Berlin after what they showed in 180 minutes versus Real. "Barcelona are the favourites because they have the best player in the world. I've had the pleasure to watch Messi several times from the stands and enjoy his magical play, it is surreal what that man can do with the ball. “They have top goalscorers like Neymar and Luis Suarez next to him and also a very strong midfield that can assist those three forwards, as well as score themselves. And their defence is no weaker than the rest of the team, either, as they conceded the fewest goals in La Liga.” Stojkovic truly burst onto the scene at the 1990 World Cup in Italy where he was one of the players of the tournament for Yugoslavia, scoring two brilliant goals to knock out Spain in the second round. The 50-year-old, who reached the European Cup final with Marseille the following year and famously refused to take a penalty in the shootout defeat against his beloved Red Star, does believe though that Juventus can’t be written off. "Juventus have a chance,” he said. “They are a very experienced team that can play to get a result. They are aware of their strengths after winning Serie A and I am impressed by their compact defence. “They will defend in the final - that is logical and justified because Barca will use the tiniest crack in your defence to score. “I don't care who wins, I just admire the way Barca play and Messi. I can't wait to take my place at the Olympiastadion in Berlin!”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Juventus have taken the long way back to the Champions League final Jun 4, 2015 Juventus' journey to the Champions League final has been nothing short of an odyssey. James Horncastle charts its course. May 28, 2003 The omens weren't good ahead of Juventus' last appearance in a Champions League final. Ballon d'Or-elect Pavel Nedved was suspended for the game against AC Milan at Old Trafford. Igor Tudor and Edgar Davids hobbled off injured before the game went to extra time. Gianluigi Buffon kept them in it. He made a stunning stop to deny Pippo Inzaghi a wonderful headed goal and also saved penalty attempts from Clarence Seedorf and Kakha Kaladze. But it wasn't enough. After winning the trophy through a shootout against Ajax in Rome in 1996, Juventus collapsed in one here. Since then, they have lost three Champions League finals. "The bitterness was enormous," then-manager Marcello Lippi said. Buffon's 12-year wait for another chance began. Aug. 24, 2005 Invited to play in the Joan Gamper Trophy at the Camp Nou, Juventus' focus was on Ronaldinho. But lo and behold, an unknown 18-year-old stole the show. Upon watching the teenager turn Fabio Cannavaro inside out, leave Nedved in his tracks and reduce a young Giorgio Chiellini to resort to kicking him out the game, then-manager Fabio Capello turned to Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard and said, "You've already got three foreign players in your team, why not let me borrow this one for a year and then I'll give him back." The teenager in question was Lionel Messi. In response, Rijkaard insisted Barcelona would give the boy wonder "three or four months" and make a decision on it. Alas, they kept Messi and the rest, as they say, is history. July 14, 2006 Five days after winning the World Cup final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, the scene of Saturday's Champions League showdown with Barcelona, Buffon and Alessandro Del Piero returned to Turin to discover Juventus had been relegated for the first time in their history as part of the Calciopoli scandal. While they, along with Nedved and David Trezeguet stayed loyal, others like Cannavaro, Lilian Thuram, Gianluca Zambrotta, Patrick Vieira and Zlatan Ibrahimovic abandoned the club. "Success never gets boring," Chiellini said before last month's Coppa Italia final, "particularly for those of us -- like Buffon and Claudio Marchisio -- who were there in Rimini, Crotone and Frosinone." May 19, 2007 Managed by Didier Deschamps, Juventus bounced straight back to the top flight despite a 16-point penalty that was later reduced to 9 on appeal. They clinched the Serie B title with three games to spare after a 5-1 win over an Arezzo side coached by former Juve captain and future manager Antonio Conte. A commemorative T-shirt bore the slogan: "BastA -- Enough of Serie B. Now for Serie A." The Old Lady's nightmare seemed finally over. Differences with director of sport Alessio Secco meant Deschamps resigned soon afterward and was replaced by tinker man Claudio Ranieri. May 19, 2010 The Juventus board voted in Andrea Agnelli as president. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather Edoardo, uncle Gianni and father, Umberto, he soon gave the club a renewed sense of identity and direction after Juventus' disappointing seventh place in Serie A the previous season. Agnelli appointed Beppe Marotta and Fabio Paratici to handle the recruitment side, and while their first year would also end in disappointing seventh and the dismissal of manager Gigi Delneri, the foundations of a new cycle were laid, particularly with the signing of Andrea Barzagli from Wolfsburg on Jan. 22, 2011. May 24, 2011 It's a day Milan fans still regret. After winning the Scudetto more or less without Andrea Pirlo, the club, underappreciating his genius, were unwilling to offer him a new multiyear contract as a result of cost-cutting measures. And so they allowed the deep-lying playmaker to leave the San Siro for Juventus on a free transfer, a decision for which manager Max Allegri was long blamed. Far from finished, Il Maestro was to prove the hinge on which the balance of power swung in Italy. The summer of 2011 was a huge one for Juventus. Arturo Vidal joined for €10.2 million, and the appointment of Conte was inspired. Not only was he to reveal himself to be a great coach, but his past with Juventus and ability to transmit the winning mentality of old produced a multiplier effect that brought about a sudden and unexpected renaissance. Sept. 8, 2011 What a night this was in Juventus' recent history. A friendly with Notts County -- the club who answered the call of Englishman John Savage, a Juventus member, to send them a set of black and white shirts to replace the pink ones they had worn up until1903 -- helped inaugurate the club's new 41,000-seat stadium. The construction of a home to call their own was a game-changer for Juventus, not only as a money-spinner, but in the pride it would give the fans and the players. Credited with a major role in their success, the Juventus Stadium is a fortress. Only four teams -- Inter, Bayern Munich, Sampdoria and Fiorentina -- have ever beaten Juventus there. Feb. 25, 2012 A point ahead of Juventus at the top of the table, Milan looked about to run away with the title, when Sulley Muntari's effort crossed the line and seemed to double their lead in a deciding match at the San Siro. Alas, it was ruled out controversially, and with 10 minutes to go, Alessandro Matri equalised, rescuing a point to keep the visitors in touching distance. It was a pivotal moment. Juventus later overtook Milan and, in addition to becoming only the third team in Italian history to go an entire league season undefeated, reclaimed the Scudetto for the first time since Calciopoli. May 13, 2012 A tearjerker. Del Piero, Il Capitano, bid a reluctant farewell in a 3-1 win against Atalanta at the Juventus Stadium. Although Del Piero got to play in the club's new ground and went out on a high, many would have liked it if he had finished his career in Bianconero. However, he still wanted to play and that could no longer be guaranteed. Harsh though it was, the hierarchy's unwillingness to let heart and sentiment get the better of them and hold the club back rather than keep it moving forward would reveal itself to be another reason for sustained success. Aug. 3, 2012 After Pirlo the previous summer, Marotta and Paratici made another huge coup in the transfer market. Juventus picked up 19-year-old Paul Pogba for nothing. Allowing him to walk out of Old Trafford as a free agent is often regarded as one of the biggest mistakes of Sir Alex Ferguson's career. Free transfers are a trademark of this Juventus administration. They would add Fernando Llorente on a Bosman the following year and will soon announce the arrival of another World Cup winner in Sami Khedira after his contract at Real Madrid expires. Shrewd business. Dec. 11, 2013 After retaining their title, posting more points and scoring more goals along the way, Juventus were expected to make further inroads in Europe after the elimination in the quarterfinal round by eventual winners Bayern Munich. Instead, they were knocked out in the group stage after defeat to Galatasaray in icy Istanbul and, to Conte's despair, branded failures. The same treatment was reserved for Juventus after their exit from the semifinals of the Europa League later in the season at the hands of Benfica when many were of the opinion that the trophy had their name on it, what with the final being held at the Juventus Stadium. Chiellini has since argued that those setbacks were character-forming and better prepared them for their run to Berlin this season. July 15, 2014 A seismic day that threatened to put everything in jeopardy as Conte resigned at the beginning of preseason. He left with the assertion that it would be impossible for him to do better in Serie A after going three in a row and breaking the 100-point barrier. He said he didn't believe Juventus could win the Champions League any time soon and famously said that you can't expect to eat at a restaurant that charges €100 a head when you only have €10 in your pocket. Allegri has gotten Juventus a lot more bang for his buck. But many didn't see it that way at the time. An unpopular choice as successor, the car taking him to his official unveiling was kicked and spat at by supporters. Nov. 4, 2014 Risking another group stage exit, Allegri courageously decided now was the time to impose himself on the team and make it his own. After respecting the legacy left by Conte, he changed system for the Olympiakos game, abandoning the tried and trusted 3-5-2 for a 4-3-1-2 and witnessed the team come back from 2-1 down to win 3-2 in Turin. It was considered a vital step forward in Juventus' evolution in Europe. After the game, Allegri tweeted "Fiuu" ("Phew") in relief at the result. This was significant because it also marked the start of his cult of personality at Juventus and his acceptance by the fans. March 18, 2015 By winning 3-0 in Dortmund, Juventus finally made a big statement on the continent. It announced that they were back and perhaps definitively over their struggles in Europe and represented a match for anyone. It was a breakthrough moment. Tactically excellent, the emergence of Alvaro Morata and the flourishing of his partnership with Carlos Tevez were grounds for optimism. Above all, however, it instilled great belief in this group of players and would serve them well when making the Hillary step in Monaco to a first semifinal in 12 years and ensure they held their nerve against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. A sense of destiny also began to take hold in the Westphalia. For Juventus, the road to Berlin headed through Dortmund just like it did for Buffon, Pirlo and Barzagli at the World Cup nine years ago. Never underestimate how intangibles like these can take on a life of their own. June 6, 2015 Only one team can win the Treble. Barcelona have done it before. Juventus came close once in 1973. There's a clear favourite. But if a depleted Milan side could shock Johan Cruyff's Dream Team in Athens in 1994, then why shouldn't The Old Lady believe she too can upset the odds? Twelve years on from Old Trafford, Juventus and their captain are back on the greatest stage. They have come full circle.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Barcelona: '33 Juve titles' Jun 4, 2015 Barcelona have tipped their hat towards Juventus ahead of the Champions League Final by declaring they have 33 Scudetti. The two giants go head-to-head in Berlin on Saturday evening for the trophy. The official Barça Twitter account ran an infographic with “everything you need to know about Juventus.” This included a list of their silverware and 33 editions of the Serie A title. It has been a matter of contention, as the 2004-05 and 2005-06 Scudetti were stripped by the FIGC in the Calciopoli scandal. The Juventus Stadium has 33 in very large font on the front entrance and merchandise confidently declares they have won 33 titles. However, the FIGC, UEFA and FIFA officially recognise only 31 of those. The 2004-05 edition was left unassigned, while the 2005-06 campaign was handed to Inter.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Juventus announce squad for final Jun 4, 2015 Juventus have named their squad for the Champions League final, without the injured Giorgio Chiellini. The defender was ruled out with a calf injury earlier today, and has not been included in the 22-man squad. Fellow centre-back Andrea Barzagli is included in the party, and will be favourite to replace Chiellini in Berlin. Barcelona announced their squad earlier today. Juventus squad to face Barcelona: Buffon, Ogbonna, Pogba, Pepe, Marchisio, Morata, Tevez, Coman, Llorente, Barzagli, De Ceglie, Bonucci, Padoin, Pirlo, Vidal, Lichtsteiner, Sturaro, Storari, Matri, Evra, Rubinho, Pereyra.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Zoff: ‘Chiellini absence a problem’ Jun 4, 2015 Juventus legend Dino Zoff warns the absence of Giorgio Chiellini is a ‘big problem’ as they prepare for the Champions League final. It was confirmed today that the defender will miss the match with a calf injury, and the former goalkeeper sees that as a blow for Coach Max Allegri. “It’s a big problem to be without a fighter like Chiellini who is suited to these occasions,” Zoff told Tuttomercatoweb. “That said, Andrea Barzagli offers plenty of guarantees to Allegri. I won’t go into the substance, the best choice will be the one Allegri makes after evaluating them for a week. “This is a good Juventus, Barcelona are a team with wonderful strikers, but the Bianconeri will have their chances. “I won’t talk about Tevez over Morata, the collective will be crucial to beat Barcelona’s stars.”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Juventus have what it takes to cause shock against Barcelona in the Champions League final, claims German legend Michael Ballack Jun 4, 2015 Former Germany and Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Ballack believes Juventus have what it takes to shock Barcelona in Saturday’s Champions League final. Barcelona are clear favourites for the showpiece in Berlin this weekend as they look to win their fifth Champions League trophy against the Italian side. But Ballack, who tasted defeat in the competition at the final hurdle in 2008, believes Juventus have what it takes to win having already seen off Spanish side Real Madrid. The 38-year-old told reporters in Berlin: "For me I think Juventus have a good chance to beat also this really strong Barcelona team because they already kicked out a Spanish team, they know how they play. ‘Even if they are not totally comparable, Barcelona and Real Madrid, but the Spanish influence is there - not just the language, also the way they play football. ‘So that's why I think Italian teams can really well adapt to certain teams and they are able to beat them on Saturday. "In the position from an outsider you always feel a little bit more comfortable in the final, but on the other side they have the experience as well on the pitch, a lot of players involved in big finals so far. So they will have the mentality to go out tomorrow and force this Barca team and try to win it.’

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Tevez the man to watch, says Mascherano The Argentine has warned his team-mates about his compatriot and feels Juventus' disciplined style of play makes them a difficult opponent. Jun 4, 2015 Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano has singled out Carlos Tevez as Juventus' main threat ahead of Saturday's Champions League final in Berlin. The 31-year-old has been the star of the club's campaign, with his goal helping to fire them to Serie A and Coppa Italia success. Tevez and Mascherano played alongside one another at Corinthians and West Ham, as well as for Argentina, and the midfielder knows all too well the qualities of his former team-mate. "Tevez is a top player, a magnificent centre-forward and, above all, a player who likes to win. He's made for these games," Mascherano told the official Uefa website. "We have played against each other during Boca v River games, during Manchester United v Liverpool. We have played together as well. "Our paths in the beginning were quite similar but then he went to Manchester and I went to Liverpool." The Argentina international added that the Juve's disciplined style of football could prove to be a difficult tactical web to overcome on Saturday. "They have that Italian competitive edge," he added. "It is always difficult to overcome that because they are very, very competitive. They are very tactical. They understand football and on top of that they have a lot of talent. "It is not a traditional Italian team. They play like Italians but they have a lot of talent, they know how to attack and they can play in different ways. They have lots of variety and that makes them very difficult to play against." Mascherano joined Barcelona from Liverpool in the summer of 2010 and admits he initially struggled to adapt to his new surroundings. "It was difficult in the first few months but I've always believed that training with great players makes you a better player and that's what has happened to me. "Obviously I am never going to have the quality of Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernández or Andrés Iniesta, but I can deal with situations that before I would have struggled with."

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Champions League Final: Four Ways For Juventus To Stop Messi Jun 4, 2015 Lionel Messi is undoubtedly the best footballer around in the world right now, but is there any way Juve can stop him in the Champions League final? “Lionel Messi is an alien that dedicates himself to playing with humans.” Gianluigi Buffon’s words were both humorous and worryingly accurate, the Argentine wizard is at the very peak of his powers and ready to inflict critical damage on a Juventus side entering recently uncharted territory. Many teams have tried, and ultimately failed, to stop Messi in recent times, and the metaphorical mountain to climb is currently steeper than ever. All is not lost, though. Juventus’ defensive mastery is very well documented, and the knowledgeable heads at the back are capable of at least giving Messi a slight challenge. Ninety minutes, maybe more, of toil are to come for the Bianconeri. Perhaps Messi can’t be stopped, but merely slowed down. All will be revealed in one unforgettable night of football, for Italy, Spain and the world combined. Forza Italian Football delve into how Messi can possibly be stopped when both sides lock horns in Berlin on June 6. 1. Keep an eye on him at all times Simple enough, right? You’d think so, but a concerning amount of teams only keep Messi in their sights when they do not have possession. To give themselves the best chance of containing arguably the world’s most intelligent footballer, Juventus need to avoid making this naive error, and ensure that they know his exact position even when the ball is at the feet of the Turinese. Communication is vital for this criterion to be achieved, something which Juventus thankfully excel in, with four very experienced names at the back at any one time. The speed of Barcelona’s attack is one of the most damaging assets on display in world football, especially after pinching the ball from an opponent, and would revel in picking out a Messi in a yard or two of space. Concentration is a must, and with Messi it is almost like two games are being played simultaneously, a juggling act which Juventus are going to need to perform without dropping the ball. 2. Avoid the temptation to hack him down Juventus hotheads Angelo Ogbonna and Leonardo Bonucci may experience the desire to hack down Messi during the match, but this extremity is best avoided. There is a reason that Messi doesn’t win as many fouls as his other rivals for European individual honours, and it’s because he looks to avoid contact at all times. One ill-judged swipe towards his bottom half and Messi exploits an advantage before the opposition can reverse their error, combining reactions and control in a way that sets him aside from others. The best option would be for Juventus to use their physicality wisely, by directing their efforts into shielding Messi from goal, giving him a limited amount of resources to work with. Against Barcelona, a cynical foul or two on the break could come in handy later on, so cooling down and taking Messi on in a more acceptable manner could also pay dividends as the game progresses. 3. Cut out passes before they reach him This is where Juventus’ midfield might becomes very useful, with the enforcing nature of Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal giving them real hope in breaking down Barcelona’s central compartment. Incredible solo goal against Athletic Club or not, Messi is still very much involved with the work of his midfield teammates, and providing the shackles on the likes of Ivan Rakitic and Sergio Busquets is a pastime well worth pursuing for Juventus. Barcelona’s mesmerising passing play can hypnotise many opposition midfields into obedience, but Massimiliano Allegri’s love for structure and exerting control will give Juventus real optimism in decreasing their effectiveness in supplying Messi. Juventus have an advantage in midfield when it comes to physicality, and a cluster of well timed tackles plus instinct in anticipating passes would go a long way towards helping the side from the peninsula. Stopping Messi is very much a team effort, not just a responsibility burdened upon the defence, and a lot of the time it starts in the centre of the pitch. 4. Force Messi into congested areas Most likely, the central areas of the pitch are going to be very clogged, congested, obstructed and any other synonym you can find. Even with Messi’s unerring ability to beat a whole host of opposition players, directing him into oncoming traffic is still the safest option for Juventus, refusing him entry to the valuable areas on the two flanks. Additionally, it would also calm Patrice Evra’s nerves about being directly pitted against the man who famously tore him apart in the 2011 final. Having Messi playing a narrower role would give Juventus more breathing space to look at reducing Barcelona’s other attacking threats, who could be either Luis Suarez, Neymar, or possibly Pedro. Finally, Messi on the wing doesn’t just trouble the fullback directly ahead of him, it also requires another body to limit the damage. Ideally, Allegri would prefer Chiellini to remain central and Pogba to stay in midfield, rather than providing cover for an exposed defender. With Lionel Messi, you can do all of the above and still end up on the side being punished, and that’s the reality of things. It is still possible for Messi to have an off day, it just happens a whole lot less frequently than other professional footballers. Maybe Carlos Tevez might just find a four leaf clover, and Simone Padoin a rabbit foot.