Socrates

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Chiellini ruled out of Champions League final The Turin side have confirmed that their star defender will miss Saturday's showpiece against Barcelona after suffering a first degree tear to his left calf. Jun 4, 2015 Juventus have received a big blow ahead of Saturday's Champions League final against Barcelona after confirming that Giorgio Chiellini will miss the game due to injury. The influential defender pulled up in training on Wednesday with a calf problem and underwent a scan on Thursday. The results have revealed that Chiellini will not recover in time to play in Berlin. “Giorgio Chiellini was subjected to tests following calf discomfort in yesterday’s session,” the club announced in a statement. “The tests showed a first-degree lesion of the soleus muscle in his left leg, so the defender will not be available for the match against Barcelona.” The loss of Chiellini is a big setback for Juve, who are already without Martin Caceres and are struggling to get Andrea Barzagli fit for the showpiece. Barzagli returned to training on Wednesday but is not 100 per cent fit and the Turin side will decide whether to play the 34-year-old in Chiellini's place, or instead opt for Angelo Ogbonna.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Barcelona name squad Jun 4, 2015 Barcelona have named the squad which will face Juventus in the Champions League final, with Andres Iniesta included. The Spanish midfielder had been a slight doubt for the game after picking up an injury in the Copa Del Rey final, but travels as part of the 26-man squad. The party is made up of 23 first team players, with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Xavi all making the trip to Berlin, with three youngsters also included. Munir El Haddadi, Sandro Ramirez and Sergi Samper will travel to Germany alongside their more renowned teammates. Barcelona squad to face Juventus: Ter Stegen, Bravo, Masip, Alves, Douglas, Montoya, Pique, Mascherano, Mathieu, Bartra, Vermaelen, Adriano, Alba, Busquets, Samper, Rakitic, Xavi, Iniesta, Sergi Roberto, Iniesta, Rafinha, Pedro, Messi, Munir, Suarez, Sandro, Neymar

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Battle Of Berlin: Top Five On-Field Clashes Between Juventus And Barcelona The Champions League final is finally upon us, with Juve and Barca locking horns to decide the outcome of Europe’s biggest prize. Jun 4, 2015 Juventus are Italy’s first representation in the final in five years, while Barcelona are ending a surprising four-year exile from the grand stage. Marcello Lippi was at the helm during Juventus’ last success in the competition (12 years ago) with current coach Massimiliano Allegri looking to etch his name into the club’s history books. Barcelona have hit a stride even more impressive than their rip-roaring 2010 and 2011 days, and will be a mountainous challenge for Juventus to overcome. Both sides have plenty of strengths, while also papering over some weaknesses, and the likelihood is that the final will be a tight and unpredictable affair. Forza Italian Football assess the five key battles which could decide the outcome of the 2014-15 season showpiece. 1. Leonardo Bonucci v Lionel Messi Just when you may have been led to think that Lionel Messi had peaked, he conjures up another majestic season which continues to leave onlookers astounded. With the excellent Giorgio Chiellini ruled out of the contest due to a very unfortunate injury, Leonardo Bonucci will need to step up to the plate in order to stop the Juventus defence being run ragged in his compatriot’s absence. Messi has netted 10 times from 12 Champions League appearances this term, to add to the respectable figure of just 43 La Liga strikes for the campaign. Italy’s Bonucci will be looking to avoid being literally floored by Messi’s talent, just as defensive counterpart Jerome Boateng was in the last round, a calamity which was joyous to mocking Blaugrana fans. Coming out to deal with Messi when he has the ball is clearly only one half of the problem, with the other coming through his movement and off-the-ball anticipation, a conundrum which Bonucci will have to be extremely cautious in approaching. 2. Carlos Tevez v Gerard Pique In hunting down another Champions League title to add to the one he won in 2008, Carlos Tevez may just be the hungriest man in the world. The electric Argentine is quite rightly Juventus’ main goal threat, and must be treated in such a way by Barcelona’s defence. Gerard Pique will step forward to deal with the 31-year-old’s might, and will be typically confident in being able to emerge victorious. However, Tevez’s impressive European record of seven goals from 12 appearances this season suggests that this battle could be just as important as the one involving his national compatriot, Lionel Messi. Juventus’ midfield naturally looks to seek out Tevez, who can work off others or on his own; thus closing him out from the game is a must if Barcelona are to remain watertight defensively. 3. Stephan Lichtsteiner v Neymar Another third of Barcelona’s mesmerising attack is Brazilian idol Neymar, who will be desperate to make his mark on the biggest club stage of all, especially after the disappointment of last year’s World Cup. Neymar is another player on this list who can lay claim to a lethal Champions League strike record this term, with his tally reading nine goals from 11 appearances. Juventus’ trusty fullback, Stephan Lichtsteiner, is awaiting ankle surgery but will find time for one last spate of painkilling injections to ensure that he is at his astute best to lock horns with Neymar. Lichtsteiner’s tendency to bomb forward in support may be put to the test by the explosive Neymar, who will be poised to exploit any extra space that he is given by his opposite number. If the 23-year-old’s endless box of tricks can be compensated for by studious defending, then the elder Swiss could be on course to be victorious in what may be a match-deciding battle. 4. Arturo Vidal v Ivan Rakitic The clashes of midfield cannot be ignored for this fixture, as both sides’ stacked central compartments do battle to decide the outcome of the game. Playmakers Arturo Vidal and Ivan Rakitic will be instrumental, providing those passes from deep to tee up wingers and strikers alike, while also being the driving force from midfield to turn defence from attack. The Chilean and the Croatian are hugely important to how their sides set up for big games, and the result of when they inevitably come together should be telling. Rakitic arguably offers a different approach than his fellow Barcelona midfield teammates, while Vidal looks to be more flexible in his role, interchanging with those around him in a more fluid set-up. However, the differences in tackling, with Vidal being superior, could prove to be a significant factor in altering the fate of this battle, should Rakitic not perform at his very best. These midfield supremos bring a wide array of skills and qualities to the table, and how they make the most of a packed midfield will be crucial. 5. Paul Pogba v Sergio Busquets Sergio Busquets and Paul Pogba are two players who make for an intriguing battle, which could support either the success or failure of their respective teams. Anchoring in to keep the defence safe, while also providing an integral part of the transition from midfield to attack, these two enforcers are all-rounders whose performances will have to be at the very top end of the spectrum. Busquets is evidently less committed to attack than Pogba, representing a difference which could alter their performances when directly pitted against each other. Pogba is known for his dribbling, distance shooting and ambitious passing, while Busquets has an emphasis on timed tackles and passes of an always accurate standard. Manchester United youth product Pogba’s liability to commit fouls may be highlighted, especially in comparison to Busquets’ efficiency in avoiding penalisation. Either way, the two players’ ability to stop midfield and attacking moves before they pose significant danger is a vital aspect of their game, which will help to decide the outcome of the Champions League trophy.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Del Bosque: ‘Juventus surprised me’ Jun 4, 2015 Spain CT Vicente Del Bosque admits he thought Real Madrid would knock out Juventus but they ‘deserved to reach the final’. The Bianconeri take on Barcelona on Saturday in the Champions League final, and the former Madrid Coach gave his take on the game to giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “From a Spanish point of view, I’d have liked to have seen a Clasico final between Barça and Madrid,” Del Bosque told the newspaper. “Having said that, Juventus very much deserved to reach the final, and the fact that both finalists are aiming for the treble is a measure of this great match between two teams which are different in style, but united by greatness. “Juventus? They’re a team which in particular is very well organised, very efficient. “I think in Chiellini, Evra, Pirlo, Marchisio and Tevez they have skilled players who are capable of handling the game, and understand the different phases of the game. “They’re a team which knows how to defend well, and can hurt you in attack with Tevez and [Alvaro] Morata. “Juventus winning the League was never in doubt, but that dominance didn’t come along by chance. No-one gives you anything for free in Italy.” Despite this, the World Cup winner admits he thought the Old Lady were dead and buried after going down 1-0 in the Bernabeu in the semi-final second leg. “Honestly, when Real Madrid took the lead I thought the tie was over, they had everything in their favour. “But football can surprise you, and, to their credit, Juve didn’t lose their heads, they scored through Morata and defended well against the Madrid pressure. “The strength of Juventus, their ability to stay strong, calm and decisive, even in times of great difficulty like at the Bernabeu really struck me. “Allegri’s is a real team, a squad which is not only experienced, but also ambitious. “They’re players who have one a lot, but they’re not content, they want more, and that shows great professionalism.” Much of the build-up has focused on Barcelona’s ‘MSN’ front-three - Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar - and Del Bosque agrees that the Catalans are better stocked in attack. “On paper at least, it seems Barça have greater attacking potential than Juventus, at least individually,” he considered. “In football, we’re living in the age of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and the Argentine plays for Barcelona. He decides games. “Barcelona’s attack seems better than Juve’s.”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Why Carlos Tevez Is the Juventus Player Barcelona Must Stop in Champions League Jun 4, 2015 Saturday’s Champions League final will see Juventus face Barcelona’s star-studded line-up, and the Bianconeri will likely find that containing the newly crowned La Liga champions is an immensely difficult task. Working in almost perfect unison with Lionel Messi, the additions of Luis Suarez and Neymar have served to make the Catalan giants even more dangerous. The Bianconeri have proved to be hugely impressive defensively, however, keeping three clean sheets in six knockout games thus far. Conceding just four goals in those games, they have repeatedly subdued opponents and will look to do so once again when they take on Luis Enrique’s men in Berlin. Yet they are also acutely aware of the need not to curb their own attacking instincts, and Juve will certainly need to push forward themselves when the opportunity arises. Speaking to Isport Blesk last week, club director Pavel Nedved reinforced the need for the Turin giants to ask questions of the Barcelona defence, telling them (h/t Football Italia): Barcelona have a great attack but we defend well and not only that, we want to create problems for their backline. What we mustn’t do is be passive and hand Barca the initiative. They are used to playing in that situation. We must be careful, otherwise it won’t end well. In order to do so, Massimiliano Allegri will rely upon the quality of Carlos Tevez, a player who has been simply sensational since joining Juventus almost two years ago. In 95 games for the club, he has netted an astonishing 50 goals, ending the league campaign only a single goal behind leading scorer Luca Toni. The Argentinian striker has been equally decisive in the Champions League, notching seven times in 12 appearances, including some key performances in the knockout stages. Having opened the scoring in Juve’s 2-1 home win over Borussia Dortmund, he would deliver arguably his finest display of the season in the return encounter. Scoring twice—and creating a third for Alvaro Morata—it was Tevez who inspired a memorable victory, setting the tone for the Bianconeri both with and without the ball. His work rate is not only essential to Juve’s defensive effort, but it also sparks their own attacking efforts, which has been essential to their success this term. It is often said that Allegri’s side have played on the counter-attack this term, but that is somewhat misleading. Thanks to the standard set by Tevez—one the likes of Roberto Pereyra, Paul Pogba and Morata have quickly picked up on—they transition quickly and catch opponents by surprise. There may only be a fine nuance between the two, but it is an important difference to note if Barcelona are to subdue the Bianconeri. It all starts with the man wearing the club’s No. 10 shirt, hounding defenders and deep-lying midfielders constantly, forcing mistakes which he is then the ideal man to capitalise upon. The man himself is under no illusions of the size of the task ahead, discussing the prospect of facing the Catalan giants with Sport Mediaset last week. “I think Barcelona are the best team in the world,” the 31-year-old told them (h/t Football Italia). “They have the three best strikers so we’ll have to work hard to give a performance which is more than perfect.” Luckily for Juventus, Tevez is capable of delivering such a display, and it will be up to Barcelona to find a way to stop him doing so when this encounter gets underway. With 29 goals and eight assists to his name in 44 appearances this term, that is no easy task, and the likes of Gerard Pique and fellow Argentinian Javier Mascherano will also need to be at their very best in order to subdue Juve’s key man.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Van Basten: Juventus can beat Barcelona - but they must stop Messi & Iniesta The former Milan striker, who won back-to-back European Cups at San Siro, hailed the Argentine's performance in the first leg of the semi-final against Bayern Munich. Jun 4, 2015 By Brian Oliver Marco van Basten believes the two semi-finals of this season’s Champions League showed Juventus what they can do and what they must do if they are to beat Barcelona in the final in Berlin on Saturday. Their main aim, he told Goal, must be to stop Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi. But the Italians’ victory against Real Madrid has given them the confidence to do so. “If you ever want to see how one player can make a difference, the last 15 minutes of Barcelona against Bayern Munich in the first game of the semi-final shows the lot,” said Van Basten. “Lionel Messi was exceptional. He made it 1-0, he made it 2-0 and made the pass for 3-0. “I played against Maradona and he was a great player like Messi too. There is a big difference between 25 years ago and now, though.” Maradona and Van Basten had more space to play in, and the game today has become much more compressed, said Van Basten, who will be in Berlin as an ambassador for Nissan. If Juventus can keep it even tighter, he said, they can win. “We had an area of maybe 40 metres by 50 metres in which we could play; now it’s so tight it’s only half of that,” he explained. “Players have lost 20 metres of space and there might be 10 players between them and the penalty area when they get the ball. “You must have very good technique, be very clever to get through the defence, play quick one-twos. That is very, very difficult, and it’s the biggest change between then and now. “The important thing for Juventus is to stop Iniesta and Messi. The others are good, but not that good – these are the two who can make the difference. “Juventus have to stay so close, mark them very tight, deny them space – and most of all they must stay concentrated. If they do that, Juventus can win. With a good, organised defence, and if they counter well, Juve can beat Barcelona.” There is a precedent for an Italian team upsetting the odds against Barcelona, said Van Basten, who played in the AC Milan team that won in 1989 and 1990 – the last time any club retained the European title. “I was in Athens in 1994 when everybody expected Barcelona to win against Milan,” he recalled. “They had Stoichkov and Romario, Johan Cruyff as manager and everyone talked them up but we [Milan] were very organised. We played well and we killed them, 4-0. That was a nice example of the level of Italian football – well organised, physically strong. “Juventus already beat Real Madrid in the semi-final and that will have given them the confidence of knowing they can beat the best. They know it’s possible, and I think it’s possible.”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Mission impossible? How Juventus can stop Lionel Messi Diego Simeone, Javier Zanetti, Marco Van Basten, Rafael Marquez and Neil Lennon help analyse how the Bianconeri can silence the Barcelona superstar in the UCL final. Jun 4, 2015 By Carlo Garganese How do you stop Lionel Messi? It is a question every coach and defender in the world has pondered over the last decade – but very few have found the answer. On Saturday, Juventus take on Barcelona in the Champions League final in Berlin knowing that they must silence the legendary Argentine if they wish to secure a record-breaking treble. With the help of Diego Simeone, Javier Zanetti, Marco Van Basten, Rafael Marquez and Neil Lennon, Goal takes a look at some of the key tactical hurdles that Massimiliano Allegri and his men will need to overcome when facing Messi. SHOULD JUVENTUS MAN MARK MESSI? From the 1960s until the late 1990s, man-marking was the most popular tactic in dealing with a superstar. The likes of Diego Maradona and Zico spent much of their careers being kicked by specially-assigned hardmen such as Italy’s Claudio Gentile. In the past, many coaches built their team around one star playmaker, often a No.10. Stop this player and you usually shut down the entire side. But football has changed over the past decade. New rules, tactics and technology mean that man-marking is generally now counter-productive. Today, there are more points of attack in a formation. If you sacrifice a man simply to follow Messi around the pitch, this will create more space for other top class stars such as Luis Suarez, Neymar and Andres Iniesta. Real Madrid's Pepe followed Messi closely in a few Clasicos with mixed results, but with the exception of Greece’s Sokratis at the 2010 World Cup, there haven't been many success stories when man-marking the Argentine. This has been recognised by Allegri himself, who has confirmed that his team will employ a zonal marking system. Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid team did not concede a single goal in six games against Messi last season. The coach is adamant that Juventus must stop Barcelona as a whole in order to stop Messi. "Man-marking in football is from a time gone by," Simeone told Goal. "Those were different times and in those teams there were no players able to make an impact quite like Messi. "It doesn’t make sense because when you kick off in midfield, that player is far away. When there is a free-kick and a wall, again a player cannot be close. It’s the same at a corner. So there are many moments when a player has to be far away. Then what do you do? In those moments, you cannot man-mark. You also lose a player and, with him, the stability of your team. "It’s clearly complicated and that’s why we haven’t seen man-marking on any players in recent times. You try to control Messi 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. It’s ridiculous – there’s no way." SHOULD JUVE PLAY A HIGH OR DEEP DEFENSIVE LINE? Juventus will surely have learned from the mistakes of Pep Guardiola in the last round after the Bayern boss fielded a suicidal high line in the 5-3 aggregate defeat. Allegri’s side has been compared to Jose Mourinho’s Inter treble-winners from 2009-10 thanks to their physical style and mean defence. The Juve coach could also learn a lot from the Nerazzurri’s victory over Pep's Barcelona in that season’s Champions League semi-finals. Mourinho masterminded a magnificent rear-guard action to eliminate arguably the finest Barcelona side in history. Despite being in seemingly unstoppable form after his four-goal haul versus Arsenal in the quarters, Messi barely got a kick in both legs. Inter laid the blueprint for stopping Leo – they defended collectively with a deep line and offered the attacker no space to work with. Over both legs, Inter enjoyed only 18.5 per cent of possession. Javier Zanetti, at the age of nearly 37, was Messi’s closest marker – a duty he performed admirably as part of a perfect back four. “In both matches in 2010 we did a great defensive job, we prevented him attacking those spaces he usually likes,” Zanetti told Goal. “I got lucky with him. He’s out of the ordinary. He can create amazing things at any moment. You always have to be concentrated and focused. And even if you are at your 100 per cent best, it is still complicated with him.” Dutch legend Marco Van Basten was part of the AC Milan squad that shocked Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona Dream Team 4-0 in the 1994 Champions League final - and he agrees with Zanetti that Juventus must defend deep, concede possession and territory, and deny Messi space. “Juventus have to stay so close, mark very tight, deny space – and most of all they must stay concentrated. If they do that, Juventus can win. With a good, organised defence, if they counter well Juve can beat Barcelona,” Van Basten explained to Goal. “I was in Athens in 1994 when everybody expected Barcelona to win against Milan. They had Stoichkov and Romario, Cruyff as coach, everyone talked them up but we were very organised. We played well and we killed them, 4-0.” CUTTING OFF THE SUPPLY LINE TO MESSI But Juventus can’t simply rely on their back four to deny Messi – it must be a team effort. The defence and midfield departments will need to be close together to prevent Leo from locating space in deeper positions - this season the 27-year-old has also evolved into arguably the game’s greatest playmaker. When Allegri’s Milan surprisingly defeated Barcelona 2-0 at San Siro in 2013, there was an average of just 30 yards separating their defence from attack. Barca were suffocated in the middle of the park and Messi just could not get the ball in dangerous areas. Cutting off the supply line to Messi will be crucial. Inter’s Esteban Cambiasso, Thiago Motta and Christian Chivu did an admirable job in preventing the ball from getting into Leo in 2010. When Bayern thrashed Barca 7-0 on aggregate in 2013, Javi Martinez and Bastian Schweinsteiger shielded the defence superbly. “Try and make him play with his back to goal. Because once he gets on the half-turn and finds the pockets of space, then you are in trouble,” former Celtic manager Neil Lennon told Goal. The Glaswegians beat Barcelona 2-1 at home in the 2012-13 group stages despite mustering even less possession than Mourinho’s Inter (11 per cent). Although he scored a late consolation goal from a rebound, Messi was anonymous for much of the game. WHAT FORMATION SHOULD JUVENTUS USE? Most professionals agree that if a defender is left in a one on one situation against Messi, then his team is in big trouble. “You must stay with him but stay on your feet. Because he is so good with his feet, if you go to ground he'll finish you. So we were very disciplined in that aspect,” Lennon reflected on Celtic’s victory. Bayern Munich’s Jerome Boateng had less luck in the build-up to Barcelona’s second goal in this year’s Champions League semi-final at Camp Nou as Messi twisted and turned past the German before delightfully chipping Manuel Neuer. “It’s impossible to describe how difficult it is to mark Messi, as Boateng discovered in the semis,” former Barcelona and current Verona defender Rafa Marquez explained to Goal. “When you are going backwards and you have Messi running at you, changing direction at any time. I can tell you I wouldn’t know how to stop him. A foul outside the area, maybe.” Juventus must not allow Messi to isolate any of their back four. Chiellini is one of the game’s great warriors but he lacks coordination, while central partner Leonardo Bonucci is a better reader of the game than a tackler. Allegri is likely to field a 4-3-1-2 formation on Saturday, but switching to more of a narrow 4-4-2 in defensive phases - with Arturo Vidal or Claudio Marchisio moving to the right (as they did to help double up on Cristiano Ronaldo against Real Madrid in the semis) and Pogba to the left - could help to limit Messi in this regard. It would enable the lines to stay closer together – and also cut off the width that Barca utilise so well. Both Real Madrid and Atletico enjoyed great success with such a system in their matches against Messi and Barcelona in the second half of 2013 and throughout 2014. Saturday’s Champions League final is set up perfectly. The best player in the world against the best defence. If Juventus can’t stop Messi, then surely no one can right now.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Barcelona - Juventus Betting: Can Lionel Messi fire the Blaugrana to victory in Berlin? The Argentine has produced some of the best football of his career in recent months and will be looking to shine on the biggest stage of all in the German capital. Jun 4, 2015 Lionel Messi is a player who makes life tough for journalists. There are only a finite number of positive adjectives in the English language and during his time as a professional player the Argentine has exhausted all of them. As it is with Cristiano Ronaldo, it seems underwhelming to describe Messi as brilliant because that does not do full justice to their abilities. This season Messi finished behind the Real Madrid forward in the La Liga scoring charts with Ronaldo netting 48 goals and Messi 43, truly absurd numbers the like of which will not be repeated by a player different to these two for many years to come. Of course, scoring goals is not the only benchmark by which we must judge players, and Messi tops the assist charts in the Primera Division as well, with his general all round play leading to some suggestions that this could have been his best season ever. Certainly it has brought success with the League and Cup double secured and a Champions League triumph 90 minutes away. The fact that Messi's brilliance has brought silverware is an important one to note; Cristiano has been the league's top scorer for the last two years without winning the title, while Messi's best ever scoring season in 2011/2012 when he netted a record 50 league goals was also the last time Madrid were crowned champions. Goals therefore are no guarantee of success, yet this season Messi has combined both. The question is therefore can he perform one last time this term on Saturday night and help Barcelona secure an historic second treble? Certainly he has risen to the big occasions this season, scoring the goal which won Barcelona the league at the Vicente Calderon against Atletico Madrid, as well as netting a mesmerising double in the final of the Copa Del Rey to win the trophy for the Blaugrana. While he has three Champions League winners medals, Messi has only played two finals (he did not featured in the 2006 triumph over Arsenal) and in both of those finals he has scored. It is therefore a safe bet that Barca's number 10 will get on the scoresheet in Berlin and the price of for him to score at anytime looks tempting. To be able to practically double your money by backing Lionel Messi to score a goal is a good bet irrespective of the opponent. William Hill however offer a number of ways to back the forward for more adventuruous punters and while he has done many things in his career, Messi has never scored twice in a Champions League final. William Hill are top priced at for him to net two or more against Juventus which looks highly appealing given it has paid out five times in his last eight matches. A performance that produced such an outcome would surely see the Argentine as the front-runner for the Man of the Match award, an outcome that's on offer at an industry best price of . For even higher odds Messi can be backed at to score in each half. A hat-trick is on offer at a massive , a price that is well out of line with the rest of the prices on offer in the market at the time of writing and one that could appeal to long odds value bettors who believe the Barcelona forward will be able to unlock the Italian backline on the biggest of stages. Finally, those confident that Messi will shine on Saturday should consider backing him to outscore Juve at.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Fortune favours the brave: Lady Luck smiling at the Old Lady Juventus have already had a tremendous season, and are on the cusp of history. But with all the great performances, there have been a few times when Juventus has needed some good fortune their way. Jun 3, 2015 Juventus have officially completed their domestic season, and just one more game remains — the big one, the Champions League final. By now it's cliché, but this season so far has been unexpectedly terrific! Despite regular dominance on the domestic front, it's been more difficult in Europe. At times, it's been downright dicey. But Juventus has always managed to find a way through, so far at least. On more than one occasion, the Bianconeri has gotten the rub of the green, which has resulted in wins and progress. Juventus vs. Monaco In the 57th minute of the first leg of this quarterfinal tie at Juventus Stadium, Arturo Vidal scored a penalty kick which won Juve the game and eventually the tie. There was nothing fortuitous about the penalty kick; the Chilean dispatched his kick with aplomb, sending the keeper the wrong way and putting the ball into the top corner. The play that led to the penalty kick, however, well there was more than a touch of luck involved. A long, raking pass from Andrea Pirlo found Álvaro Morata's run before the young Spaniard was cynically clipped by Monaco defender Ricardo Carvalho just outside the box. However, referee Pavel Královec adjudged the trip to have taken place inside the box, despite the vehement protests from the Monaco players. (One could argue that Monaco were also lucky to not have gone down to 10 men, as Carvalho was the last defender and denied a goal-scoring opportunity). Score one for the good guys. Juventus vs. Lazio One-all after 90 minutes, this season's Coppa Italia final went into extra time for only the second time since the final was made a one-off game (as opposed to the previous two-legged version). After a slow start to the game, Juve had recovered and were playing the slightly better football against an in-form Lazio team. Lazio started the first period of extra time in the ascendancy and on ninety-four minutes, almost put themselves back in front. Filip Djordjevic lined up from about 30 yards out and struck a fierce swerving shot that beat Marco Storari in the Juve goal all ends up. Luckily for the boys in black and white, it didn't beat the post — either of them. Yes, Djordjevic's shot — which frankly would have been a very worthy winner — hit the inside of both posts without ever having crossed the goal line. The Serbian even started to run off in celebration before being stunned, like most of the onlookers, that the ball never crossed the line. Now, we'll all remember that in the 97th minute, Alessandro Matri scored — with his own slice of good luck — a deflected winner, which gave Juventus it's tenth Coppa Italia victory and only it's third domestic league and cup double. But had it not be for that event three minutes earlier, who knows what the outcome may have been. Juventus vs. Real Madrid It was all Madrid after Cristiano Ronaldo equalized in the 27th minute, the goal having swung the momentum in the favor of the guests. Isco, James Rodríguez and Marcelo were having more freedom and were looking more and more dangerous. Just before halftime, Isco and Marcelo combined on the left before Isco crossed into the middle for Rodríguez. The Colombian playmaker met the cross with a bullet header, but with the goal at his mercy his header inexplicably crashed against the crossbar. It was a major relief to all Juventini worldwide. On first look, it seemed like a sitter missed. On second look, it looked the same. On third look, it was clear that this was divine intervention. Stefano Sturaro, a surprise starter over Roberto Pereyra, tracked Rodríguez on the play and stuck a boot out when the Colombian dived in for the header. The result? The ball got the faintest deflection off Sturaro's Puma boot and onto the crossbar. Without a doubt, that was the most important intervention of the season so far. Juventus went on to win the game 2-1, and well, the rest of history. Going into the final on Saturday, many have already etched Barcelona's name onto ol' big ears. While the Blaugrana are definitely the better team, and are rightly favourites, the Old Lady should not be merely written off. It's football. It's a one off game. It's in Berlin. Anything can happen. Given some of the fortuitous incidents that have gone in Juve's favour so far this season, this season already has that air of destiny about it. Can Juve be this season's team of destiny? Only one game left to find out. All will be revealed in three days' time.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Tevez: Barcelona Are The Best Team In The World Jun 3, 2015 Juventus striker Carlos Tevez has admitted that Barcelona are the best team in world football currently, acknowledging the momentous task ahead of his side in beating them. The Bianconeri are gunning for their first Champions League success in 19 years, but Tevez is wary of the mountain that they need to climb in order to end their final hoodoo, with their last three European finals resulting in losses. “Barcelona are the best team in the world, and we will be facing the three strongest attackers,” the Argentine remarked to UEFA. “We have to be working very hard, and our performance will have to be more than perfect.” However, the 31-year-old also took the time to rally support for Juventus ahead of the conclusion of their season, also stating: “Massimiliano Allegri has given me so much freedom, and has let me play the way I prefer, which is why this season has been much better than the last for me. “Gianluigi Buffon is a phenomenon, and having him in goal gives the whole team confidence. “Scoring a goal against Gigi is always difficult, and he gives us that bit of extra security.” Juventus take on Barcelona in Berlin on June 6, with a historic treble on the line.

Pogba can define an era at Juventus, says Trezeguet The former France international has urged the midfielder to stay at the club and says Massimiliano Allegri can exploit Barcelona's weaknesses. Jun 3, 2015 Former Juventus striker David Trezeguez says Paul Pogba should stay at the club and become a defining figure in their modern history. The France international has been linked with a mega-money summer move to a number of Europe's top clubs, including Juve's Champions League final opponents Barcelona. Trezeguet, however, believes the Serie A champions will construct a team around the midfielder for the coming years and thinks the 22-year-old would be best served staying put. "Paul Pogba, in relation to his age, is impressive. He has technical qualities, speed and he is very well placed on the pitch. He has an exceptional level," he told RMC. "In a short time, he showed his qualities. He became the most important player of the club. He also gained confidence. He is appreciated a lot by his team-mates. He is aware that he is at a club that protects him a lot and he can mark the club's history. The arrival of Patrice Evra helped him a lot through the advice he's given. "I have not spoken to him about his future. We [Trezeguet and Juve directors] tried to leave him alone so he could heal after his injury. Now, he finds himself in the final of the Champions League. Things will be put in place after that. "But he's aware that he's with a top-level club with great ambition, and we'll continue to progress from last season. We want to become the club we were before. "My advice to him is to stay. He could mark the history of Juventus. The club can build around him and we are already working on it. He knows all that." Trezeguet acknowledges Barcelona are favourites for Saturday's clash in Berlin but has backed Massimiliano Allegri to exploit the weaknesses within the Liga champions' set-up. "We are aware that we're facing 'the team to beat', but we are also aware that we've shown our qualities during this season," said the former France striker. "It'll be a tough game, but we know we will play hard to try to win the treble. Barca are favourites but, historically, we've often put Spanish teams in difficulty. "We know that, against Lionel Messi and others, it will be very difficult. But we have a coach who works on all the details and we will try to take advantage of their weaknesses. There are not many, but they are there." Meanwhile, Barca transfer chief Ariedo Braida has refused to comment on any potential signings given that the clash is just three days away. "I can't say anything right now, especially on the doorstep of the Champions League final," he told Sportalia. "It would be bad professionalism if I started talking now about transfers and players from an opponent."

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Trezeguet: 'Juve exploit Barca weakness' Jun 3, 2015 David Trezeguet said Juventus will “make the most of Barcelona’s weaknesses” and advised Paul Pogba to stay. The build-up to Saturday’s Champions League Final in Berlin continues and ex-Juve striker Trez spoke to RMC Sport. “The Blaugrana are the team to beat at the moment. We’ve had a difficult journey, but proved our quality. We’ll play our cards and know our strength. “We know it will be tough, but will try to win the Treble. History counts for a lot. We are concentrated on the game and can make the most of Barcelona’s weaknesses.” French midfield sensation Pogba is expected to start and Trezeguet has some advice for the youngster. “Pogba is amazing considering his age. He has technique and pace, becoming very important for the club. He has a great rapport with everyone and Patrice Evra also helped him settle. “He knows that he can still improve and write history here. For the future, I advise him to remain at Juventus. “Paul knows that he is in a top club and that over the next few years the level will be raised further to regularly be on a par with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. “One day Gigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez will leave, so then the team will be built around Pogba.”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Statistical breakdown of Champions League final Jun 3, 2015 The UEFA Champions League final is Saturday at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, with both Barcelona and Juventus looking to complete the final piece of a treble for the season. Here is a statistical look at the match, complete with the Soccer Power Index (SPI) projection: Juventus finished first in Serie A for the fourth consecutive season, clinching the title with room to spare. Juve then defeated Lazio in the Coppa Italia final on May 20. Barcelona won La Liga for the fifth time in the last seven years, and defeated Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final this past Saturday. Barcelona, the highest-rated team in Europe according to ESPN's Soccer Power Index, is a 74 percent favorite to win the match per SPI. This matchup pits SPI's top two defensively rated teams in Europe. Barcelona allowed 21 goals in league play and Juventus allowed 24, the second- and third-fewest in the five major European leagues (England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France) this season. Only Bayern Munich allowed fewer overall and on a per-match basis. Both teams have allowed less than one goal per match in this season's Champions League. Juventus will have to contend with Barcelona's offense, the highest rated in Europe according to SPI. Barcelona scored 110 goals in 38 La Liga games this season. Only Real Madrid scored more in the five top European leagues, and no other team was within 25 goals. Juventus has scored 103 goals in all competitions so far this season. Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez alone have combined for 120 goals in all competitions this season. Barcelona gets goals in all kinds of ways. One way it stood out above the rest was using through balls, particularly from Messi. Barcelona scored 11 goals on through balls in league play this season, most in La Liga and tied for the most in Europe's top five leagues. Messi has 10 assists overall with through balls and six in league play, two more than any other player in the five top European leagues. He attempted 94 through balls in league play, 41 more than anyone else. The most likely target will be Neymar, who was on the receiving end of 22 attempted through balls from Messi, resulting in six goals. Juventus, meanwhile, has had success with crosses this season, completing 25.6 percent overall and 27 percent into the attacking penalty area, the ninth-best percentage in the five major European leagues. Juventus created 113 chances from crosses this season, second-most in Serie A and one more than Barcelona did in league play. Juventus may struggle with crosses against Barcelona, which allowed opponents to create 56 chances from crosses, fewest in La Liga and only allowed one goal from a cross in league play, fewest in the five biggest European leagues this season. If Juventus can't get the ball into the box, it can always try shooting from distance. Juventus scored 23 goals from outside the attacking penalty area in league play this year, five more than any other team in the five major European leagues and nine more than any other team in Serie A. Once again, this may not work against Barcelona, which allowed three goals on shots from outside the attacking penalty area, tied for fewest in the top five leagues in Europe. A big reason behind this: Barcelona only allowed 26 shots on goal from outside the box in 38 league games this season, also the fewest.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Pogba: Messi Is The Best In The World Jun 3, 2015 Paul Pogba insists Juventus have nothing to lose against Barcelona in the Champions League final, though admitted Lionel Messi is the best player in the world. The two sides meet at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Saturday, with both looking to complete treble seasons of the domestic cup, league and Champions League. “Messi is Messi,” Pogba began. “Nowadays he is without doubt the best player in the world. “Barcelona are a great team and we [Juventus] know it, but we are in the final and have nothing to lose. “I don’t know if I will one day play alongside Messi, I like their style of play, but I would really like to see them lose on Saturday.”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Tardelli: ‘Juventus never give up’ Jun 3, 2015 Marco Tardelli praises his old side Juventus who ‘never give up’ but says ‘maybe they need holy water’ to stop Barcelona. The former midfielder spent 10 seasons in Turin with the Bianconeri, and spoke to British newspapers the Guardian and the Daily Mail about today’s side. “I like their determination,” Tardelli explained. “They don't give up. You could see the way they fought until the end to win the Coppa Italia. “The club has gone back to the days of being a Juventus club with another Agnelli as president, Andrea, the son of Umberto. “It is going back to the glory days. There's still a way before they have the presence on an international level like Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. “They're not the ultimate dream team yet. But it's starting to get back to that. “How would I stop Messi? I would do what I did against Maradona [i.e kick him]. But now you can't play like that. So I don't know. “Juventus has a good defence. Barcelona has a great attack. “It's one match. It is a possibility. Jose Mourinho found a way to stop Barcelona [with Inter in 2010] but that was a different Barcelona. Now it is a different team. “Now it is like champagne. I'm not sure there is a way to stop Barcelona at the moment. Maybe they need holy water.” Tardelli was a part of the Juve side which won the club’s first European Cup in 1985, though it was tainted by the events at Heysel Stadium in which 39 fans were killed. “You feel it all the time. You carry it with you, it never leaves you. You don’t just remember it every 10 years or 20 years. “It is with you and, sometimes, you think about it. It is part of you. The final in Brussels was a defeat for everybody on all levels. “I don’t count it as a winners’ medal in any way. “We managed to get one father and his son of about 12 years old into the tunnel, near to the dressing rooms. “The boy was crying and he was really scared. The police had briefly opened the gates in Sector Z of the stadium before closing them and the father and son had managed to come across the pitch and reach the tunnel. “The father was clearly in shock but he was determined to save his son. He was shouting for help. “I was standing there with a couple of other players and there was a policeman or somebody at the entrance. I urged him to let them in. “It was the natural thing to do. I was a father, too. My daughter would have been eight at the time. “The stadium should not have hosted such an event, as it was not up to par, and it was a mistake on behalf of the Belgian police to put the hooligans so close to the Italians in Sector Z. “It was also a mistake from Uefa not to call the match off. I remember going out from the dressing room to speak to the supporters on the curva. “The police didn’t give them a chance to run away across the pitch. They should have opened the gates. They kept the Italians in the wolf’s den. “We scored our winning goal from a penalty and it was outside the area. “The Liverpool players could have kicked up a fuss but they didn’t. They were just in shock.”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Will he be fit to face Barcelona? Juve face anxious wait after Chiellini injury The experienced defender's fitness has been cast into doubt after the Italian club revealed he pulled up during Wednesday's training session. Jun 3, 2015 Juventus' defence is facing a Champions League final crisis after Giorgio Chiellini was sidelined in training on Wednesday, casting his fitness in doubt ahead of Saturday's clash with Barcelona. The centre-back, 30, has played every minute of the Bianconeri's current European campaign, which has seen them eliminate Real Madrid, Monaco and Borussia Dortmund en route to Berlin. However, the Scudetto and Coppa Italia holders are now in limbo over whether Chiellini will be fit to feature against the Liga and Copa del Rey champions due to calf problem picked up with just three days to go until the showdown. "Chiellini was forced to leave the field with a sore left calf on Wednesday," Juventus confirmed on their official website. "His condition will be evaluated on Thursday." Massimiliano Allegri has, at least, been given some good news as Chiellini's defensive team-mate Andrea Barzagli completed a full training session having recovered from a muscular problem. Barzagli missed the final game of the Serie A season against Hellas Verona – a 2-2 draw away from home – after being forced off against Napoli with a thigh injury.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Injury scare for Chiellini Jun 3, 2015 Giorgio Chiellini pulled out of Juventus training today, with the defender suffering muscular discomfort. It is not yet known whether the injury is likely to mean the defender misses the Champions League final with Barcelona, or if the Italian only stopped as a precaution. "Chiellini was forced to leave the field with a sore left calf," the Bianconeri confirmed in a statement. "His condition will be evaluated tomorrow." Meanwhile, Andrea Barzagli looks likely to be fit enough to make the squad for the match in Berlin. The 34-year-old went off at half-time in the win over Napoli, and was later revealed to be suffering from a thigh injury. However, Barzagli completed the entire session with his teammates today.

Why Barcelona will be praying that Pogba stays at Juventus The Frenchman is the most sought-after star in world football, but the Blaugrana will be hoping he goes nowhere fast. Jun 3, 2015 By Kris Voakes | International Football Correspondent In Italy he’s ‘Mr €100 million’, while in Spain he’s the hottest prospect on the market. But on Saturday night he will be one of 22 footballers lining up for potentially the biggest moment of his career. Paul Pogba has seemed destined for greatness ever since he immediately stamped his mark on the Juventus first team after arriving from Manchester United. Less than three years on, he will play in a Champions League final this weekend and is set to be Europe's most sought-after star this summer. But while he gets set to take on Barcelona in Berlin, the Catalan side might well have an even bigger say in his future. For while he was previously the subject of much speculation relating to Real Madrid, it is the Spanish champions who now appear the most likely to extricate the Frenchman from Juventus. After La Stampa had claimed Madrid had solidified their interest in him with a bid, los Blancos were quick to deny having made any approach. A club statement insisted: “Real Madrid have had no contact either with Juventus or the player's agent and, as a consequence, the reports published in this newspaper are completely false.” And the repeated presence of Barca sporting director Ariedo Braida around Juventus in the first half of 2015 – most recently at their team hotel in Milan ahead of the May victory over Inter – has raised the possibility of a move to Catalunya for the 22-year-old. Braida is said to have met with Juventus counterpart Beppe Marotta on a number of occasions, but more in depth talks are only likely to be held once Barcelona's presidential elections have taken place on July 26. One stumbling block, of course, is Barcelona’s current transfer ban. The four-time European champions cannot register any new players during the summer period due to a two-window suspension for signing underage foreign players. That rules out a possible move for Pogba until January 2016 at the earliest, and the following summer as a more likely target. Goal’s sources in Spain suggest Barcelona will spend the next year trying to bargain their way into the position of a preferred buyer, but that relies on Pogba remaining happy in Turin for another year. With Xavi departing for Qatar in the coming weeks and Andres Iniesta now 31, Barcelona are known to be looking at options to strengthen their midfield department. While Ilkay Gundogan would become a target should the Blaugrana manage to have their ban overturned, the longer-term project appears to be a move for Pogba. The player’s agent, Mino Raiola, is notorious for his ability to generate interest in his star players. The likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Mario Balotelli have become known for their attractiveness in the market, with the Italy-born representative having been key to several lucrative moves for both players. Should Pogba wish to leave Juve this summer, Raiola is sure to find an interested club. The Frenchman is said to be very happy where he is right now, though, and that can only work in Barca’s favour for the time being. Juventus, however, have no preferred buyer. The Bianconeri insist they would not look to sell the player unless a bid of a phenomenal level is received, leading to speculation that it would take a €100m offer for them to part with the midfielder. Whatever the wiggle room that might be negotiated, it is clear that very few clubs across the world would be able to challenge Barcelona if it came to an auction. Speaking to reporters at Juventus’ press day on Monday ahead of this weekend’s final, Pogba responded to talk of a move to Barcelona with a straight bat but admitted it would be a huge moment for him to take to the field alongside Lionel Messi. “Playing with Messi would be a dream come true,” he admitted. “He’s the best player in the world. I love watching Barcelona play, but I also love watching them lose.” But the chances of Pogba and Messi stepping on the pitch together on a far more regular basis in years to come may well be dictated by Juventus’ ability to keep the Frenchman happy for the duration of the summer window. If Pogba remains with the Bianconeri when time is called on transfer activity at the beginning of September it could be just as big a victory for Barcelona as it will be for Juventus.

Buffon: ‘Bonucci most improved’ Jun 3, 2015 Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon discusses his teammates, calling Andrea Pirlo a ‘genius’ and hailing Leonardo Bonucci’s progression. The Bianconeri are on the brink of a treble, and will compete for the final trophy of the season, the Champions League, against Barcelona on Saturday. “Leonardo Bonucci is the player who's matured the most this year compared with the rest of the squad,” Buffon told UEFA’s official website, in a feature analysing his teammates. “He's made an impressive jump in terms of his maturity. Now I really consider him on the same level as [Andrea] Barzagli and Giorgio [Chiellini]. He's the best that you can have in defence. “Claudio Marchisio, alongside Bonucci, is a player who's had an amazing year in terms of his character. He's a player who I believe is now perfectly aware of his own value. He's a very intelligent player both tactically and technically. “He's very good at winning back possession in midfield. He always does a good job and is very versatile. "Alvaro Morata has been the biggest surprise and now that I know him, I can say that if matures in the right way and if he wants to put his professionalism to the benefit of the team and the profession, he can be the star of the next few years.” The goalkeeper also gave his thoughts on two midfielders at opposite points of their career - 22-year-old Paul Pogba, and veteran Pirlo. “Pogba is an incredible talent. He can and will be able to achieve whatever he wants in life, in footballing terms. It just depends on him and his desire. “Pirlo is one of the few footballing geniuses. “And Buffon? That guy is an expert!”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) The only way to stop Messi is to foul him and pray, says Materazzi The Italian feels there is no legal way to keep the Argentine quiet and says Gianluigi Buffon does not need a Champions League medal to go down as a great. Jun 3, 2015 Former Italy defender Marco Materazzi has told Juventus that the only way to stop Lionel Messi in Saturday's Champions League final against Barcelona is to foul him. The Argentine forward has been in supreme form since the turn of the year and scored a spectacular goal in the 3-1 Copa del Rey win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday. And Materazzi, now coach of Indian Super League side Chennaiyin FC, has come up with a novel way to prevent him from being devestating in the upcoming match in Berlin. "In my opinion, you should pray and then commit a foul to stop him!" he told Goal. "Messi makes the difference more than any other player. If Juventus are able to limit his actions then they have every chance. "In any case, we are speaking about a final, a one-off game, so anything can happen." Juve skipper Gianluigi Buffon has never won the European Cup but Materazzi feels that he does not need to add the trophy to his CV. The World Cup winner added: "Buffon will forever remain one of the biggest names and all of his awards speak for themselves."

Pirlo accepts MLS offer? Jun 3, 2015 Spanish media claim that Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo has accepted an offer from MLS side New York City FC. AS claims that Saturday’s Champions League final against Barcelona will be the 36-year-old’s final game for the Old Lady before a move to the USA. The Spanish newspaper claims that the MLS side turned to Pirlo after Xavi turned them down in favour of a move to Qatari side Al-Sadd. Pirlo has been strongly linked with a move away from Turin this summer and the Bianconeri have already begun reinforcing their midfield with the expected signing of Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira. The playmaker spoke on Monday of how he believes Barca are favourites for Saturday’s final, which he described as “a unique and special game”.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Enhanced Champions League prices: 7/1 on Barcelona or 25/1 on Juventus Luis Enrique's men are the odds on favourites to secure another European title but Paddy Power are offering new players a choice of huge odds with a money back guarantee. Jun 3, 2015 Two of Europe's best teams go head-to-head in Berlin on Saturday and the bookmakers certainly feel that Barcelona hold a significant advantage over their Italian opposition. Having picked up both the Spanish league title and the Copa Del Rey in the last few weeks, Luis Enrique's men are just 8/13 (1.62) to secure victory in normal time and 1/3 (1.33) to lift the trophy. Barcelona will undoubtedly be a tough task for Juventus but the Italian champions have also notched up another domestic honour in the form of the Coppa Italia, meaning they too are chasing a treble and could well outperform their lengthy odds. Paddy Power go 9/4 (3.25) that Max Allegri's men claim a surprise victory in Berlin and 9/2 (5.50) that they do so in normal time. Anyone opening a new online Paddy Power account ahead of the showpiece final can claim a huge enhanced price on either side, with 7/1 (8.0) available on Barcelona and an eye-watering 25/1 (26.0) about a Juventus win. Allegri's side have been underestimated by the bookmakers throughout the tournament but their route to the final has consisted of victories over Real Madrid, Monaco and Borussia Dortmund and while they are rightly the underdogs against the best team in Europe, if not the world, 25/1 on them winning a one-off clash is sure to hold of the attention of value hunters. Likewise, the 7/1 (8.0) on offer about the Catalan giants is likely to prove popular, especially with Paddy Power's offer to refund losing wagers on these enhanced prices if your bet loses. To claim one of these enhanced prices, simply open an account through a link on this page, place a bet on your chosen team at the current price shown on site and if they win, the winnings will be topped up to the value of the bigger odds.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Rafael Marquez: Messi & Pogba could decide the Champions League final The former Barcelona defender believes the two stars have the capacity to make the difference in a game that will be packed with world-class talent. Jun 3, 2015 I love Barcelona, I love watching them and I am looking forward to a special occasion on Saturday night when one of my best friends, Xavi, says farewell, when the amazing Leo Messi aims to show us more of his magic, and when Juventus will do all they can to stop them. Barcelona are strong favourites but it will be very tough for them. When I compare the two teams I see Messi as a reference point but also Paul Pogba. I see Juventus as a very strong defensive unit but an improvement in Barcelona’s defending too – starting with the forwards – and I see Andrea Pirlo as a big threat from free kicks. Italian football is very strong tactically. It will be close. The contrast between the sides starts with the goalkeepers. In the final we have one team who are supposed to be there and a surprise arrival who have earned their place. It is the same with the goalkeepers - but the other way around, as Barcelona have the ‘surprise’ man. On the one hand you have Gianluigi Buffon, who has so much experience – a World Cup winner, plenty of titles, captain of his team. And on the other side we have Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, a young goalkeeper in his first year in this great team. Ter Stegen played a decisive role in the semi-final against Bayern Munich, when he made several good saves at a time when a goal would have really lifted Bayern. He has saved Barcelona from a lot of danger, and gives plenty of confidence to the defensive line. He will be one of the important players in this final. In front of Ter Stegen, Barca have a very strong, solid pair in central defence in Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano. I like Mascherano better as a midfielder but there’s no doubt he has done well in central defence despite his height and the fact he is not a physically strong player. He uses his intelligence well and has been one of Barca’s most important players in recent seasons. Luis Enrique has made Barca a more compact team; in some respects he has shrunk the pitch. It starts with the forward line. We see Neymar, who returns to defend from the left side, we see Messi also tightened on all sides of the pitch, we see Luis Suarez working hard too – this is a collective example to the rest of the team. Juve’s defence supports the whole team and the players are veterans. The goalkeeper and the back line have so much experience. Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci are the base of Italy’s national team, too, and if Andrea Barzagli is injured for the final they can cope, no problem. Having said that, it’s impossible to describe how difficult it can be to mark Messi, as Jerome Boateng discovered in the semi-final. When you are going backwards and you have Messi running at you, changing direction at any time… I can tell you I wouldn’t know how to stop him. A foul outside the area, maybe. Juve have experience in midfield, too, with Andrea Pirlo, the man who gives the team their balance. He can be very dangerous if he has a free kick near the area, he's lethal from that range. Barça have been preparing for life after Xavi, who deserves all the tributes and could, I believe, have played another season at Barca. Ivan Rakitic is the future, a good young player and an important part of the team. Paul Pogba has been a sensation for Juve and it’s no surprise that all the big teams want him. He is a player who can make the difference, like Messi. He is physically strong as we saw in the semi-final at Real Madrid, 89 minutes up and down the pitch, defending and attacking. Pure quality, and for me he has been their most impressive player. Barcelona have the strongest three-man attack in football. If one of them does not have his day, you still have to be careful with the other two. They were looking for a No.9 and Suarez has been a success. It reminds me of when Samuel Eto'o went to Barcelona; they are very similar. We should applaud Messi because he made the decision to change how he played, to run back to defend and help the team when necessary, as well as all his attacking. The arrival of Suarez and Neymar has helped him, and he has taken on more responsibility in the team. He has matured. He's captain of the Argentina national team, he's about to become a father for the second time. You can see, too, that he is taking care of himself to keep his physical shape, preventing injuries. He is careful about what he eats. All this shows that he has arrived at a certain point of maturity. Juve also have three strong forwards. Carlos Tevez is in great shape, and he gives depth to the attack. He’s always dangerous and has had a good season. So have the two from Spain. Fernando Llorente can be a key man and Alvara Morata has many qualities, as we saw in the semi-final. Maybe the way he left Real Madrid was not the best – they could have given him more of a chance. Leaving like that gives a player extra motivation against his former team, as he showed in the semi-final. Juventus are dangerous, for sure. They are a complete team, with top-quality forwards, experience and the added confidence of having beaten Real Madrid. Both teams are going for the treble and both clearly deserve to be here. It will be a close game.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Barca are like Pavarotti - Capello The veteran coach is full of admiration for the Catalans' style of play but feels that they must be wary against Juventus in the Champions League final. Jun 3, 2015 Former Juventus boss Fabio Capello says that attending a Barcelona game at Camp Nou is like watching Luciano Pavarotti sing. The Catalans have been in supreme form since the turn of the year, winning the domestic double and making progress to the Champions League final against Juventus on Saturday. And the 68-year-old loves watching Luis Enrique's side in full flow, comparing them to the legendary opera singer, but feels that they will have their work cut out to break down the Bianconeri. "If you buy a ticket to Camp Nou, you're going to see something different, like going to see Luciano Pavarotti sing," he told Onda Cero. "The Champions League is 50-50 between both teams. The chances are that Juventus will defend very well, even if they're missing an important player in Andrea Barzagli. "They're not easy to stop so it'll be a very balanced game. Technically, Barca are better, they are stronger and know how to play better but they must be wary of Juventus' counterattacks." Capello went on to praise Lionel Messi's season, saying that he is in the best form of his life. "He's a sensitive boy, very serious and has had money and family problems. Now that's quieter because the problems are almost fixed and we're seeing the best Messi," said the coach. Capello, who had two spells as Real Madrid boss, also voiced his opinion that Rafa Benitez, who was confirmed as the club's new coach on Wednesday, may fail to prove himself an adequate replacement for Carlo Ancelotti at the Bernabeu. He continued: "The Real Madrid shirt weighs a lot for the coach too. I don't know if Benitez can be a guaranteed substitute for Ancelotti. The problem is that clubs sometimes don't understand the value of the coach."

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Lionel Messi Is Barcelona's Player Juventus Must Stop in Champions League Final Jun 3, 2015 Lionel Messi is back to his best and in the form of his life for Barcelona. If we thought his performance against Bayern Munich in the semi-final of the Champions League was special, he somehow managed to top that against Athletic Bilbao in the final of the Copa del Rey. The first of his two goals was jaw-droppingly good. If Juventus had already decided on a plan of how to stop La Pulga, they may want to rethink it after another masterclass. The final will be remembered for years because of that goal, however it's worth reflecting on what else Messi brought to the table. Barcelona should've been in front well before the opener after Neymar had expertly volleyed home one of the Argentine's trademark cross-field passes. His wanderlust during the opening exchanges meant that Athletic's initial game plan needed to be abandoned. And that is the danger for Juve. Massimiliano Allegri will surely want to play a normal Italian game of shutting up shop at the back and striking when play allows. He knows that man for man the Bianconeri cannot stand toe-to-toe with Barca and expect to come out on top. But how his side deal with Messi is their biggest headache. Patrice Evra will be wary. Whenever Messi moved to his side of the pitch in the 2011 Champions League Final against Manchester United he was well beaten. The temptation would be for Allegri to ensure Paul Pogba provides defensive cover down that side, but that would severely dent Pogba's attacking instincts and ability to get forward and support the front players. Giorgio Chiellini can't contemplate covering either for he then leaves Luis Suarez in a one-on-one situation with Leonardo Bonucci, and frankly there is only one winner in that situation. Arturo Vidal's energy is required further up the pitch in support of both front men, so it's highly unlikely that Allegri will countenance a change of roles with Andrea Pirlo either. Luis Garcia ✔@LuchoGarcia14 Juventus have done a brilliant season so far but... Does anyone see Barcelona without the Trebble playing like this? Messi's movement and ability to drop inside in the midfield areas will open up the channels for Dani Alves down the right and Ivan Rakitic in the hybrid role that he has made his own with the Catalans this season. Juve might fancy their chances of stopping the Argentine if they can force him to work more centrally, given that the pitch is likely to be much more congested there. Allowing Messi space was Athletic's biggest downfall and Juve must close down those gaps quickly. Even if Messi isn't decisive, he is incisive and to paraphrase beIN Sports' Ray Hudson during live commentary of a match earlier this season, "the feet continue to dance." Live Ray Hudson @liverayhudson Messi's assist: "The feet continue to dance. He's got eyes in back of his head the size of bowling balls, Messi." Neymar and Luis Suarez provide enough of a goal threat themselves to have the Italians concerned but it is old swivel hips himself that provides the key to the lock. Barcelona would be an entirely different proposition without Messi's genius. The question that Allegri really needs to pose to himself is can his team really rely on defence for the full 90 minutes against this quality of opposition? Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. Marco Messina @Marcocalcio22 Allegri on playing Barcelona: "You can't think about defending (the whole match) in a game like this. We'll come out with intensity" And Barca have already shown this season that they have finally learned how to play against teams that "park the bus" for want of a better phrase. Although he already has three winners medals, Messi has only been involved in a Champions League Final twice. On both occasions in 2009 and 2011 he scored and Barcelona emerged victorious. We'll see if the Old Lady of Italian football can stop this young man from making it an enviable hat-trick...