Socrates

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Morata: Juventus Have ‘Super’ Defence To Stop Even Messi Jun 5, 2015 Juventus striker Alvaro Morata spoke ahead of his team’s Champions League final clash against Barcelona, confident that the Bianconeri can muzzle their attack. Morata emphasized the aspect of Juventus’ defence and remained bullish that — despite the late withdrawal of Giorgio Chiellini — the Bianconeri can stop even Lionel Messi. The Real Madrid loanee also touched on the extra motivation he feels ahead of the game against Barcelona. “Juventus have a super defence that can stop champions; even Messi,” Morata said to El Partido de las 12. “We want to play a great match and win the Champions League; we know that winning would enter us in the history books. “The idea of beating Barcelona particularly motivates me of course. I would be lying if I said it didn’t. “I grew up in Real Madrid [academy] and I still have many friends there. I have already dreamed so many times of scoring the [winning] goal in the final.”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Evra To Bury Hatchet With Suarez Jun 5, 2015 Juventus defender Patrice Evra spoke ahead of the Champions League final clash against Barcelona, confirming that he plans on shaking Luis Suarez’s hand. The two players had experienced a previous altercation, with Luis Suarez having racially abused Evra and subsequently refused to shake his hand in 2012, during the pre-match ritual of a Liverpool versus Manchester United match. Evra has assured that he has has forgiven and forgotten however, and intends to focus on the game and treat Suarez as any other opponent. “I will shake Suarez’s hand,” Evra said to Tuttosport. “I do not mind him. “Tomorrow is the Champions League final; I am proud of myself and proud of who I am, and I will try to make my presence known on the field when I go up against Suarez.”

'Champions League final could be Pogba's last game for Juventus' - Agent Mino Raiola says that while the Bianconeri do not want to sell, the French "work of art" will leave Turin if another lcub makes a big enough bid. Jun 5, 2015 Paul Pogba's agent has revealed that Saturday's Champions League final could be the midfielder's last appearance in a Juventus shirt. The France international is one of the most sought-after players in world football, with Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea all interested in signing him. Juventus have repeatedly stated their determination to hold onto Pogba and build a team around the 22-year-old, but the player's representative, Mino Raiola, has now claimed that his client could depart after this weekend's showdown with Barcelona. "Berlin could be Pogba's last game with Juventus," the agent told Sky Sport Italia. "They don't want to sell him. Whoever wants him will have to buy him. "However, it could happen. The market is open until September 2. "He has a contract with Juventus, who have not made any moves to sell him. "Concrete offers arrived but they were brushed aside. But the price will be decided by who wants him. The price doesn't matter to someone who wants to buy a work of art. "Juventus will control the auction but it will be one of the most costly transfers in history. "He's a special player. He's already given us a glimpse of the path he's on even though we have not even seen the best of Pogba." Pogba joined Juve on a free transfer from Manchester United in the summer of 2012 and has won three consecutive Serie A titles and one Coppa Italia with the Turin outfit.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Buffon: ‘Final was a target’ Jun 5, 2015 Gigi Buffon says Juventus were targeting the Champions League final, but admits they didn’t expect to get there this year. The Bianconeri take on Barcelona in Berlin tomorrow, and the goalkeeper spoke alongside Leonardo Bonucci and Coach Massimiliano Allegri at the pre-match Press conference. “It was definitely a target,” Buffon explained. “One which myself and my teammates set ourselves in recent years and have now been able to reach. We probably didn’t expect to get there this season, but it’s been the ideal campaign for many reasons. “The first, and most important of all, is a big change at the technical level in the Coach, who in my opinion could have gotten us to the final in the next two or three years. “Instead, it came earlier than expected, we didn’t expect it. And like all good, unexpected surprises it brings us great joy.” The Italian international also believes that the experience of the two teams will be important in handling the occasion. “The emotional aspect will be there, and it will be an important part of the game. “It’s also true that both teams have players, whether they’re young or less young, who have valuable experience which they can draw on to manage these types of situations. “I guess at the beginning, one side or the other might find it more difficult, but after those first five or 10 minutes, over the 90 minutes you’ll see two real teams and what they’ve done to reach the final.”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Allegri’s Three-Year Pain: Juventus Coach Out For Barcelona Payback Max will be battling against Barca for the first time as Juve coach, but the Blaugrana put the Bianconeri tactician through some torrid times when he sat on the Rossoneri bench. Jun 5, 2015 Massimiliano Allegri’s former AC Milan sides were never able to eliminate Barcelona from Europe’s elite competition, but the now Juventus coach might have a better chance of success in Saturday night’s Champions League Final in Berlin, Germany. Allegri’s first experience in the Champions League was in 2011-12 with the Rossoneri, after winning the Serie A title in the previous season and playing against the Blaugrana in two stages of the competition. After drawing 2-2 with Barcelona at the Camp Nou in the opening Group H match, AC Milan lost 3-2 at home on the fifth matchday; but the Rossoneri were unlucky as Mark van Bommel scored an own goal and Barca superstar Lionel Messi scored from the penalty spot. Both teams faced each other again in the quarter-finals and after a scoreless first leg in Spain, Barcelona emerged triumphant in Italy with a 3-1 win in the return fixture. In the following 2012-13 season, AC Milan played against Barcelona in the Round of 16 and Allegri’s side sprung a surprise in the first leg, winning 2-0 thanks to goals by Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari. The win proved nothing more than false hope though, as Barca humiliated the Milanese side 4-0 in the second leg. For the third season in a row, AC Milan once more met Barcelona; but the Catalan team did not eliminate the Milanese giants from the Champions League. Milan drew 1-1 with in their third Group H game and then lost 3-1 on matchday four, but the Rossoneri still managed to progress through to the Round of 16. They would however still be ousted by a Spanish side, on this occasion Atletico Madrid eliminating AC Milan 5-1 on aggregate; but Allegri had already been sacked by then. Despite his struggle to obtain results against Barca with the Rossoneri, Allegri should have the belief that his Juve team can beat the Blaugrana. Having a united dressing room is important and Allegri does not have to deal with any big egos or temperamental players like he did at AC Milan. Juventus don’t have feisty or mercurial players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho, Antonio Cassano or Mario Balotelli to keep under control. When Allegri started coaching AC Milan, there was an abundance of players who were over 30 years old such as Alessandro Nesta, Gennaro Gattuso, Massimo Ambrosini and Clarence Seedorf. This Juventus side does not have a plethora of veterans like the Rossoneri did. Although 37-year-old Gianluigi Buffon has played frequently this season, the Bianconeri haven’t been dependant on 36-year-old Andrea Pirlo dictating the play in midfield, and 34-year-old Andrea Barzagli wasn’t hugely missed in defence. Allegri has also had a more reliable core of youngsters with Juventus than he did at AC Milan, more specifically 22-year-olds like with Stefano Sturaro bringing energy and stamina in midfield, Paul Pogba providing some flair and Alvaro Morata scoring key goals up front for the Bianconeri. AC Milan were slow and ageing under Allegri but his Juventus team doesn’t have this issue because of midfielders like Arturo Vidal, Claudio Marchisio and Roberto Pereyra and Argentine striker Carlo Tevez who all provide tireless running as well. Barcelona have a star-studded attack with Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, and although they are not reliant on playmaker Xavi these days, Andres Iniesta brings valuable experience in midfield and Ivan Rakitic has been a top addition. Allegri does not need to be as preoccupied with Barcelona today as it was the case with AC Milan though. He is going into battle with a stronger army this time around.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Camoranesi: ‘Juventus can win’ Jun 5, 2015 Former Juventus winger Mauro Camoranesi says he thinks his old side can ‘bring home the result’ in the Champions League final. The Bianconeri face Barcelona in Berlin tomorrow night, their first final in the competition since 2003, when Camoranesi was on the losing side. “Juve are a good team, with seven or eight top-level players,” the former Italian international told Mediotiempo. “Of course, Barça are favourites because they have the experience of playing finals in recent years. Juve, however, must be proud of what they did. “To recover from Serie B by winning four consecutive Scudetti is a source of great satisfaction for the team and the fans. “What Juventus deserve credit for is being patient and building everything over two or three years, focusing on champions like Tevez, Llorente and Evra, as well as young talents like Pogba. “Going back to the Champions League final, it’s very difficult to make predictions, especially for me. “But I believe in the ability of Juve to bring home the result.”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Del Piero: ‘Anything can happen’ Jun 5, 2015 Alessandro Del Piero believes Barcelona are favourites against Juventus, but ‘in a Champions League final, anything can happen’. The Bianconeri are in their first final since 2003, with club legend Del Piero having played that night, and three previous finals, winning just once. “In a Champions League final, anything can happen,” the Old Lady’s all-time top scored explained, speaking to Tuttosport. “It’s difficult to make predictions when it comes to such important matches. The team which is favourite could win, but maybe not. “As for me, I lost when we were the favourites, and won when our rivals had been predicted as favourites. That’s football, especially in finals.” Pinturicchio lauded Juve Coach Massimiliano Allegri, having brought the Turin giants to the brink of a treble in his first season. “He took over a winning team and improved it, without creating tension, gradually putting forward his principles without losing the confidence of the players. “Today Juventus have a clear game plan and are well-organised, they play well. “What will be important tomorrow? Free kicks, attacking precision from [Carlos] Tevez and [Alvaro] Morata, and the ability to keep possession to defend a good result.” Finally, the World Cup winner gave his opinion on Barça superstar Lionel Messi, but also singled out Xavi and Juve’s Andrea Pirlo for praise. “Instinct, passion, magic,” Del Piero said of Messi. “Messi is a gift to football, and we’re lucky to be around to enjoy him as he deserves. “Xavi and Pirlo? Two unique players, two real phenomena. It was great to play with them and against them.”

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Juventus vs. Barcelona: Champions League Final 2015 Start Time and Top X-Factors Jun 5, 2015 It isn't often that the UEFA Champions League final features a David versus Goliath matchup, but that is certainly the feeling entering Saturday's contest as an underdog Juventus squad will look to knock off dominant Barcelona. Juve aren't pushovers by any means, but few expected them to reach this point. They upset Real Madrid in the semifinals, and they now have an opportunity to do something similar to Barca. If they are going to make that happen, though, they will need big-time contributions from some unexpected sources. The same can be said for the Blaugrana, however, as they can't necessarily expect the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez to do all the heavy lifting. As the biggest event in European soccer approaches, here is all the vital information needed to view the Champions League final, as well as further analysis regarding the top X-factors to watch. Top X-Factors to Watch Andrea Barzagli When Juventus take the pitch against arguably the most dynamic attacking team in the world Saturday, tidy defending will be of the utmost importance. Keeping Barcelona off the scoreboard and pushing the match to penalty kicks may ultimately be the best course of action for Juve. If it is going to do that, though, it will have to press on without center back Giorgio Chiellini, who suffered a torn leg muscle, according to Juventus.com. The Bianconeri will have to find a replacement, and although he is coming off a foot injury in his own right, Andrea Barzagli appears to be the likeliest option. Assuming the 34-year-old veteran is in form, CNN's Tancredi Palmeri doesn't believe Juventus will experience much of a drop off: Tancredi Palmeri @tancredipalmeri If Barzagli will be recovered, Juventus won't miss at all Chiellini. If he won't, well then it gets very very very very hard Adam Digby of beIN Sports took it one step further by suggesting that Juve will actually be better off with Barzagli in the fold over Chiellini: Adam Digby @Adz77 Honest opinion? If Barzagli is 100%, pairing him with Bonucci is fielding Juve's best two central defenders this year There is no question that Chiellini has enjoyed some moments of brilliance, but the Italian defender also has a penchant for making a mess of things at times. One mistake could prove deadly against Barcelona, and Barzagli is less likely to commit a miscue. It is fair to wonder about Barzagli's mobility due to the nature of his previous injury and the fact that Barcelona are so speedy and athletic up front. There will be a ton of pressure put on Barzagli and Juventus' defense as a whole, but if he is able to hold up, then Le Zebre will have a chance to pull off the upset. Ivan Rakitic On a team that boasts the likes of Messi, Neymar, Suarez, Andre Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique and so many others, it is quite easy to get overlooked. Even so, it cannot be denied that midfielder Ivan Rakitic's play is a big reason why Barcelona have made it this far. The 27-year-old Croatian has done a little bit of everything for Barca this season from defending to passing and chipping in with goals. Squads that are littered with stars need glue to bring everything together, and Rakitic is undoubtedly that type of player. He also seems to have the proper mentality entering the Champions League final. There are times when heavy favorites take an apprehensive approach due to the pressure that is being heaped upon them, but Rakitic doesn't intend to allow that to happen Saturday, according to FC Barcelona's official Twitter account: FC Barcelona ✔@FCBarcelona "We have a lot of respect for Juventus. We will try to take the game to them" - Rakitic Rakitic is an underrated part of Barca's attack since he isn't as celebrated as many of his teammates, but he could easily turn out to be one of the primary keys to success against Juventus. Barcelona needs someone to make all the little, unnoticed plays that contribute to winning a game, and Rakitic has prided himself on doing that all year long. Even if he doesn't steal the headlines after Saturday's match, there is a good chance that he will be among the biggest reasons why Barcelona wins if it is ultimately able to come through. Gianluigi Buffon There are times when goalkeeping is overlooked in soccer since a great overall team can often compensate for average play in net, but Juventus won't have that luxury Saturday as they will need a massive effort from Gianluigi Buffon. Despite being 37 years of age, the Italian star is seemingly still on top of his game. He will almost certainly get peppered by Barcelona's cavalcade of talent, which means the entire match could ultimately rest on his shoulders. One thing working in his favor is the fact that he is no stranger to the big stage. According to ESPN FC, Buffon is the only current Juve player who was on their Champions League squad 12 years ago as well: ESPN FC ✔@ESPNFC Gianluigi Buffon is the only remaining member of the Juventus squad that made it to the #UCLfinal in 2003. He also helped lead Italy to World Cup glory in 2006, which means he has seen and done it all, so it isn't likely that he'll lose his composure under duress. Buffon isn't putting any extra pressure on himself either. Many believe this is his final opportunity to become a Champions League winner due to his age, but he isn't among them, per the Champions League's official Twitter account: Champions League ✔@ChampionsLeague Buffon: "Berlin is not my last chance to win it, simply because I will not quit playing after this final." Despite his contention, there is no question that Buffon will do everything within his power to win Saturday since time clearly isn't on his side. It may take one of the greatest goalkeeping performances in the history of soccer for the Bianconeri to upend Barca, but Buffon may be one of the few players in the world capable of providing it. A top goalkeeper can be the great equalizer in soccer, and Buffon's play will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the Champions League final.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Allegri's Berlin battle plan A glance into Coach Max Allegri’s past proves he knows how to overcome Barcelona and Luis Enrique, explains Gaby McKay. Jun 5, 2015 It’s fair to say Massimiliano Allegri wasn’t given the warmest of welcomes when he arrived at Juventus last summer. “The first day with Allegri and the President in the car, we were greeted at the training ground by spitting, eggs and kicks,”Bianconeri director general Giuseppe Marotta recalls. “It was a challenge to turn that attitude around.” It was a task to which Allegri rose with aplomb, guiding the Turin giants to a fourth successive Scudetto and the Coppa Italia, as well as conquering the final frontier by masterminding a Champions League run which will see the Old Lady compete for the ultimate prize in Berlin on Saturday night. While most pundits have Barcelona down as comfortable favourites, it’s worth noting that the Tuscan Coach has overcome these opponents before. In February 2013, a Milan side containing the likes of Kevin Constant and Sulley Muntari faced off against Andres Iniesta, Xavi and the rest. No-one gave the Rossoneri a prayer, especially with Lionel Messi in the midst of a season which would see him go on to score 60 goals in 50 games. The Argentine is in similarly lethal form this season, but a look back to that night gives some indication of how Allegri may seek to subdue the diminutive genius. Rather than attempting to have defenders rob Messi of the ball - an almost impossible task, as the likes of Jerome Boateng will testify - the Coach instead opted for the physical presence of Muntari and Massimo Ambrosini in midfield, with Kevin-Prince Boateng dropping back to help. The idea was to starve Messi in the attacking third, concentrating on preventing the ball reaching the attacker, rather than stopping the player himself. It worked. Where in the group stage Messi had received the ball an average of 33 times per game in the attacking third, the Rossoneri limited him to just 18, despite only having 28 per cent of possession. A frustrated Messi didn’t manage a single shot on target, and the Diavolo ran out 2-0 winners. A similar approach was deployed by Joachim Low’s Germany in the 2014 World Cup final, allowing Argentina’s superstar to receive the ball just eight times in their third, meaning that while his dribbling and passing was better than his tournament average, he was working his magic far from Manuel Neuer’s goal. With Carlos Tevez always willing to drop back and aid the significant physical contribution offered by Paul Pogba, Arturo Vidal and Claudio Marchisio, don’t be surprised to see a similar tactic used to thwart Barça’s main man in Berlin. Allegri has also enjoyed success against his opposite number, Luis Enrique, as his Milan side defeated the Spaniard’s Roma twice in 2011-12. On both occasions the Giallorossi enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, but were undone by a physical Milan side which broke quickly, before using Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s considerable presence to bully the Lupi defence. Ibra scored four goals in the two games, as Allegri’s men triumphed 3-2 and 2-1. While that Roma side could not call on the talents of Messi, or indeed Luis Suarez or Neymar, it would not be a surprise to see Juve similarly surrender the ball for long periods before looking to break quickly and exploit Barcelona’s high line. “We’ll need to be compact and keep it tight. We need to focus exclusively on knuckling down and working hard, not on what might happen,”Allegri confirmed this week. “Marking Messi while he moves is a near impossible task. We must be smart in working around him.” As his Milan showed in 2013, those are not idle remarks, but indication of a concrete plan which may just see the man who was greeted with eggs on his arrival soaked in champagne on Saturday night.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) 'I knew immediately I would miss dream final' - Chiellini The defender will miss Saturday's showdown with Barcelona with a calf injury, admitting that it would have been impossible for him to recover in time. Jun 5, 2015 Giorgio Chiellini has admitted that he knew his dream of playing in the Champions League final would be snatched away from him as soon as he broke down in training on Thursday. The Juventus defender was set to line up against Barcelona in Saturday’s showpiece, but suffered a calf injury two days ahead of the tournament decider in Berlin. “I immediately realised the importance of the injury," Chiellini wrote on Twitter. "I hoped to be wrong or to be able to recover in record time as I have already done other times, but this time it was really impossible. “Playing the Champions League final is a dream that me and millions of children have had, but sometimes destiny is weird.” However, the Italy international was quick to send a rallying cry to his team-mates and the Juve supporters across the world. “Juventus is made of great men and players, I’m sure my team will fight more on the field than ever," the 30-year-old added. "They will show the world the grit, the strength and the determination I would have put into this final and all together we will be able to achieve this dream. “My friends, I will be with you tomorrow to cheer and suffer for the one and only goal… Win this cup!!!” Chiellini was an ever-present in Juve’s run to the Champions League final.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Paul Scholes: 'Juventus will need to counter-attack in order to beat Barcelona' Jun 5, 2015 Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has insisted that Juventus will need to play an adroit counter-attacking game if they are to beat Barcelona in the 2015 Champions League final. United were on the receiving end of a humbling defeat when they tried to play Barcelona at their own game in 2011, and Scholes has suggested that Juve will instead need to defend well and look to attack on the break if they are to stand a chance of winning. "I don't see any alternative for Juventus," Scholes wrote in his column for the Independent. "You try to beat this Barcelona team at their own game and, over the course of 10 games, you lose every time. Defend against them and then counter-attack, and perhaps you win once or twice in 10." "It is not a pleasant reality to have to face but it is one that you must accept if you are to have a chance of winning a final against Barcelona." The Old Lady will be seeking to claim their first Champions League crown since 1996 when they face Barca in Berlin on Saturday night.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) The road to the Champions League final for Juventus and Barcelona Ahead of the big match in Berlin, Goal takes a look at the route to the final for Europe's two best teams of 2014-15. Jun 5, 2015 A total of 77 teams from 53 associations entered the 2014-15 Champions League and only two remain. On Saturday, Juventus and Barcelona will battle it out in Berlin for Europe's premier club title. The Bianconeri are surprise finalists having initially struggled in their group. Despite opening Group A with a 2-0 win over Malmo, they suffered consecutive 1-0 losses to Atletico Madrid and Olympiakos. But they sneaked into the last 16 in second place behind Atletico by taking seven points from their last three games. Barcelona, meanwhile, have been outstanding throughout the competition. The Blaugrana topped Group F with 15 points and goals from their six games, although they did suffer a 3-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in France on matchday two. In the knockouts, both Juve and Barca had interesting journeys to the final. Check out their routes in the below graphic.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Messi doesn't scare us - Morata The Juventus striker insists that, while his team-mates have a great deal of respect for the Argentine, they are not worried about the thought of facing him in Berlin. Jun 5, 2015 Alvaro Morata says the prospect of facing Lionel Messi in the Champions League final does not scare him and his Juventus team-mates. The Bianconeri face Barcelona on Saturday in the European showpiece at the Olympiastadion in Berlin and, while Morata accepts that Messi is one of the world’s greatest players, he insists there is no fear in the Turin side's dressing room. "He does not scare us, other things in life scare me," Morata told Marca. "We all respect Messi and he is one of the best players in the world. He and Cristiano Ronaldo are above everyone else, but we have a great defence that he has to negotiate." The former Real Madrid striker admits his previous spell with Real Madrid makes the match-up with Barcelona an even greater event. "I would be lying if I said it is not a special motivation. I grew up at Real Madrid and played their a long time. I have many friends there and a Juventus victory would make both camps happy." Morata came on as a substitute in Madrid's final victory in 2014, and he says the experience is one he would love to repeat. "Our team is very motivated. We know it is a Champions League final and we could make football history by winning. Playing a Champions League final is a special feeling. We know it will be very difficult to win because we face a team that is in great form and I think we will have to play a great game to win. "They have a great team. We have a chance to win, but they are the favourites."

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) How Juventus' Diamond Can Stop Barcelona's Messi-Suarez-Neymar Attack Jun 5, 2015 The curtain is about to come down on the 2014-15 season, but first of all, the biggest prize in the European game needs to be awarded to the side who will rightly be crowned as the best around, with the Champions League final seeing Juventus against Barcelona. Regardless of the result, both teams have had compelling, exciting and memorable campaigns thus far, with both now chasing trebles having won both league and cup in their respective domestic divisions. For Juventus, Serie A dominance might be an expected eventuality, but as Bayern Munich showed, even the very good, the very dominant, don't necessarily extend that superiority into European competition. Juve's campaign has exceeded most people's expectations, and nobody can say they have had an easy passage, having seen off Borussia Dortmund, Monaco and Real Madrid en route to the final. That said, Barcelona will start as favourites in most people's eyes, and perhaps rightly so. La Liga is stronger overall than Serie A, and the Catalan club have one of the most balanced, focused and offensive-minded sides constructed. Even so, is the difference as great as is being made out? Juventus did, after all, beat Real Madrid in the semi-finals. In two fixtures against the winners of this very competition a year ago, Juve didn't lose on either occasion: a 1-1 draw away and a 2-1 win at home against the side who finished the league season only two points behind Saturday's opponents, Barcelona. Juventus have no reason to fear Barca, even if the Blaugrana are overall the technically better team, and can be justifiably confident that they can keep the vaunted three-pronged attack of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez at bay. Part of that confidence will stem from Real not being able to break Juve's defence down consistently. Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice over the two legs, but aside from him being one of the world's best, one was a penalty and the other came from a yard out. Real saw lots of the ball in promising areas but didn't really create great swathes of outstanding, clear-cut chances—and this is a team who scored almost 120 goals in league play alone, with another 24 in the Champions League. Against Barcelona, the 90 minutes will require even more concentration, positional awareness and tactical cohesion from the Italian side to keep the South American front three under wraps. Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri typically uses one of two systems: a back three with wing-backs, or the system they went with in both the Champions League semi-finals and the Coppa Italia final, the midfield diamond. Given the psychological ramifications of admitting that an opponent in a final is superior and the fact Juve have already proved they can create and score against a top opponent, going with the diamond again seems the more sensible and likely approach, with the option always there to revert to three at the back if needed. The four-man midfield still leaves plenty of space for the full-backs to push on in attack, while the likely arrangement in the middle will see Andrea Pirlo central, Paul Pogba to the left, Arturo Vidal on the opposite side and Claudio Marchisio with more intent to pick up the ball further upfield. It is a hard-working, technically blessed quartet with power and energy aplenty distributed across the pitch. Tactically, without possession the Bianconeri will often settle into a flat three across a narrow area, closing out space and Marchisio dropping in whichever side he is needed to further stop through-ball opportunities by the opposition. That will be of particular importance against Barcelona, on account of their main methods of attack. The at-times unstoppable trio of Neymar, Suarez and Messi have not just the work rate and talent between them, but also positional rotation and Messi's playmaking in deeper areas. Because Suarez occupies the centre-backs by himself, constantly moving and opening his body to receive a pass facing goal or quickly link play, other defensive players have to become involved to stop the wider Barcelona frontmen. So often this year it has been seen: Messi drops from the wing into the channel, into an attacking midfield position slightly right of centre, while Neymar drives on through the defence to create a diagonal. The quality and timing the two have in that movement has caught out so many back lines as to almost be a set piece play which the opposition know is coming, but still can't do anything about. To stop that, and the inevitable shooting chance it creates, the wide Juve midfielders become paramount: Pogba dropping deep to negate Messi dropping into that space to dribble into the box or chip his pass over, while either Marchisio or Vidal will have to track the run of Neymar—or at the very least drop into the space to block off the run. If right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner is charged with actually tracking the Neymar run, Vidal could spend a lot of time as a stop-gap right-back to subsequently mark or block off the secondary threat from Jordi Alba. It's not all about the front three for Barcelona, of course. Ivan Rakitic has been, almost from the first game of the season, an absolutely pivotal part of this reformation of the Catalan club. He will pass earlier and more directly, he will run further beyond the forwards, and he will shoot from range at times—all dynamic aspects of play that Pirlo will have to deal with. Going forward, Juventus can be as expansive and entertaining as many sides with the offensive qualities possessed in that quartet, even before considering the likes of Carlos Tevez up front. They cannot, however, go toe-to-toe with Barcelona in trading attacks and expect to lift the trophy. First they must stifle the flow and movement of the Blaugrana attack; only then will chances to exploit spaces in turn be presented to them. In Pogba, Vidal, Marchisio and Pirlo, the Italian side have four technical players of immense ability, but it is their tactical dedication, endurance and focus in a defensive capacity that will dictate whether Juve can even begin to challenge for the trophy this time, or whether Messi and Co. will be out of reach long before the final whistle goes.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) The second coming of Juventus Ripped apart in the summer of 2006, Juventus had to start again with the remaining heroes of Berlin and stars of tomorrow. Luca Cetta writes. Jun 5, 2015 Nine years on from winning the World Cup, Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo and Andrea Barzagli are back at Berlin’s Olympiastadion. A venue which holds precious memories and could well be the scene of yet another. Of the trio only Buffon wore black and white in 2006. Only he experienced the highs of Berlin and weeks later fronted up at Rimini’s Stadio Romeo Neri for the start of the Serie B campaign. Only Buffon can attest to going from ‘Berlin to Serie B to Berlin again’. And so when referee Jonas Eriksson signalled the end of a gripping semi-final tie at the Bernabeu last month Buffon turned to the away support high up in the stands, fists clenched, roaring with joy. The hard times of a near decade-long recovery traded for an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. While Barzagli and Pirlo arrived in the embryonic stages of the rebirth, Buffon’s journey best typifies the at-times arduous journey. “I’m going back to Berlin after nine years. And I am curious to see whether the feelings and sensations will be the same. But I don't think there will be big differences to nine years ago,” Buffon mused this week. On that day eight Juventus players were involved in the World Cup Final. Another three were former Bianconeri players. Only Buffon and Alessandro Del Piero walked out in Rimini in early September. Mauro Camoranesi was a substitute and David Trezeguet was not in the squad. Beset by summer departures, Juve returning to their former level would be a significant undertaking. That quartet, plus Pavel Nedved, would form the backbone. Nedved retired in 2009, while Trezeguet and Camoranesi departed a year later as Juve turned the page. Then came Del Piero’s tearful farewell in 2012. But the club would also need to place faith in tomorrow. Part of a squad which visited some of Italy’s less heralded stadia that season were Giorgio Chiellini and Claudio Marchisio. Buffon, Chiellini and Marchisio – a season on loan at Empoli aside – have seen the journey through. All three were significant in Juventus wresting domestic dominance from the Milanese clubs. Along the way Buffon’s comrades from the German campaign arrived, Barzagli and Pirlo also proving important figures. With promotion came, initially, positivity. Juventus immediately returned to the Champions League and then finished second in Serie A. But this was not the Bianconeri of old on and off the field. Ill-conceived transfers hurt. The club was not in the greatest financial shape, at the time financing the construction of its new home and still feeling the after-effects of 2006. After finishing seventh in a disastrous campaign, changes at board level set to put the Old Lady’s straight. The Andrea Agnelli era started slowly, but with the arrival of Antonio Conte a year later the resurgence was well and truly on course. The former captain demanded success. Conte knew no other way. He had the senators in tow and shrewd signings ensured a squad capable of challenging for the Scudetto. Juventus did more than just challenge. Conte steered the club to three successive championships, going undefeated in the first and breaking the 100-point barrier in the third. Europe was the next step. While Conte’s shock resignation could have rocked Juve, Massimiliano Allegri delivered on their considerable promise. In the knockout phase the Bianconeri grew in stature to defeat Borussia Dortmund and Monaco. Eliminating Real Madrid announced to the world the Turin club was again a force. Juventus had qualified for a first Final since 2003. All the while Allegri led it to a first domestic double since 1995. Just one more obstacle stands in Juve’s way of an historic treble, even if Buffon acknowledges this is the toughest test yet: “Against Real we might have had a 35 per cent chance of making it past them, so I guess the chances of now winning the trophy against this Barcelona side are even slimmer.” Berlin proved the culmination of one era. The same city could provide a defining moment in this latest era for a club which fought back from the brink. For those about to warm up in the same dressing room as nine years ago there will be fond memories. While one step remains, there’s no doubting Juventus is back.

JUVENTUS - BARCELONA - FINAL Saturday, June 6th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Olympiastadion, Berlin Referee:‬ Cüneyt Çakir (Turkey) Maldini: 'Juve, Messi tips scales' Jun 5, 2015 Paolo Maldini backs Juventus for the Champions League final, but is in awe of Leo Messi. The Bianconeri will be facing Barcelona tomorrow evening for their biggest game in years, and the Milan legend knows which side he'll be on. “I'm certainly going to be supporting Juve,” he told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “I have friends in that team. “I've had everything from life, and while banter is fun, I'm not the type to hope for somebody's defeat. “And Buffon deserves the Champions League. He is the strongest goalkeeper of the last 30 years, an icon for world football. “He's always smiling, always chilled. Sometimes he gets criticised for no other reason than his age. “Mistakes that would be forgiven when he was younger now are not, I know that by experience.” When it comes to the final, however, Maldini agrees with most bookmakers that Barcelona walk in as favourites. “Leo Messi tips the scales, that's beyond question. “I think he's reached and surpassed Maradona. He does incredible things, at a speed that is insane. “But Juventus in Europe are the best at defending themselves as a team. They have a chance. “And their great results so far are a prize for the solid plans developed by the club. “Barcelona's attack? It's always best to face an exceptional team. If you can beat them, it makes for an epic triumph.”