It’s Barcelona. It’s Juventus. It’s the Olympiastadion in Berlin. It’s the Champions League Final. The scene is undoubtedly set for what promises to be yet another thrilling chapter in this illustrious competition.
JUVENTUS (4-4-2): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci, Evra; Pirlo, Marchisio, Pogba, Vidal; Tevez, Morata.
BARCELONA (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Messi, Neymar, Suarez.
UP GOES THE TROPHY! Xavi leads the celebration, a fitting end to his Barcelona career. A moment to savour for these players who put so much effort into this season to secure a treble which has eluded many of the best clubs in history. It’s Barcelona’s night in Berlin!
LIVE UPDATES: Juventus VS BarcelonaLIVE UPDATES: Juventus VS Barcelona
Video: Barcelona lifting the cup pic.twitter.com/LLUqJjMVTN
— barcastuff (@barcastuff) June 6, 2015
Juventus are waiting to receive their runners-up medals, but they hardly seem eager to stick around. A heartfelt embrace between Xavi and Pirlo, two legends of the game nearing the end of their careers, makes for a truely sporting moment ahead of the trophy presentation.
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BARCELONA ARE YOUR 2014/15 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINNERS!
Heartbreak for Juventus as they need consoling out on the pitch, but the celebrations have just begun for Barcelona – the first team to win the treble twice in their history!
Tears are flowing down the face of Andrea Pirlo, which just has to break your heart – regardless of the team you support. The legendary Italian midfielder knows this very well may have been his last appearance in the final of the competition and he is struggling to accept the defeat.
LIVE UPDATES: Juventus VS Barcelona
90′ + 7 Goal Neymar
NEYMAR SEALS IT! Everyone gets forward as Buffon delivers a free kick from inside his own end, but Barcelona deal with the threat and break three against one. Pedro rolls a pass to Neymar on the right and he finally gets his goal. It’s certainly over now!
90′ + 6 We go past the alloted five minutes of stoppage time, but it hardly matters as Barcelona manage to keep the ball near the corner flag following a free kick. Alves goes down after taking a boot in the face, but the right-back is called for a handball.
90′ + 4 CORNER! That’s the last thing Juventus needed as a mesmerizing drive forward from Messi on the counter allows him to play Neymar through. The Brazilian tries to play a return pass, but it’s blocked behind by Barzagli for a corner – and now Barcelona will make their final change to run more precious time off the clock. It’s all hands on deck for Juventus now!
90′ + 2 STRAIGHT AT TER STEGEN! You can hardly fault Tevez for trying, because he is more than capable, but the Argentine ignores the teammates to his left as he tries to go for goal himself from 25-yards out, but sends a shot safely into the waiting arms of Ter Stegen.
90′ + 1 Substitution: Ivan Rakitic to Jérémy Mathieu
90′ The board goes up to indicate five minutes of added time, which should provide Juventus with a bit of encouragement. Meanwhile, Barcelona are preparing a change here and it looks like they are bringing on Jeremy Mathieu as a fifth defender to help see this one out. Rakitic looks to be the one giving way.
89′ MASSIVE SAVE! Marchisio makes a probing run forward and drives a shot back across goal. Ter Stegen does brilliantly to keep his feet moving, diving back to his left to knock it onto the other side of the post!
88′ Pereyra can’t sort his footing! Llorente makes his presence felt, holding the ball up inside the area and rolling a pass into the path of the Argentine, but despite his desperate attempt, can’t direct a shot at goal. Play is halted yet again now as Evra goes down after a collision with Alves in the build-up.
87′ Scary moments here as Suarez lands awkwardly as he tries to bring a ball down under pressure from Bonucci. It looked very painful as he kind of twists his ankle in the process, but he’s popped up after a minute or so on the ground and he should be fine to continue.
85′ Substitution: Morata to Fernando Llorente
Well there will be no storybook ending for Morata as his night comes to an end with five minutes remaining. A goal in a final is always something you will remember, but those memories aren’t nearly as fond without a victory. On to replace him is countryman Fernando Llorento who has played 20 matches against Barcelona during his time with Athletic Bilbao.
84′ Third goal or not, Barcelona are looking very comfortable as they try and see this lead through to the final whistle. They are controlling possession and dictating the tempo as Juventus start to get sloppy as they go about trying to win the ball back. The foul count is rising and with each whistle, more precious time is being run off the clock.
82′ Barcelona are keeping Juventus in the game with some poor finishing. Pressure stays on following a free kick and Rakitic sends a lovely cushioned ball in for Pique. The defender has time at the near post but gets it all wrong as he blasts an effort over the bar!
80′ WASTED OPPORTUNITY! Neymar is played through into acres of space on the right and the flag stays down. He has all the time and space in the world to pick out a pass, and does so for Messi, but the Argentine fails to sort out his feet as he never does get a shot off.
79′ Substitution: Arturo Vidal to Roberto Pereyra
78′ Substitution: Andrés Iniesta Luján to Xavi
A temporary break from football as everyone in attendance can appreciate the magnitude of what has just happened. Barcelona make the first change of the match, and as expected, Xavi comes on to make his final appearance after 24-years with the club. Iniesta gives way and straps the captain’s armband onto the club legend.
77′ Well that’s a letoff for Juventus. Messi is angry with himself as he eyes up the free kick, but lifts his effort well over the bar. That one was always rising, never threatening to hit the target.
76′ Juventus have to be very, very careful here. Pique sprints half the length of the pitch following a corner as Barcelona attack via the counter. The chance fizzles out, but pressure is kept on by Neymar who wins his side a free kick in a very dangerous position from less than 25-yards out to the left of goal.
74′ CRUCIAL FROM EVRA! Some pinball in the defensive end for Juventus presents the ball back to Barcelona, and a clever through ball seems to have Suarez behind the defence. Evra shows impressive pace for his age, however, sliding in from behind at the vital moment to sniff out the chance.
71′ BARCELONA DENIED A THIRD! Celebrations cut short for the Spanish outfit! Alba makes an encouraging run into the area and chips the perfect cross in for Neymar, but the Brazilian heads the ball off his hand and into the back of the net. It was far from deliberate, but that would have been really harsh on Juventus had it been given.
70′ Yellow Card Luis Suárez
It didn’t look at all likely! It’s come completely against the run of play, but that is the beauty and romanticism of football. Belief was coursing through the veins of this Juventus side, pressing for a winner. Pogba is denied a penalty at one end and back the other way comes the best player in the world to set up the go-ahead goal for the Blaugrana!
68′ Goal Luis Suárez
FROM VILLAIN TO HERO! LUIS SUAREZ RESTORES BARCELONA’S LEAD! This was all Messi in the build-up. Vintage Lionel Messi, in fact. He drives forward, forcing the defenders back and strikes for goal. Buffon gets down to keep it out but Suarez pounces on the rebound past a flat-footed Evra to drive the rebound into the ceiling of the net!
JUVENTUS (4-4-2): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci, Evra; Pirlo, Marchisio, Pogba, Vidal; Tevez, Morata.
BARCELONA (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Messi, Neymar, Suarez.
UP GOES THE TROPHY! Xavi leads the celebration, a fitting end to his Barcelona career. A moment to savour for these players who put so much effort into this season to secure a treble which has eluded many of the best clubs in history. It’s Barcelona’s night in Berlin!
LIVE UPDATES: Juventus VS BarcelonaLIVE UPDATES: Juventus VS Barcelona
Video: Barcelona lifting the cup pic.twitter.com/LLUqJjMVTN
— barcastuff (@barcastuff) June 6, 2015
Juventus are waiting to receive their runners-up medals, but they hardly seem eager to stick around. A heartfelt embrace between Xavi and Pirlo, two legends of the game nearing the end of their careers, makes for a truely sporting moment ahead of the trophy presentation.
Advertisement
BARCELONA ARE YOUR 2014/15 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINNERS!
Heartbreak for Juventus as they need consoling out on the pitch, but the celebrations have just begun for Barcelona – the first team to win the treble twice in their history!
Tears are flowing down the face of Andrea Pirlo, which just has to break your heart – regardless of the team you support. The legendary Italian midfielder knows this very well may have been his last appearance in the final of the competition and he is struggling to accept the defeat.
LIVE UPDATES: Juventus VS Barcelona
90′ + 7 Goal Neymar
NEYMAR SEALS IT! Everyone gets forward as Buffon delivers a free kick from inside his own end, but Barcelona deal with the threat and break three against one. Pedro rolls a pass to Neymar on the right and he finally gets his goal. It’s certainly over now!
90′ + 6 We go past the alloted five minutes of stoppage time, but it hardly matters as Barcelona manage to keep the ball near the corner flag following a free kick. Alves goes down after taking a boot in the face, but the right-back is called for a handball.
90′ + 4 CORNER! That’s the last thing Juventus needed as a mesmerizing drive forward from Messi on the counter allows him to play Neymar through. The Brazilian tries to play a return pass, but it’s blocked behind by Barzagli for a corner – and now Barcelona will make their final change to run more precious time off the clock. It’s all hands on deck for Juventus now!
90′ + 2 STRAIGHT AT TER STEGEN! You can hardly fault Tevez for trying, because he is more than capable, but the Argentine ignores the teammates to his left as he tries to go for goal himself from 25-yards out, but sends a shot safely into the waiting arms of Ter Stegen.
90′ + 1 Substitution: Ivan Rakitic to Jérémy Mathieu
90′ The board goes up to indicate five minutes of added time, which should provide Juventus with a bit of encouragement. Meanwhile, Barcelona are preparing a change here and it looks like they are bringing on Jeremy Mathieu as a fifth defender to help see this one out. Rakitic looks to be the one giving way.
89′ MASSIVE SAVE! Marchisio makes a probing run forward and drives a shot back across goal. Ter Stegen does brilliantly to keep his feet moving, diving back to his left to knock it onto the other side of the post!
88′ Pereyra can’t sort his footing! Llorente makes his presence felt, holding the ball up inside the area and rolling a pass into the path of the Argentine, but despite his desperate attempt, can’t direct a shot at goal. Play is halted yet again now as Evra goes down after a collision with Alves in the build-up.
87′ Scary moments here as Suarez lands awkwardly as he tries to bring a ball down under pressure from Bonucci. It looked very painful as he kind of twists his ankle in the process, but he’s popped up after a minute or so on the ground and he should be fine to continue.
85′ Substitution: Morata to Fernando Llorente
Well there will be no storybook ending for Morata as his night comes to an end with five minutes remaining. A goal in a final is always something you will remember, but those memories aren’t nearly as fond without a victory. On to replace him is countryman Fernando Llorento who has played 20 matches against Barcelona during his time with Athletic Bilbao.
84′ Third goal or not, Barcelona are looking very comfortable as they try and see this lead through to the final whistle. They are controlling possession and dictating the tempo as Juventus start to get sloppy as they go about trying to win the ball back. The foul count is rising and with each whistle, more precious time is being run off the clock.
82′ Barcelona are keeping Juventus in the game with some poor finishing. Pressure stays on following a free kick and Rakitic sends a lovely cushioned ball in for Pique. The defender has time at the near post but gets it all wrong as he blasts an effort over the bar!
80′ WASTED OPPORTUNITY! Neymar is played through into acres of space on the right and the flag stays down. He has all the time and space in the world to pick out a pass, and does so for Messi, but the Argentine fails to sort out his feet as he never does get a shot off.
79′ Substitution: Arturo Vidal to Roberto Pereyra
78′ Substitution: Andrés Iniesta Luján to Xavi
A temporary break from football as everyone in attendance can appreciate the magnitude of what has just happened. Barcelona make the first change of the match, and as expected, Xavi comes on to make his final appearance after 24-years with the club. Iniesta gives way and straps the captain’s armband onto the club legend.
77′ Well that’s a letoff for Juventus. Messi is angry with himself as he eyes up the free kick, but lifts his effort well over the bar. That one was always rising, never threatening to hit the target.
76′ Juventus have to be very, very careful here. Pique sprints half the length of the pitch following a corner as Barcelona attack via the counter. The chance fizzles out, but pressure is kept on by Neymar who wins his side a free kick in a very dangerous position from less than 25-yards out to the left of goal.
74′ CRUCIAL FROM EVRA! Some pinball in the defensive end for Juventus presents the ball back to Barcelona, and a clever through ball seems to have Suarez behind the defence. Evra shows impressive pace for his age, however, sliding in from behind at the vital moment to sniff out the chance.
71′ BARCELONA DENIED A THIRD! Celebrations cut short for the Spanish outfit! Alba makes an encouraging run into the area and chips the perfect cross in for Neymar, but the Brazilian heads the ball off his hand and into the back of the net. It was far from deliberate, but that would have been really harsh on Juventus had it been given.
70′ Yellow Card Luis Suárez
It didn’t look at all likely! It’s come completely against the run of play, but that is the beauty and romanticism of football. Belief was coursing through the veins of this Juventus side, pressing for a winner. Pogba is denied a penalty at one end and back the other way comes the best player in the world to set up the go-ahead goal for the Blaugrana!
68′ Goal Luis Suárez
FROM VILLAIN TO HERO! LUIS SUAREZ RESTORES BARCELONA’S LEAD! This was all Messi in the build-up. Vintage Lionel Messi, in fact. He drives forward, forcing the defenders back and strikes for goal. Buffon gets down to keep it out but Suarez pounces on the rebound past a flat-footed Evra to drive the rebound into the ceiling of the net!
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