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Juventus logo
Champions League | Final
Jun 6, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Barcelona logo

1-3

Morata (55')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Rakitic (4'), Suarez (68'), Neymar (97')

Live Commentary: Juventus 1-3 Barcelona - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's coverage of the 2015 Champions League final, which saw Barcelona complete a historic treble with victory over Juventus in Berlin.
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Barcelona completed the treble by picking up their fifth European Cup this evening, beating Juventus 3-1 in the Champions League final in Berlin.

Luis Enrique's side took the lead after just four minutes when Ivan Rakitic swept the ball past Gianluigi Buffon having been set up by Andres Iniesta.

Juve equalised 10 minutes into the second half when Alvaro Morata converted a rebound, but Luis Suarez restored his side's advantage with a rebound of his own 22 minutes from time.

The Italian champions pushed for a late equaliser to force extra time, but it was Barcelona who got the game's fourth goal when Neymar clinched the victory on the break.

Find out how all of the action unfolded on a historic night of European action courtesy of Sports Mole's live minute-by-minute coverage below.


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Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for the biggest day in club football as Berlin plays host to the 2015 Champions League final. Juventus and Barcelona will battle it out to be crowned the continent's best team on what promises to be a fascinating night at the Olympiastadion. We have a bumper two-hour build-up for you on this special occasion, so let's waste no time in getting started with a look at Juventus...

The Italian champions have been something of a surprise package in making it all the way to the final this year, most notably overcoming reigning champions Real Madrid on the way to Berlin. It is fair to say that they have underperformed in this competition in recent seasons, with Italian football falling behind the other major leagues in Europe, but Juve boast a formidable outfit now and are worthy of their place in the showpiece event.

The Old Lady have been by far and away the best team in Italy for the last four seasons now, but they almost always struggled to replicate that form in this competition. They made a slow start this time around, but recovered to make it through to their first final since 2003, and they will fancy their chances of overcoming the final hurdle left in their way now. They certainly have a blend of qualities in their side that could cause Barca problems.

Victory tonight would seal a treble for the club following their success in Serie A and the Coppa Italia - the latter of which has been a competition they have failed to make the most of over the years. Their victory over Lazio in the final last month, which came after extra time and courtesy of a comeback from an early goal, was the first time that they had lifted the trophy for 20 years.

Of course, they have had much more success in Serie A recently, winning the league for the last four years on the bounce. They have done it in emphatic fashion too, with 17 points the gap to second-placed Roma both this season and last. They led the way from the fourth game week and never looked like surrendering their crown, losing just three matches throughout the entire league season.

Huge credit must go to Massimiliano Allegri for the work he has done with the club, overcoming some scepticism regarding his appointment to take Juventus to a new level. Antonio Conte, his predecessor, had huge success with the Old Lady and it was seen as a big blow to lose him. Allegri, who already had a Serie A title win to his name, came in and carried on the good domestic work in addition to improving them on the European front too.

Juventus' players celebrate with their coach Massimiliano Allegri after winning the 'Scudetto' at the end of the Italian Serie A football match Sampdoria Vs Juventus on May 2, 2015© Getty Images


Any concerns that they may lose their monopoly in Serie A were quickly put to bed, and there can be no arguing against them being by far and away the best team in Italy this season. Not only did they amass comfortably the most points in the league, but they also scored the most goals (72) and conceded the fewest (24). Allegri has given the team and good balance of typical Italian stoutness at the back and a very real threat at the other end of the field.

The midfield of Juve is up there with any in world football too. There has been plenty of talk surrounding the future of Paul Pogba this summer, but the Frenchman may wish to stay if Juventus can clinch the Champions League title this season. Pirlo's talents are well documented and he could be key today in making the most of possession when his side get the ball, with Barcelona expected to dominate that side of the match. The likes of Marchisio and Vidal are also key figures in the side, and that battle in the middle of the park could be pivotal here.

Crucially, Juventus haven't tailed off towards the end of the season either. The league has realistically been tied up for some time now, but Allegri did not allow his side to let their campaign peter out. They come into this match unbeaten in nine games in all competitions, last losing on April 26. Indeed, they have only lost three of their 33 games so far in 2015, so Barcelona will have to work for any victory tonight.

Their best form has come in Turin, however, and they have struggled comparatively on the road in recent weeks. They have only won two of their last seven games away from the Juventus Stadium, although suggesting that they are poor travellers would be harsh on the Old Lady. They did, after all, boast the best away record in Serie A and have only lost two of their last 15 away games.

Their away record in Europe is not particularly impressive, however. They have only won two of their last 10 Champions League matches on the road, stretching back to last season. They have lost five games in that time, but there have been signs of improvement recently - they are unbeaten in their last four and picked up a very impressive 3-0 victory at Borussia Dortmund earlier in the campaign.

Juventus have had a rather mixed history with this competition down the years, reaching eight finals including today's but only lifting the trophy on two occasions. The first of those came 30 years ago, although that 1985 win over Liverpool was overshadowed by the Heysel tragedy in which 39 fans - the vast majority of whom were Juventus supporters - died. Their only other triumph in this competition came in 1995-96, when they beat Ajax on penalties in Rome.

They have lost their last three Champions League finals, though, and defeat today would see them become the first team in history to lose in the showpiece of this competition on six separate occasions. They last reached this stage 12 years ago in 2003, when AC Milan triumphed on penalties at Old Trafford. They were also beaten in both the 1997 and 1998 finals, so as a club they have suffered their fair share of disappointment on the biggest stage.

Considering that a treble rests on this, it is no exaggeration to say that this match is arguably the biggest in the club's illustrious history. Victory would see them become just the eighth European team to complete a treble of league, cup and Champions League following in the footsteps of Celtic (1967), Ajax (1972), PSV Eindhoven (1988), Manchester United (1999), Barcelona (2009), Inter Milan (2010) and Bayern Munich (2013).

When it comes to pure footballing ability, even the most ardent Juventus fan will probably concede that they are second to Barcelona today, but Juventus's style may well be suited to play against the Spanish giants. They will certainly put the yards in, with six of the top 10 players in distance covered in the Champions League coming from the Old Lady this season. Lichtsteiner, Chiellini and Vidal are the top three in that, while Barcelona's highest entrant is Neymar in 13th.

Of course, Barcelona will point to the fact that they keep the ball well enough to prevent themselves doing too much chasing of it, and if they can starve the likes of Pirlo, Pogba and Vidal of possession this evening then they will be well on their way to lifting the trophy yet again. This current crop of Barcelona players are something truly special, and victory tonight would thrust them right up with Guardiola's team.

Some regard Guardiola's Barcelona as the greatest club side of all time, with their 2008-09 season in particular standing out as they won all six trophies available to them in a calendar year - including, of course, the same treble that they are bidding for tonight. This side have been magnificent this season, however, and many - myself included - believe them to be on their way to challenging that Guardiola team.

Certainly, over the last 10 years or so, Barcelona have been one of the most dominant forces in European football, and victory tonight would give them a fourth Champions League title in the last nine years. It would also, as mentioned, see them clinch the treble again, and in doing so they would become the first ever European club to have completed that clean sweep of trophies on more than one occasion.

Their league title was tougher to come by than Juventus', with Real Madrid pushing Luis Enrique's side all the way. Los Blancos went on a record-breaking 22-match winning streak earlier in the season, but it says a lot about Barcelona's quality that they still managed to win La Liga. The gap in the end was just two points, but Barca had it wrapped up in the penultimate match of the campaign, beating reigning champions Atletico Madrid in the Spanish capital to clinch the title.

They did it in some style too, with Enrique overcoming a slight hiccup around the turn of the year to develop a fearsome side at both ends of the field. They found the back of the net a whopping 110 times in the league alone - only Real Madrid managed more in Europe's top leagues - while their tally of just 21 goals conceded was arguably the most noticeable improvement. Only Bayern Munich conceded fewer from Europe's top five divisions.

Just as Allegri deserves praise, so does Enrique. As mentioned, there was a moment earlier in the season when he was being questioned by the media, fans and, if reports are to be believed, some of his own players as well. Speculation suggested that he had fallen out with Lionel Messi, but that situation was quickly resolved and he has gone on to build a truly stunning outfit. Like Allegri, he is now bidding for a treble in his debut season in charge of the club.

Barcelona's coach Luis Enrique celebrates after a goal during the Spanish league football match FC Barcelona vs Club Atletico de Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on January 11, 2015© Getty Images


Barcelona completed the second leg of that possible treble last weekend when Lionel Messi inspired his side (yet again) to the Copa del Rey title. His opening goal against Athletic Bilbao at the Camp Nou was up there with the best of his incredible career catalogue, and he added a predatory second later in the match to kill it off as a contest. Barcelona eventually ran out 3-1 victors, and the result was very rarely in doubt throughout.

They are also in scintillating form coming into this match, although there have been signs of them taking their foot off the pedal to an extent in recent weeks. They blew a two-goal lead in their final league game of the season, with Deportivo coming from behind to rescue a draw and dramatically keep their place in La Liga as a result. They were also beaten by Bayern Munich in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final but, as with the Deportivo draw, the job had already been done in that instance.

Those meaningless anomalies aside, Barca have been nigh-on unstoppable in recent months. They have won 19 of their last 22 outings in all competitions and, looking even further back, have emerged victorious from 40 of their last 46 - losing just three times in the process. Since the opening week of January they have won 30, drawn two and lost two games, scoring a whopping 104 goals in the process and conceding just 23.

TEAM NEWS: Before we go any further, the teams have been released and there are no surprises in either side. Juventus are without the injured Chiellini, but Barzagli has been deemed fit to start having suffered with a thigh injury in recent times. Elsewhere it is a full-strength side for the Italians, and the same is true for Barcelona. Full teams for both sides coming right up...

JUVENTUS STARTING XI: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci, Evra; Pirlo, Marchisio, Pogba, Vidal; Morata, Tevez

JUVENTUS SUBS: Storari, Ogbonna, Padoin, Sturaro, Pereyra, Coman, Llorente

BARCELONA STARTING XI: Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Neymar, Suarez, Messi

What can we make of those two teams, then? Well, as mentioned, there are no surprises on either count with the only real question for Juventus surrounding who would replace Chiellini. Barzagli was always likely to be the first choice, but there were concerns over his fitness. He has recovered from a thigh problem to start, however, and he will be hopeful of dealing with Barcelona's lethal front three tonight.

Matt Law impersonating a giraffe (square)
La Liga correspondent Matt Law on that team news:

"No real surprises in either team, although Juve have of course had to make one enforced change due to Giorgio Chiellini's injury. Andrea Barzagli has plenty of experience, however, and will have no problems with the occasion. As for Barcelona, it is Luis Enrique's strongest side. On paper, it is a team that has everything and it will be up to Juve to stop this machine. Two strong sides and I cannot wait."


BARCELONA SUBS: Bravo, Xavi, Pedro, Rafinha, Bartra, Adriano, Mathieu

As Matt mentions, Barzagli has plenty of experience and is by no means a bad replacement to be able to bring in, but the loss of Chiellini really is a big one for Juve. The Italian is widely regarded as their best defender, and his warrior-like play could have been exactly what was needed to counteract the likes of Messi, Neymar and Suarez. Of course, Chiellini also has history with the latter having been bitten by the Uruguayan during a World Cup match last summer.

Both the club and the player will need to get over the disappointment of him missing out on the match due to a calf injury, however, and Juventus certainly have quality in other areas of the pitch that could make things difficult for Barca tonight. That quality starts right at the back, where Gianluigi Buffon is named between the sticks as expected. He is Juventus' sole survivor from their last appearance in the final back in 2003, although Andrea Pirlo - now with the Old Lady - was playing for AC Milan on that occasion.

The Champions League is the one major trophy that has so far eluded Buffon, with the veteran keeper having won the World Cup, league titles and now the Coppa Italia during his illustrious career. It would be a shame if he were to finish his career without clinching the biggest prize in club football, but he will likely need to be at his very best if he is to help Juventus succeed this evening.

Juventus as a club may not have reached this stage for 12 years, but they have a number of players in their ranks who are experienced in Champions League finals - none more so than Patrice Evra. He will become the second player, after Clarence Seedorf, to play in finals for three separate clubs having also featured for Monaco and Manchester United. In all, he will be making his fifth Champions League final appearance this evening.

I have already mentioned the midfield for Juventus, and Allegri is able to name his first choice quartet in the middle of the park. Pirlo, Pogba and Vidal have all had injury problems at different stages throughout the campaign, but they are all fit to start tonight and will be crucial to any success Juve may have this evening. All are among the best in the world in their position on their day, and they will need to be on form against this Barcelona outfit.

Up front, the expected duo of Tevez and Morata continue to lead the line, with Llorente being forced to settle for a place on the bench. Morata was the hero against his former club Real Madrid in the semi-finals, scoring in the first leg before grabbing the decisive goal in the second at the Bernabeu. Tevez was also a real handful in the first leg especially, also getting his name on the scoresheet, and if he is in the mood today than Barca's defenders will have their work cut out.

Carlos Tevez of Juventus celebrates as he scores their second goal from a penalty during the UEFA Champions League semi final first leg match between Juventus and Real Madrid CF at Juventus Arena on May 5, 2015© Getty Images


Juventus certainly have huge quality within their ranks, then, but Barca are able to name their first-choice starting XI and it certainly is a formidable side. Ter Stegen continues his role as the cup goalkeeper ahead of Bravo, who once more has to settle for a place on the bench. For Barca to have the strength in depth to be able to name two different goalkeepers depending on which competition they are playing in is very impressive, particularly if they go on to win everything on offer.

Their defence has been very impressive throughout the season, and as expected there are no changes to the back four that started the Copa del Rey final last weekend. Alves, in what could be his final game for the club, stays at right-back and will look to get forward at every available opportunity, as he always does. Pique, who overcame a shaky start to enjoy a fine season, will look to keep the Juventus strikers quiet, while Mascherano will come up against his compatriot and former West Ham teammate Carlos Tevez in an intriguing mini battle. Alba, meanwhile, starts at left-back having recently signed a new contract.

There were concerns over the fitness of Iniesta going into the match, with the Spaniard suffering with a calf problem in recent days. However, he is deemed fit enough to start and once again plays alongside Rakitic - who was part of the Sevilla side that won the Europa League last season - and Busquets in midfield. Iniesta hasn't quite grabbed the headlines as much this season as he has in past campaigns, but he is still a vital cog in this Barcelona machine.

A mention must also go to Xavi, who will play his 767th and final game for Barcelona if he comes off the bench today. He has been a magnificent servant to the club and will go down as arguably the greatest Spanish footballer of all time and one of the best to have turned out for Barca. Al-Sadd is his next destination, and there isn't a better way to say farewell to the club he has represented his whole career than with a treble.

There is no doubt about the stars of this Barcelona team, however. The front three may well be the deadliest ever assembled in football, with Messi, Neymar and Suarez having scored a staggering 120 goals between them this season - a tally made all the more impressive by the fact that Suarez was banned for the opening months of the season. Their three goals against Bilbao in the Copa del Reu final took them above Ronaldo, Higuain and Benzema's record tally of 118 to make them the most potent attacking trio in European football history.

Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi of Barcelona celebrate during the La Liga match against Atletico Madrid on January 11, 2015© AFP


Of those 120 goals, 58 have come from the maestro that is Lionel Messi. The Argentine is in some of the best form of his life at the moment and had a major say in the semi-final victory over Bayern and the Copa del Rey win last weekend. He has scored seven goals in his last five games against Serie A sides, and another tonight would see him move out in front of Ronaldo as the competition's highest ever scorer. He would also become the first player to score in three separate Champions League finals should he find the net.

A number of Juventus players and coaches have already said that it is impossible to stop Messi, but even if they manage that then they still have two other world-class forwards to worry about. Suarez has scored 24 goals this season and Neymar has 38 to his name, including nine in the Champions League alone. Indeed, Barca are the first side to have two players who have scored at least nine goals in a single Champions League season, with Neymar and Messi having got more goals between themselves in this competition than Juventus have managed as a squad.

Messi, Suarez and Neymar have combined for 25 of Barcelona's 28 Champions League goals this season, and if they click again this evening then there is very little that Juventus will be able to do to stop them. For all of Juventus' defensive qualities - and they have plenty - that front three is good enough to tear any back line apart.

All three have played a big part during the knockout rounds of this competition, each grabbing braces at one points since the group stages. Suarez's came against Manchester City as Barca came through 3-1 on aggregate - although it could and should have been a lot more comfortable than that. PSG were then dispatched 5-1 on aggregate with Neymar amongst the goals, while Messi was the difference against Bayern as his genius helped Barca to a 5-3 victory over two legs.

The defeat in the second leg of that semi-final is one of just two Barca have suffered in this season's competition, with the first also being by a 3-2 scoreline at the hands of PSG in the group stages. They have won their other 10 Champions League outings this term, including a run of nine in a row before the defeat to Bayern. They have also kept six clean sheets in that time in addition to their constant threat at the other end of the field.

They didn't exactly dominate their group, however, needing a win over PSG on the final day to secure top spot and avoid a trickier last-16 clash. They still managed to win five of their six group games, however, with the only exception being that defeat at the hands of PSG, which is a significantly better record than Juventus managed.

Indeed, Juve very nearly didn't even make it past the first hurdle in this season's competition following a very slow start to like in Group A. They lost two of their first three Champions League games this term, but have since going through the competition unbeaten - an ongoing run of nine matches. They finished the group stages in second place, however, three points behind Atletico and only one above Olympiacos.

Dortmund were first up in the knockout stages, and that was when Juventus really announced themselves as a force to be reckoned with in this season's competition. A 2-1 victory in Turin left the tie open going into the second leg in Germany, but Juventus put in a fine display to run out 3-0 winners on the night and 5-1 victors on aggregate. Monaco surprisingly made it past Arsenal to provide the next opposition, and a solitary goal over the two legs was enough to put Juventus into the last four.

They met reigning champions Real Madrid in the semi-finals and it was expected that their run would come to an end at that stage, setting up an El Clasico final. Juventus had not read the script, however, and ran out 3-2 winners on aggregate. It means that the Old Lady have already played two Spanish clubs in this season's competition, and today they will complete the trinity.

Juventus players celebrate following their progression to the final during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final, second leg match between Real Madrid and Juventus at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 13, 2015© Getty Images


Barcelona, meanwhile, have already successfully ousted the reigning league champions from three of Europe's top divisions en route to the final, sending Manchester City, PSG and Bayern Munich packing. If they can win this evening then they would complete the quarter of Europe's top five leagues barring La Liga.

Juventus have the second oldest Champions League final starting XI in history today, but when it comes to experience on this stage it is Barcelona who have the upper hand. They still have eight members of the 2011 Champions League-winning squad in their midst, and no fewer than six of them are starting again this evening. They have kept that core together for a number of years now, and if anything it is surprising that they haven't made it this far for four years.

Juventus do have four players with Champions League-winning experience too, however, although none of them have achieved the feat with the Old Lady. Pirlo beat Juve in the final in 2003 and also won the trophy in 2007 during his time with AC Milan, while Evra and Tevez were both part of the Manchester United side that won it in 2008. Morata, meanwhile, won it with Real Madrid just last season and is just the fourth player to feature in successive Champions League finals for different clubs.

Juventus' average age is over 30 years old this evening, but fatigue has not been a problem for them this season. They are yet to concede in the final 15 minutes of a Champions League game in 2014-15, although Barcelona have scored a competition-high eight times in that period. If the match is still level going into the closing stages today it will be interesting to see what the approach of both sides will be.

Matt Law impersonating a giraffe (square)
La Liga correspondent Matt Law:

"I am not sure it will be as comprehensive as some have said, but I fully expect Barcelona to lift the trophy this evening. I just cannot see Juve keeping Messi, Neymar and Suarez quiet and I think that two of those will get on the scoresheet in a 2-1 Barcelona win. I just hope that the match lives up to the pre-game billing."


PREDICTION: We're 10 minutes away from kickoff in Berlin, which means that it is time for my prediction! I agree with Matt that this Juventus side will struggle to keep Barcelona at bay, and I too am backing a win for the Spanish giants this evening. Juventus are a very strong outfit and will certainly not be a walk in the park for Barca, but Luis Enrique's side really are special. I'm going for a 3-1 victory and a fifth European Cup for the Blaugrana.

Have a listen to what both me and Matt had to say about this game in our in-depth video preview below:


These two sides have only met once before in the Champions League's current guise, with Juventus winning a 2003 quarter-final meeting between the two sides courtesy of a 114th-minute winner from Marcelo Zalayeta. In all, Barcelona's record against the Old Lady is a poor one, with just two wins from their eight European meetings down the years.

They have generally got the better of things against Italian opposition in general, though. Barcelona have come up against Serie A sides 43 times overall, losing just eight of those and winning 22. In all, there have been six Champions League finals between teams from these two countries, with the Italian outfit coming out on top just twice, including a defeat for Juventus at the hands of Real Madrid in 1998.

Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir is your man in the middle for this match, and he is going through the final checks here as we edge ever closer to kickoff. Berlin, incidentally, is hosting the Champions League final for the very first time, although it was the scene of the 2006 World Cup final where Italy - complete with Pirlo and Buffon - lifted the trophy.

The pre-match show is done and dusted and the spine-tingling Champions League matches has added even more anticipation to this magnificent event. We're just about ready to go here in Berlin!

KICKOFF: Here we go then! Juventus get us underway in this treble showdown as they looked to lift the trophy for a third time, while Barca are going in search of their fifth crown.

Juventus win an early corner, which may be their best bet of hurting Barcelona tonight. Pirlo delivers it and Evra finds himself unmarked, but he can't get a clean connection on his header and a decent opening goes begging.

GOAL! Juventus 0-1 Barcelona (Ivan Rakitic)

Oh my word, what a start for Barcelona! It is a very well worked goal from the Spaniards, with Alba racing forward to collect a raking diagonal pass to the left. He knocks it inside to Neymar, who in turn helps it on to Iniesta. The skipper for the night then puts it on a plate for Rakitic, who sweeps the ball home with a simple finish.

What a nightmare start that is for Juventus. An early goal is the very last thing that they would have wanted in this match, with Barcelona so adept at keeping the ball and controlling matches. Juventus need to ensure that they don't let their heads drop after that, however.

CHANCE! Moments after a penalty shout for Neymar, Juventus break right up the other end, with Morata leading the charge. He races down the right before cutting inside and leaving his marker in a heap on the floor. He knocks it back to Vidal in space, but the Chilean blazes his effort over the crossbar.

CHANCE! Barcelona come forward again at the other end now as Messi drops deep before cutting inside to launch an attack. Neymar picks the ball up in a central role and works room to shoot, only to hammer his effort too high.

YELLOW CARD! The first card comes early on, and it is a needless one from Vidal. He dives in on Busquets and catches the Barcelona midfielder, earning a booking for his troubles. It's not his first foul either, so he can't have many complaints.

SAVE! Suarez very nearly gets in behind the defence, only for Barzagli to make a vital challenge at the last moment. Barcelona come again immediately, and Messi's diagonal pass is whiskers away from being met by Neymar at the back post. The pressure is relentless, however, and Buffon is called upon to make a truly stunning one-handed save to deny Alves moments later! How big could that stop prove to be?

Vidal really needs to control himself here. He goes rushing into another challenge, this time on Neymar, and for a moment it looks like the referee is contemplating a second yellow card. He gets away with this one, but he is already walking a tightrope.

CHANCE! Poor defending from Juventus as Rakitic's low corner is allowed to travel a long way into the box. It is met by Alba, but the full-back can't keep his effort down, blazing another good opening over the top.

Better from Juventus, who have been on the back foot since that early Barcelona goal. Pogba strides forward with the ball to start the attack, with Tevez also involved. Mascherano is there to clear the danger, but those sorts of forays into the attacking third have been rare for Juve so far.

Mascherano is again called upon to make an important contribution, although this one required the Argentine to be at full stretch. It was a good break for Juve, with Tevez starting the move on the halfway line before racing through the middle looking for a return pass. Pogba almost finds him with it, but Mascherano puts the ball over his own crossbar.

Matt Law impersonating a giraffe (square)
La Liga correspondent Matt Law:

"Someone in a black and white striped shirt needs to get hold of Vidal here. He is about to get sent off! Barcelona are fully in control at the moment and another could actually kill off Juve. They are just on a different planet at the moment."


CHANCE! Juventus are starting to get a foothold in this game after what was a very tough start to the match for them. Barcelona almost shoot themselves in the foot here, giving the ball away in a very dangerous area, but Morata bends his effort wide of the target.

Almost a stunning strike from Marchisio as Alba is the latest to give the ball away in a dangerous position under pressure from Morata. He rolls nicely for Marchisio, who lashes a long-range effort narrowly over the top. However, a free kick is given for a foul on Alba, so it wouldn't have counted anyway.

SAVE! This time it is Juventus who commit a defensive error to hand Barcelona a shooting chance. Neymar's initial cross is nowhere near any teammates, but Evra's header goes straight back to the Brazilian, who cuts inside before hitting a tame shot straight at Buffon.

Barca are seeing the vast majority of possession right now, as expected. They have done a good job of taking the sting out of a potential Juventus fightback as the Italians looked to be building a bit of momentum around five minutes ago.

Juventus press high up the field and put Barcelona under pressure at the back, but Enrique's side manage to play it out really well. Ter Stegen in particularly showed good feet for a keeper there to keep the ball moving when he had a couple of black and white shirts chasing him down.

Juventus are struggling to see any of the ball right now and, when they do manage to wrestle it away from Barcelona, they can't keep it for too long. The Spanish side are in control of this game right now.

Interesting decision from Juventus as they win a corner, only to play it short. The big men had come up for the back for that one, and it was a waste of a chance to use their aerial prowess against a small Barca side.

Juventus are adamant that they should have at least a free kick right on the edge of the box here, with Pogba tumbling over a challenge from Alba. The Frenchman falls into the box, but the initial contact took place outside the area and Alba looked to get a foot on the ball anyway.

More short and precise passing from Barcelona in and around the Juventus box as they break forward in a similar situation to the one that brought their goal. Again Iniesta is involved as he plays it inside for Suarez, but his flick doesn't quite reach Messi.

CLOSE! Almost a second for Barcelona as Suarez is allowed to turn towards goal and carry the ball forward to the edge of the box. He pokes an effort goalwards, but it trickles narrowly wide of the far post with Buffon beaten.

SAVE! This has to go down as a missed chance for Barca, who had Neymar, Suarez and Messi all running at the Juve defence having won the ball back. Neymar doesn't get his pass away to Messi, however, and Suarez's subsequent effort is fairly comfortable for Buffon.

YELLOW CARD! Pogba becomes the second player in the referee's book for a trip on Messi from behind. Again, no complaints about that one.

Messi is yet to really get involved that much in the final third, but he is beginning to run the game from a deeper position here. He is drawing the challenges from the Juventus midfielders, particularly the booked duo of Pogba and Vidal.

CHANCE! Poor from Buffon as he carelessly gives the ball away to Neymar. The Brazilian lifts a cross in towards Suarez, who is unmarked and in space inside the box, but the delivery is just too high for him. Moments later at the other end, Marchisio drills an effort at Ter Stegen.

HALF TIME: Juventus 0-1 Barcelona

The opening 45 minutes of the 2015 Champions League final comes to a close, and it is Barcelona who have the edge going into the halfway stage. Luis Enrique's side have enjoyed a good measure of control over proceedings so far, but Juventus will be happy that they haven't allowed this match to run away from them as it threatened to do so in the opening exchanges.

The only goal of the first half came through Ivan Rakitic, who opened the scoring after just four minutes following a fine team move. Alba and Neymar were both involved down the left to work the ball inside for Iniesta, who in turn played the ball back to Rakitic. It was a simple finish for the midfielder, who swept the ball past Buffon to give his side the perfect start.

Ivan Rakitic of Barcelona celebrates scoring the opening goal with Neymar during the UEFA Champions League Final between Juventus and FC Barcelona at Olympiastadion on June 6, 2015© Getty Images


Matt Law impersonating a giraffe (square)
La Liga correspondent Matt Law:

"In fairness to Juve, they were more in the game in the latter stages of the first period, but you do get the feeling that they need to score the game's next goal - if there indeed is one. Barcelona are quite comfortable at 1-0, but I still think that Juve will score. The Italian champions need a little bit more from the likes of Pogba and Vidal."


Barcelona have enjoyed the vast majority of the other chances in the match so far too, with Buffon pulling off one particularly good save during Barca's dominant opening 15 minutes. Alves was the man to test the veteran keeper with a curling effort from just inside the box, but Buffon managed to change direction and get a crucial hand to the ball to keep it out. Had Barca got a second at that stage, it may well have been game over for Juve.

Neymar, Alba and Suarez have also threatened to extend Barcelona's lead, with the latter coming agonisingly close with a poked effort that beat Buffon but rolled just wide of the post. Juve, meanwhile, are yet to create a really clear opening of their own, although Vidal should have done better with a decent chance shortly after Barcelona's goal. Morata was also gifted a good opportunity, only to put his low curling effort wide of the target.

There have been some memorable matches in this season's competition, and over the past week or so you've been voting for your favourite. Find out the winner in our Sports Mole Reader Awards video here.

KICKOFF: Barcelona get us back underway with just 45 minutes separating them from a second treble as things stand. Can Juventus do anything to prevent the Spanish giants making history here?

Tevez wins a free kick from Pique in a decent crossing position, but Pique is there to clear it behind for a corner.

CHANCE! The resulting corner is also dealt with by Barca, and immediately they race forward on the counter-attack. Rakitic carries the ball a long way with four teammates in support against three Juve defenders. Rakitic gives it to Suarez, whose low effort towards the near post draws a fine reaction save from Buffon. Suarez could have played that across goal there, but you can;t really blame him for going for the shot himself.

SHOT! Again it is Suarez who gets a shot away moments after that Buffon save, but this time the Juve keeper is not called into action. The Uruguayan's effort goes high and wide of the near post.

CHANCE! Beautiful football from Barcelona, and unsurprisingly it is the front three who combine. Messi carries the ball infield and exchanges passes with both Neymar and Suarez before lashing an effort over the top. The only thing missing there was the finish!

Barcelona have quickly regained control of this match in the second half, dictating the tempo of the game and not being forced into doing anything that they don't want to. They are looking comfortable right now, but there is an underlying threat with Juventus and particularly Morata tonight.

GOAL! Juventus 1-1 Barcelona (Alvaro Morata)

I said there was an underlying threat, and Juventus duly equalise to breathe new life into this game! Marchisio starts it with a good back-heel to Lichtsteiner, who strides forward down the right. His low pass into the box finds Tevez, who turns and gets a good shot away that Ter Stegen does really well to save. However, the ball drops to Morata, who is left with a simple finish on the rebound. Game on now!

Suddenly Juventus have the bit between their teeth here and they will really fancy their chances if they can keep this momentum up in the coming minutes. They really need to put Barca under pressure now to get the crowd going and prevent the Spanish side getting back in control of proceedings.

CHANCE! Juve again come close as Tevez finds space outside the Barca box, but the Argentine's effort just moves high of the crossbar. Down the other end, Iniesta just fails to slide a pass into Suarez.

Juve again have a sight of goal as Pogba fires from outside the box, but Ter Stegen is on hand to make the save. You just get the feeling that there is another goal in normal time here. Barcelona are always a threat in the final third.

GOAL! Juventus 1-2 Barcelona (Luis Suarez)

Barcelona regain the lead in the 69th minute as Suarez converts from close range after Buffon had denied Messi from inside the box.

GOAL DISALLOWED! Barcelona again have the ball in the back of the net as Neymar converts from inside the box, but the referee whistles and the goal is disallowed for handball. The Brazilian headed it onto his hand and past Buffon.

Messi has a chance to get his own name on the scoresheet with a free kick in a good position, but he curls his effort off target.

BARCELONA SUB: A change from Barca, and it is a significant one as Xavi enters the fray for his 767th and final game for the club. He replaces Andres Iniesta.

CHANCE! Decent chance for Juventus to get another equaliser as Ter Stegen drifts off his line in an attempt to collect a corner, only to change his mind midway through. Pogba towers above Pique, but his looping header lands on the roof of the net.

JUVENTUS SUB: Juve also make a change as Roberto Pereyra replaces Vidal, who managed to avoid a second yellow despite a few risky challenges in that first half.

CHANCE! Almost game over as Pique finds himself in a really good position. Busquets swung the ball in from the right back to Rakitic on the edge of the box, and the opening goalscorer cushions a delightful pass over the top for the centre-back, who spins but then lashes his volley well over the top.

Matt Law impersonating a giraffe (square)
La Liga correspondent Matt Law:

"My pre-match prediction is standing strong at the moment and I do think it will stay like this. Juve have given it a good go, but Barca just have too much in the final third. It has been as tight as I expected, but we are far from finished here."


JUVENTUS SUB: A late throw of the dice from Allegri as Fernando Llorente comes on in place of Morata. Expect more long balls forward from the Italian side now.

Painful one for Suarez as he falls awkwardly, with his leg folding underneath him. He could have really damaged his ligaments there, but he is able to limp off the field.

CHANCE! A decent opening for Juventus to create a late twist here as Pogba works the ball in to Llorente, who in turn feeds it to Pereyra inside the box. The latter tries turning it goalwards, but the ball runs away from him at the crucial moment.

JUVENTUS SUB: A third and final change for the Italians as Kingsley Coman replaces Evra, who limps off the field in pain. We're approaching kitchen sink time for Juve!

SAVE! Ter Stegen is forced into action late on here as Marchisio fires a low strike towards the bottom corner. It looks to be creeping in, but the Barca keeper is at full stretch to tip it wide.

There will be FIVE minutes of added time at the end of this match. That's how close Barcelona are to an unprecedented second treble!

BARCELONA SUB: Defensive change from Barca as Jeremy Mathieu comes on for Rakitic, which could see Mascherano push up into midfield.

SAVE! Juventus are asking some late questions here! This time it is Tevez who collects the ball and cuts inside, creating space to shoot on his right foot. He tries to bend it into the far corner, but only succeeds in hitting it straight at the keeper.

This one is on a knife edge now. Llorente almost gets a shooting chance in the Barca box before Suarez sets his side on the way for a counter-attack. Messi gives it on to Neymar, but the Brazilian can't squeeze it back in to the Argentine.

BARCELONA SUB: One more late change from Barca to wind the clock down as Suarez ambles off the field to be replaced by Pedro.

GOAL! Juventus 1-3 Barcelona (Neymar)

Barcelona wrap the match and the Champions League up in the seventh minute of injury time as Neymar hits them on the break. He looks like he may have wasted the chance at one point, but recovers to drill it past Buffon and seal the victory.

FULL TIME: Juventus 1-3 Barcelona

BARCELONA WIN THE 2015 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE!

Wild scenes of celebration greet the final whistle, with Neymar's goal proving to be the last kick of the match. It is a fourth Champions League crown in nine years for Barcelona and a second treble in the space of six years, becoming the only team in European history to achieve that feat. Conversely, the tears flow from the eyes of the Juventus players, with Pogba and Pirlo among those consoling each other.

Barcelona took the lead after just four minutes when Messi, Alba and Neymar combined to set up Iniesta, who in turn put the ball on a plate for Rakitic to sweep home. It was a fine team goal and Barca threatened to put the match beyond Juventus early on with a dominant start, but Juve did well to hold the deficit to just one goal at the break.

Juventus levelled things up 10 minutes after the restart when Morata backed up his semi-final goals with a simple finish after Ter Stegen had denied an effort from Tevez. The Italians were then in the ascendency for a spell and, at that point, they looked most likely to go on and win the title.

However, it was Barcelona who got the crucial third goal of the game, with Suarez firing home into an empty net after Buffon had denied Messi. The veteran keeper could have perhaps done a little better with his save, but it was a well-struck effort from Messi that brought about the save. Neymar then clinched the victory with the final kick of the match, beating Buffon on the break having exchanged passes with Pedro.

Matt Law impersonating a giraffe (square)
La Liga correspondent Matt Law:

"Wow - what a final. Juve gave it a real go, but Barcelona deserved to lift the trophy I don't think there is a doubt about that. This is a special Barca team and some bookmakers are already producing odds for another treble next season. Can they repeat it next term? It will be very difficult, but this is a special team."


Barcelona climb the stairs of the Olympiastadion to the podium, with Messi and Luis Enrique leading the way. Michel Platini - a former Juventus Champions League winner - gives each of the players a big hug as they collect their medals. Xavi signs off in fitting fashion by lifting the famous trophy having made his 767th and final Barcelona appearance on the grandest stage.

That is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for what was an entertaining final in Berlin as Barcelona win their fifth Champions League crown to complete a treble at the expense of Juventus. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction, analysis and player ratings. From me, though, it is goodbye for now, and I'll see you again next season!

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19Sporting Lisbon631210
20Real Madrid63039
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27Shakhtar61144
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29Sturm Graz61053
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32Salzburg61053
33Bologna60242
34RB Leipzig60060
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36Young Boys60060


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