It was an enthralling evening at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, where both sides engaged in a battle to the death and eventually FC Barcelona overcame their resilient rivals Juventus. This heroic win in Berlin secured a historic treble for the Catalans in Luis Enrique’s first year in charge. Juventus gave the favorites a tough time on the pitch but simply couldn’t cope with individual brilliance of Iniesta and Messi, as Barcelona deservedly ran out 3-1 winners.
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In a thrilling finale to this season’s football, Ivan Rakitic gave his side the perfect start when he finished off a beautiful passing move begun by Leo Messi. The diminutive Argentine played an inch-perfect ball at the far-left to Jordi Alba who fed Neymar at the edge of the 18-yard box. The Brazilian let Andres Iniesta weave his magic with a few deft touches, before picking a perfect pass to Rakitic, who converted from close range. It was always going to be a weary night for the Italians and the early goal made matters even worse for Massimiliano Allegri’s.
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Claudio Marchisio threatened with a couple of swiveling shots from distance but Marc-Andre ter Stegen wasn’t really troubled in the first-half, although his aging opposite number Buffon was forced to pull out a host of crucial saves to keep his side in hunt for their own treble. Juventus sorely missed Giorgio Chiellini through injury as his replacement Andrea Barzagli found it tricky to keep the Messi-Suarez-Neymar trio at bay.
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Despite their menacing display, the prolific trio was somewhat wasteful in front of goal and paid the price, when Alvaro Morata equalised, continuing his rich vein of form. The ex-Madrid man ensured that there wouldn’t be an El Clasico showdown in Berlin, when he knocked out his former employers in the semifinals and sent the travelling Italian fans into a state of mass hysteria, when he leveled terms against Barcelona in the 55th minute. Claudio Marchisio’s outrageous back-heel pass released Stephan Lichsteiner on the right-flank and although Tevez’s fierce shot was saved by ter Stegen, Morata was the first to pounce on the stray ball and the Spaniard made no mistake in front of a gaping goal.
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After the goal, the momentum was with Juve, as the Turin-side looked more confident than ever and a few minutes later, were denied a penalty after Pogba was brought down by Dani Alves in the box. A penalty to Juventus would’ve completely changed the equation but Cuneyt Cakir was adamant and a few minutes later, Luis Suarez handed his side the lead again, when he smashed home Buffon’s initial save. Messi, on top his game, strolled with the ball from the halfway line and struck a powerful from 20 yards and although Buffon saved it quite capably, his save only reached Suarez, who finished off in style.
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Neymar had a goal disallowed, when his header struck his own hand, before going in the net but found solace when he capped off a winning performance with a goal, with the last kick of the match. Juventus, in search of another equaliser, sent all their men forward but it all came to nothing and Neymar, quite ruthlessly, killed the game sending the fans into raptures.
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Xavi got the farewell he deserved, as the Spaniard played his last match in a Barcelona shirt. Andrea Pirlo was reduced to tears, after what could be his last game in Europe. The Juventus players were inconsolable but manager Allegri wasn’t displeased after an inspiring performance against the Europe’s best side, a fact validated after Xavi lifted the Champions League trophy amidst thunderous applause.
Tags: Barcelona European Champions
