This is the night that truly rounds off the football season. There have been many ups and downs for a lot of teams in the competition, but I'm sure many people would agree the best two throughout the competition got what they deserved by getting to Berlin. In their journey to get here, Barcelona have beaten the English champions, the French champions and the German champions on their run to the final and were now faced with the Italian champions. Juventus may the underdogs in the game, but it is worth remembering that they beat Real Madrid over the two legs of the semi-final to be in Berlin so they could prove to be good competition for Barca. Also, both teams have the dream of the treble on their minds, but only one can accomplish it.
By the fourth minute, Barcelona proved why they were the force to be reckoned with throughout the season, on their first challenge as they moved forward. It was a typical Barcelona goal as Neymar got the ball on the left side of the area and quickly laid it off to Andres Iniesta. As he was being closed down by the defenders around him, he made an even quicker lay off to Ivan Rakitic who took his goal so calmly and made it look extremely easy as he converted it. Gianluigi Buffon had absolutely no chance of getting to the ball as he was left scrambling across his line due to misjudging what Iniesta was going to do.
This didn't dim the Juventus spirit in any way. Not even 5 minutes after the Barcelona goal, Alvaro Morata made a lung bursting run down the wing, and Javier Mascherano couldn't keep up with him, which allowed Morata to put a good ball into the box. He found Arturo Vidal, who leaned back as he took the shot which caused the ball to fly high over the crossbar, but it was still an attempt from Juve and it also proved to Barca that they were still ready to give them a good competition.
Up at the other end of the field, Lionel Messi was performing his usual magic and he made a really clever diagonal pass across to Neymar who was ready to make a run from the edge of the six yard box. As he tried to bring the ball down closer to the goal, he slipped which caused him to lose sight of the ball, meaning that the chance went to waste. Buffon was also called into action once again and made a brilliant reflex save with his arm to prevent Barca from doubling their lead. The save that he made didn't go off the pitch, but the defenders cleared their lines before Barca had another chance to put the ball into the box.
Both teams had a few half chances following this, but most of them resulted in the box flying high over the crossbar, or just not causing the keepers any problems at all. Just before half time, Barca game forward with a lot more threat and looked like they could find the second breakthrough of the match. First chance came after Luis Suarez turned his defender and was allowed to run with the ball, and he took on the low diagonal shot to the far corner of the goal, but the ball was just inches wide of the post. One minute later, a pass to Neymar was cut out as the defender blocked off the player, but he could only deflect the ball into the path of Suarez who curled the ball upward, which caused Buffon to get his hand up well and tip the ball over the crossbar. The third chance just before half time was created after a Buffon mistake. The goalkeeper tried to pass the ball out to his left back, but it was extremely poor, and Neymar quickly intercepted it. His final ball into the box was too high and it skimmed across the head of Suarez, meaning the gifted opportunity went to waste.
The second half began in the same way that the first one had ended; Barcelona were pressing forward and creating good chances for themselves. Juve even managed to play a part in what could have been their own downfall. From a Juve corner early in the half, Suarez cleared the ball to Neymar, who nodded it onto Rakitic. He led the counter attack which looked promising for Barca as they were left with five of their players against two. As they neared the box, Rakitic touched the ball into the path of Suarez who was on his left, and he tried to curl it into the back of the net using his right foot. Buffon got across well though to turn the ball behind for a corner. Then two minutes later, Barca put on a show with some beautiful build up play. Messi was allowed to play a one-two off both Neymar and Suarez before he took the shot, which was just off target. In truth, the build-up really deserved a goal.
On the 55th minute, Barca were made to rue the chances they had missed both at the end of the first half and at the beginning of this one. Juve built up the pressure on the Barca goal and the first big chance fell to Carlos Tevez who took his shot on the turn, but Marc Andre ter Stegen got down well to turn the ball away from the net. However, he couldn't get the ball out of the danger area and it landed at the feet of Morata, who was left with practically an empty goal to aim at as ter Stegen scrambled back across his line. Morata calmly turned the ball into the back of the net to level the score line.
This goal left all of the momentum with Juve and they certainly looked the more dangerous when they reached the final third. The chances they created weren't clear cut ones, but they were putting more pressure onto the opposition goal than Barca were. Just like Barca earlier in the second half, Juve would come to regret the chance they didn't take. Messi made a run from the halfway line and gets away from each one of the defenders that close him down. When he reached the outside of the box, he took on the shot, which Buffon saves, but the ball is deflected into the path of Suarez who calmly turns the ball into the back of the net and gives the keeper no chance of stopping it.
Barcelona have the ball in the back of the net again moments later, but this one is disallowed. Jordi Alba turned and chipped his cross towards Neymar in the centre of the box. Neymar headed the ball down into the ground, but as it goes down, the ball none deliberately hit his hand, which was close to his body, and bobbled past Buffon and over the line. The Juventus players immediately swarmed the referee and the goal was disallowed quickly. In real time, it is possible that the faint glance that it took off Neymar's head wasn't seen by the officials, but even if they did, it didn't make an effect on their decision.
As the second half came to a close, Juve suddenly regained their momentum and were pushing towards the Barca goal again, knowing they needed an equaliser to take the game to extra time. Claudio Marchisio had a chance from outside of the box, which he directed on target, but ter Stegen took up a good position and was able to get down low to turn the ball past his near post. Tevez also had a chance to level the score, but he aimed his shot directly at ter Stegen who held onto the ball. If he had directed the ball either side of the keeper, it is possible that he could have taken Juve to extra time.
In the last minute of added time in the game, Barca confirmed their victory and shattered the hearts of the many Juve supporters around the world. From a Juventus free kick, Gerard Pique cleared his lines with a great header which fell to Messi, who reacted very quickly to chip the ball past the defender who was skin tight to him. Neymar latched onto this pass and was left one on one with the defender before his team mates arrived in support. After a few cute passes between the Barcelona attacking line, the ball was back at Neymar's feet and he directed his low diagonal shot into the bottom far corner of the net, giving Buffon no chance of saving it.
So Barcelona confirmed their treble trophy win with the last kick of the game in Berlin. It is also worth remembering that Xavi ended his season in style as he leaves Barcelona behind him, while it was the opposite feeling for Andrea Pirlo who could possibly have played his last game in a Juventus shirt. Both teams put on a show, and proved why only the best teams deserve to be in the Champions League final.
By the fourth minute, Barcelona proved why they were the force to be reckoned with throughout the season, on their first challenge as they moved forward. It was a typical Barcelona goal as Neymar got the ball on the left side of the area and quickly laid it off to Andres Iniesta. As he was being closed down by the defenders around him, he made an even quicker lay off to Ivan Rakitic who took his goal so calmly and made it look extremely easy as he converted it. Gianluigi Buffon had absolutely no chance of getting to the ball as he was left scrambling across his line due to misjudging what Iniesta was going to do.
This didn't dim the Juventus spirit in any way. Not even 5 minutes after the Barcelona goal, Alvaro Morata made a lung bursting run down the wing, and Javier Mascherano couldn't keep up with him, which allowed Morata to put a good ball into the box. He found Arturo Vidal, who leaned back as he took the shot which caused the ball to fly high over the crossbar, but it was still an attempt from Juve and it also proved to Barca that they were still ready to give them a good competition.
Up at the other end of the field, Lionel Messi was performing his usual magic and he made a really clever diagonal pass across to Neymar who was ready to make a run from the edge of the six yard box. As he tried to bring the ball down closer to the goal, he slipped which caused him to lose sight of the ball, meaning that the chance went to waste. Buffon was also called into action once again and made a brilliant reflex save with his arm to prevent Barca from doubling their lead. The save that he made didn't go off the pitch, but the defenders cleared their lines before Barca had another chance to put the ball into the box.
Both teams had a few half chances following this, but most of them resulted in the box flying high over the crossbar, or just not causing the keepers any problems at all. Just before half time, Barca game forward with a lot more threat and looked like they could find the second breakthrough of the match. First chance came after Luis Suarez turned his defender and was allowed to run with the ball, and he took on the low diagonal shot to the far corner of the goal, but the ball was just inches wide of the post. One minute later, a pass to Neymar was cut out as the defender blocked off the player, but he could only deflect the ball into the path of Suarez who curled the ball upward, which caused Buffon to get his hand up well and tip the ball over the crossbar. The third chance just before half time was created after a Buffon mistake. The goalkeeper tried to pass the ball out to his left back, but it was extremely poor, and Neymar quickly intercepted it. His final ball into the box was too high and it skimmed across the head of Suarez, meaning the gifted opportunity went to waste.
The second half began in the same way that the first one had ended; Barcelona were pressing forward and creating good chances for themselves. Juve even managed to play a part in what could have been their own downfall. From a Juve corner early in the half, Suarez cleared the ball to Neymar, who nodded it onto Rakitic. He led the counter attack which looked promising for Barca as they were left with five of their players against two. As they neared the box, Rakitic touched the ball into the path of Suarez who was on his left, and he tried to curl it into the back of the net using his right foot. Buffon got across well though to turn the ball behind for a corner. Then two minutes later, Barca put on a show with some beautiful build up play. Messi was allowed to play a one-two off both Neymar and Suarez before he took the shot, which was just off target. In truth, the build-up really deserved a goal.
On the 55th minute, Barca were made to rue the chances they had missed both at the end of the first half and at the beginning of this one. Juve built up the pressure on the Barca goal and the first big chance fell to Carlos Tevez who took his shot on the turn, but Marc Andre ter Stegen got down well to turn the ball away from the net. However, he couldn't get the ball out of the danger area and it landed at the feet of Morata, who was left with practically an empty goal to aim at as ter Stegen scrambled back across his line. Morata calmly turned the ball into the back of the net to level the score line.
This goal left all of the momentum with Juve and they certainly looked the more dangerous when they reached the final third. The chances they created weren't clear cut ones, but they were putting more pressure onto the opposition goal than Barca were. Just like Barca earlier in the second half, Juve would come to regret the chance they didn't take. Messi made a run from the halfway line and gets away from each one of the defenders that close him down. When he reached the outside of the box, he took on the shot, which Buffon saves, but the ball is deflected into the path of Suarez who calmly turns the ball into the back of the net and gives the keeper no chance of stopping it.
Barcelona have the ball in the back of the net again moments later, but this one is disallowed. Jordi Alba turned and chipped his cross towards Neymar in the centre of the box. Neymar headed the ball down into the ground, but as it goes down, the ball none deliberately hit his hand, which was close to his body, and bobbled past Buffon and over the line. The Juventus players immediately swarmed the referee and the goal was disallowed quickly. In real time, it is possible that the faint glance that it took off Neymar's head wasn't seen by the officials, but even if they did, it didn't make an effect on their decision.
As the second half came to a close, Juve suddenly regained their momentum and were pushing towards the Barca goal again, knowing they needed an equaliser to take the game to extra time. Claudio Marchisio had a chance from outside of the box, which he directed on target, but ter Stegen took up a good position and was able to get down low to turn the ball past his near post. Tevez also had a chance to level the score, but he aimed his shot directly at ter Stegen who held onto the ball. If he had directed the ball either side of the keeper, it is possible that he could have taken Juve to extra time.
In the last minute of added time in the game, Barca confirmed their victory and shattered the hearts of the many Juve supporters around the world. From a Juventus free kick, Gerard Pique cleared his lines with a great header which fell to Messi, who reacted very quickly to chip the ball past the defender who was skin tight to him. Neymar latched onto this pass and was left one on one with the defender before his team mates arrived in support. After a few cute passes between the Barcelona attacking line, the ball was back at Neymar's feet and he directed his low diagonal shot into the bottom far corner of the net, giving Buffon no chance of saving it.
So Barcelona confirmed their treble trophy win with the last kick of the game in Berlin. It is also worth remembering that Xavi ended his season in style as he leaves Barcelona behind him, while it was the opposite feeling for Andrea Pirlo who could possibly have played his last game in a Juventus shirt. Both teams put on a show, and proved why only the best teams deserve to be in the Champions League final.
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