OLYMPIASTADION, BERLIN — Barcelona become the first European club to secure the treble for a second time after beating Juventus, 3-1, to win the Champions League on Saturday.
A remarkable trio delivered the unforgettable treble. A season built on the collective genius of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar was elevated into rare historical company by the newest member of that attacking trident, as Suarez lashed home with 20 minutes remaining after a brilliant solo run from Lionel Messi had carved Juventus apart to restore a Barcelona lead they would not relinquish.
Neymar, perhaps feeling left out, then wrapped things up deep into injury time, as substitute Pedro (a forgotten man at times this term) capped his cameo with the assist.
Juventus, denied their own treble by the loss, started the game awfully, falling behind to a sweeping team move finished off by Ivan Rakitic less than four minutes after the opening whistle, but a smattering of brilliant saves from Gianluigi Buffon kept Massimiliano Allegri’s side in the game long enough for Alvaro Morata to steal a second-half equaliser against the run of play.
Stunned by the Spaniard’s intervention, Barcelona briefly stumbled as Juventus pushed forward and, for at least the five minutes after Morata’s goal, looked more likely to steal the next. But Messi and Suarez eventually proved too irresistible for the Italian champions—as they have invariably been against all challengers this season—and, over the final 15 minutes, there were relatively few scares as Barcelona became European champions for the third time in the last seven seasons.
It was left to Xavi, the departing legend whose substitute appearance in Berlin made him the most capped player in Champions League history, to lift the trophy—as Luis Enrique celebrated his first season as Barca coach with a remarkable treble.
“This is our 60th match [of the season],” the coach said. “We’ve lost six games, had four draws and I think the figures show it is one of the best seasons for Barcelona.
“We need to nourish ourselves with trophies and titles. Without a doubt the best club in Europe is Barcelona.”
With no real surprises in the two lineups—both Andrea Barzagli and Andres Iniesta, the pregame injury concerns for either side, were ultimately passed fit to start—fans were eager to see how the domestic champions of Italy and Spain would fare against one another.
After a slightly nervy start (Javier Mascherano making two early mistakes, the first of which yielded the game’s opening snapshot to Carlos Tevez) from Luis Enrique’s side, almost as soon as Barcelona found their equilibrium, they seemed to take the lead. Sergio Busquets spun his man in midfield in a passage of play that kicked his side into gear, launching a sweeping passing move that culminated in Iniesta cutting the ball across for Rakitic to direct a measured finish beyond Buffon.
Juventus seemed startled by the occasion and knocked further out of their rhythm by that early setback, with Arturo Vidal’s travails indicative of their struggles. The Chilean was guilty of a couple of overenthusiastic challenges even before he was booked in the 11th minute for a snap at Busquets’ ankles and continued to risk invoking the referee’s ire as his passion for the moment threatened to get the better of him. Perhaps his part in the opener, as replays suggested he was guilty of failing to track Rakitic into the box, was also weighing on his mind.
All the while as Vidal was harrying around aimlessly, it seemed a second Barcelona goal was almost inevitable, with Neymar appealing vocally for a handball off Stephan Lichtsteiner and then Jordi Alba guilty of squandering a glorious opening after being left unmarked from Rakitic’s corner.
That Barca did not eventually take the lead was only down to Buffon, however, as the veteran Italian made a breathtaking one-handed save to deny Dani Alves—more involved on the ball than any other player in the first half— from slotting a right-footed effort beyond him.
source:bleacherreport.com
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 