Italian Football Club Juventus s.p.A. and Spanish Futbol Club Barcelona face each other in the 2015 Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League Final on Saturday, June 6 at the FOX Olympiastadion at 11:45 a.m. (Pacific Standard Time) in Berlin. Amongst player statistics and team line up formations to expect in the final match, hard news hit both teams on Wednesday, June 3. A major injury in Juves has a leader out of Saturday's match. As for Barca, the captain is leaving the team for Qatar following the final game. The match will livestream in the United States at FOX Soccer 2GO USA, in Spain at Movistar TV fútbol, and in Italy at Sky GO Italia.
Massimiliano Allegri, the head coach of the Juves is depending on forward player Carlos Tevez, team captain and goalie Gianluigi Buffon, and midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba. The team's strategy and line up formation had to be switched up on Wednesday, June 3 due to defender Giorgio Chiellini's calf injury during practice. Allegri is expected to replace the 1st vice captain with Andrea Barzagli, a 34-year-old defender who just returned to the field after recuperating from a thigh issue. The two players to watch in Barca are Buffon and Pirlo. Buffon is a 37-year-old goalkeeper who played in 32 games, made 59 saves, and 18 cleansheets in 2014-2015. Pirlo is a 36-year-old midfielder who played in 19 games, scored 4 goals, made 5 assists and 25 shots in 2014-2015.
"Juventus are expected to line up in the same 4-3-1-2 formation they have favoured for most of this season. Massimiliano Allegri's first-choice XI would typically include Gigi Buffon in goal with Leonardo Bonucci and Chiellini ahead of him at centre-back - the bianconeri's very own BBC," wrote Paulo Bandini from The Guardian on Friday, June 5.
Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini kicking a soccer ball in a match on December 2012.
Barca places its hope onto forward players Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Luis Suarez. According to Top Players Rank, the two top players to watch in Juve are Lionel Messi and Neymar. Both play forward positions. Messi is 27 years old. He played in 38 games, scored 43 goals, made 13 assists, and made 187 shots in 2014-2015. Neymar is 23 years old. He played in 33 games, scored 22 goals, made 7 assists, and made 95 shots in 2014-2015. ESPN FC reported on Friday that Messi, Neymar, and Suarez "combined for 25 goals in the Champions League this season."
In a press interview on Wednesday, Xavi thanked his fans, coaches, friends, and family for supporting him in 2015. Although he made attempts to leave the team in 2014, they chanted his name and asked him to stay for one more year. Now the team has made it to the Champions League finals.
"Thanks to Barcelona. I've been here for nearly 25 years since I was 11 years old, from Terrassa, as a child dreaming of being a footballer. Not in my wildest of my dreams could I have imagined what I have lived through here at Barcelona. I have been and I am immensely happy," said Xavi. "And to return to the start. Thanks to Barcelona. I will be eternally grateful for all you have given me. Before I go, I hope to lift another cup this Saturday in Berlin. I hope this will not be a goodbye, but a see you soon. Visca Barca and visca Catalunya!"
Team Rosters:
FC Barcelona: Goalie Marc-André ter Stegen, defense players MartÃn Montoya, Gerard Piqué, midfielder Ivan Rakiti?, 4th captain Sergio Busquets, cap Xavi Hernández, vice cap Andrés Iniesta, forward Pedro RodrÃguez, Luis Suárez, 3rd captain Lionel Messi, and Neymar. The rest of the team members are forward player Rafinha, goalie Claudio Bravo, Jordi Masip, midfielder Javier Mascherano, Sergi Roberto, defense Marc bartra, Douglas, Jordi Alba, Adriano, Dani Alves, Thomas Vermaelen, and Jérémy Mathieu.
Juventus FC: Goalie and captain Gianluigi Buffon, midfielder Rômulo, Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba, Simone Pepe, 2nd vice captain Claudio Marchisio, defense 1st vice captain Giorgio Chiellini, MartÃn Cáceres, Angelo Ogbonna, Andrea Barzagli, Paolo De Ceglie, and forward álvaro Morata. Their other members are forward Carlos Tevez, Kingsley Coman, Fernando Llorente, defense Leonardo Bonucci, Stephan Lictsteiner, Patrice Evra, Midfielder Simone Padoin, Gianluigi Buffon, Kwadwo Asamoah, Arturo Vidal, Stefano Sturaro, Roberto Pereyra, Luca Marrone, Goalie Marco Storari, Rubinho, Luca Marrone, and forward Alessandro Matri.
