Club

Founded in 1899, Barcelona have won 23 La Liga championships, 27 Copa del Rey titles, 11 Spanish Super Cups, four Champions League trophies, four Cup Winners’ Cups, four Super Cups, three Inter-Cities Fairs Cups and two Club World Cups.

Together with Athletic Bilbao and El Clasico rivals Real Madrid, the Blaugrana, whose customary shirt colour is red and blue, have never been relegated from Spain’s top flight in their illustrious history.

Stadium

Since 1957, Barcelona have played their home matches at the 99,354-seater Nou Camp, the largest stadium in both Spain and Europe.

The venue has hosted many international matches, including two Champions League finals and various fixtures at the 1982 World Cup, and has also frequently been used for music concerts, having staged such artists as U2, Bruce Springsteen and Michael Jackson.

Manager

Barcelona are currently under the tutelage of Luis Enrique.

The 45-year-old began his professional career by turning out for local outfit Sporting Gijon in 1989, before subsequently spending five campaigns at Real Madrid from 1991.

His stint with Los Blancos proved fruitful, winning a La Liga title, a Copa del Rey and a Spanish Super Cup in the Spanish capital.

Enrique, who was a versatile midfielder able to fill in both in defence and up front, then crossed the El Clasico divide by signing for Barcelona on a free transfer in 1996.

During his time at the Nou Camp, he added two further La Liga winners’ medals, two Copa del Rey titles, a Spanish Super Cup, a Cup Winners’ Cup and a Super Cup.

After netting 109 goals in 300 appearances for Barcelona and featuring at three World Cup tournaments with the Spanish national side, injury forced to Enrique hang up his boots for the final time in 2004.

His first foray into management saw him take charge of Barcelona B from 2008 before he left for Serie A outfit Roma three seasons later.

However, a disappointing term with the Giallorossi, which saw them fail to qualify for Europe, meant the Spanish tactician was relieved of his duties in 2012.

Following a 12-month break from football, he was appointed manager of Celta Vigo, leading the Galicians to ninth position in the 2013/14 season.

His impressive showing did not go unnoticed by former employers Barcelona, who swooped to sign him on a two-year contract, succeeding Gerardo Martino in the process.

After leading the Blaugrana to their 23rd La Liga title and 27th Copa del Rey in recent weeks, Enrique now stands on the cusp of securing the club’s first treble since the 2008/09 season.

His playing style shares La Masia’s values of easy-on-the-eye football, including possession, passing and expert movement in attacking areas.

Domestic campaign

Barcelona finished the 2014/15 La Liga term as champions on 94 points, with 30 victories, four draws and four losses to their name.

The Blaugrana ultimately pipped arch-rivals Real Madrid to the post by just two points, March’s 2-1 El Clasico triumph at the Nou Camp proving vital for the title race.

Enrique’s men, who had previously been crowned winners in 2013, clinched the prize on the penultimate matchday of the season, overcoming former champions Atletico Madrid 1-0 at the Vicente Calderon on Sunday 17 May.

With 43 league goals, talisman Lionel Messi finished the campaign as Barcelona’s top scorer, followed by Neymar on 22 and summer signing Luis Suarez (16).

Copa del Rey exploits

The Blaugrana entered the competition at the round of 32 stage, defeating Segunda Division B Group 2 minnows SD Huesca 12-1 on aggregate in December 2014.

Elche were next to feel the force of Barcelona’s immense attacking prowess, losing 9-0 over two legs, before Atletico Madrid, who had dumped holders Real Madrid out in the previous round, were eliminated 4-2 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.

Enrique’s troops then brushed Villarreal aside both home and away, recording a 6-2 semi-final success, to set up a Copa del Rey final showdown with Athletic Bilbao on 30 May.

During Saturday’s showpiece event at the Nou Camp, Messi gave his side the lead courtesy of an incredible piece of individual brilliance on 20 minutes before Neymar rounded off a tremendous team move by tapping into an empty net ahead of the break.

A 27th Copa del Rey title was sewn up when Messi prodded Dani Alves’ cross home with a quarter of an hour remaining, before Bilbao reduced the arrears through Inaki Williams’ header late on.

Juventus.com retraces the Bianconeri’s journey to this season’s Champions League knockout stages

Group A

Juventus 2-0 Malmo, 16 September 2014, Juventus Stadium

A second-half Carlos Tevez double allowed the Bianconeri to get this season’s Champions League campaign off to a victorious introduction with a 2-0 Group A success over Malmo.

A tense first-half in which the hosts dominated possession but found clear-cut chances hard to come by eventually gave way to a more open second, with a moment of genius on 59 minutes shattering the Swedes’ robust rearguard.

Kwadwo Asamoah it was who unlocked the defence with a sublime backheel, and Tevez made no mistake by dispatching a clinical finish into the bottom corner.

The best was yet to come from the Argentine though as, on the stroke of 90 minutes, he celebrated breaking his 14-game Champions League drought in style by curling home a glorious free-kick that sent Juventus Stadium into delirium.

Atletico Madrid 1-0 Juventus, 1 October 2014, Vicente Calderon

A solitary Arda Turan effort on 75 minutes saw Atletico Madrid emerge victorious on matchday two at the Vicente Calderon.

The Bianconeri will have every reason to rue their misfortune after a resilient defensive display at the home of last year’s finalists was ultimately undone inside the game’s dying embers.

Turan it was who decided an affair lacking in genuine goalscoring opportunities, guiding Juanfran’s cross beyond Gigi Buffon for a result that placed all four Group A teams on three points following Malmo’s win over Olympiacos in Sweden.

Olympiacos 1-0 Juventus, 22 October 2014, Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium

Pajtim Kasami’s first-half strike and Roberto’s second-half goalkeeping masterclass ensured Juventus came away from Greece empty-handed as Olympiacos claimed a 1-0 victory at the Karaiskakis Stadium.

If the opening 45 minutes belonged to Michel’s men, the reverse can be applied to the second period after the Bianconeri laid siege to the hosts’ goal in their attempts to claim what would have been a fully deserved share of the spoils.

Juventus 3-2 Olympiacos, 4 November 2014, Juventus Stadium

Two goals in 46 second-half seconds allowed Juventus to breathe new life into their Champions League campaign with a 3-2 triumph over Olympiacos on a scintillating night of European football in Turin.

All seemed to be going according to plan when Andrea Pirlo raised the roof courtesy of a trademark free-kick on 21 minutes, only for the visitors to draw level 180 seconds later as Alberto Botia nodded home from a corner.

Another header, this time from Delvin Ndinga, turned the game on its head just past the hour-mark, but substitute Fernando Llorente pulled the Bianconeri level four minutes later with a knockdown that ricocheted off the post and then Roberto before trickling over the line.

With the wind now fully in the hosts’ sails and an electric atmosphere at Juventus Stadium propelling them further forward, Paul Pogba slammed home from the edge of the area on 66 minutes to complete a pulsating comeback that took the Bianconeri level on points with the Greeks in second place of Group A.

Malmo 0-2 Juventus, 26 November 2014, Swedbank Stadion

Second-half goals from Llorente and Tevez enabled Juventus to keep their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages alive thanks to a deserved 2-0 success over Malmo in Sweden.

In spite of a heavy playing surface hampering their traditional passing game, Massimiliano Allegri’s men dug in to depart the Swedbank Stadion as worthy winners, countering the hosts’ early exuberance with an accomplished second-half display.

A tightly-contested opening 45 minutes, in which Claudio Marchisio went close on two separate occasions, gave way to a more free-flowing second period that produced the breakthrough when Llorente rounded Robin Olsen before tapping home four minutes after the restart.

A typical poacher’s finish from Tevez wrapped up the victory with two minutes to play, meaning the Bianconeri would only require a point from December’s final Group A clash against Atletico Madrid to secure their safe passage through to the competition’s last 16.

Juventus 0-0 Atletico Madrid, 9 December 2014, Juventus Stadium

A goalless draw with Atletico Madrid at Juventus Stadium took the Bianconeri into the Champions League last 16 as Group A runners-up on 10 points.

Allegri’s men enjoyed the better of the affair as they took the game to the reigning Spanish champions from the very off but were ultimately forced to settle for a share of the spoils after the visitors held out to top the group.

By Anna Italia
Follow me in Twitter @ItalianSerieA,
Facebook: Anna Italia Page

It’s Champions League Final build up.  The final  between Juventus vs Barcelona on Saturday 6 June 2015 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany at 20:45.   Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri directing the training on Tuesday 2 June at the Juventus Center training in Vinovo.

  Juventus – Barcelona 

As reported by Juventus official website,  after being put through their paces in front of the world’s media yesterday at Juventus Stadium, it was a far more intimate environment.

Allegri ran his troops through an intense session in which a variety of fitness and technical drills were followed by a focus on tactics for Saturday evening at the Olympiastadion.

Juventus  will return to their preparations on Wednesday 3 June with another morning session.

Juventus.com recalls some former meetings of this weekend’s Champions League finalists in European competitions

Inter-Cities Fairs Cup last 32: Barcelona 2-4 Juventus (agg.), 1970/71

Back in October 1970, Juventus and Barcelona locked horns for the very first time, having been drawn together in the last 32 of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

During the first leg at the Nou Camp, legendary playmaker Helmut Haller gave the visitors an early lead on 12 minutes.

Roberto Bettega then added a second just after the interval to put Armando Picchi’s side firmly in control of the tie, only for Marcial Pina to pull one back for the Spanish giants 14 minutes from the end.

The return leg in Turin two weeks later witnessed the Old Lady begin like a train, scoring twice in the first 23 minutes through Bettega and Fabio Capello, and in spite of Lluis Pujol’s strike for Barcelona in the dying embers, they progressed 4-2 on aggregate.

European Cup quarter-finals: Barcelona 2-1 Juventus (agg.), 1985/86

Fifteen years later, the duo once again crossed paths at the quarter-final stage of Europe’s elite competition, with Juventus approaching the game as defending champions.

A tightly-contested first leg in Spain was ultimately decided by Julio Alberto’s spectacular long-range strike nine minutes ahead of the half-time break.

The return clash at the Stadio Comunale saw Terry Venables’ Blaugrana take a giant step towards the semi-final following Steven Archibald’s finish on the half-hour mark.

Three-time Ballon d’Or winner Michel Platini gave the Bianconeri some hope with a goal 60 seconds before the interval, but Barcelona, who would be beaten by Romanian outfit Steaua Bucharest in the final, stood firm to set up a last four shootout with Gothenburg.  

Cup Winners’ Cup semi-finals: Barcelona 3-2 Juventus (agg.), 1990/91

After brushing RFC Liege aside 6-1 in the quarter-finals, Juventus faced Barcelona for a place in May 1991’s final at Rotterdam’s Stadion Feijenoord.

It only took Luigi Maifredi’s men 12 minutes to go in front during the first leg in Spain, Pierluigi Casiraghi tapping into an empty net following a defensive mix-up from the Blaugrana rearguard.

But back came the hosts who turned the match on its head in a 19-minute second-half blitz, with Hristo Stoichkov hitting a brace before Ion Andoni Goikoetxea added a third with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Due to the Bianconeri’s away goal, the visitors defended for their lives in the return clash at the Stadio delle Alpi, repelling attack after attack.

However, there was little Barcelona could do when Roberto Baggio curled home a trademark free-kick to give the Old Lady a lifeline on 61 minutes. But despite pouring forward for the final half hour, they were unable to bag that all-important second.

Champions League quarter-finals: Juventus 3-2 Barcelona (agg.), 2002/03 

The most recent meeting between the two European powerhouses, a Champions League last eight clash, came back in April 2003.

During the first leg at the Stadio delle Alpi, Paolo Montero had put Marcello Lippi’s charges a goal to the good before Javier Saviola’s strike ensured it was advantage Barcelona for the return encounter a week later.

Determined to cancel out the away goal, Juventus went in front on 53 minutes through Pavel Nedved. But Xavi, who is in line to make his last Barcelona appearance this weekend, equalised to send the game into extra-time.

With penalties looming, Marcelo Zalayeta stooped to head in Alessandro Birindelli’s cross and send the travelling faithful wild as the Bianconeri secured a semi-final showdown against Real Madrid.

By Anna Italia
Follow me in Twitter @ItalianSerieA,
Facebook: Anna Italia Page

Champions League build up.   Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri not only believing in the dream to win the Champions League, but also encouraging fans to believe.     Come on Juventus, forza let’s win the 2014 – 2015 Champions League and defeat Barcelona in the Champions League Final on Saturday 6 June 2015 at Olympiastadion and end the season in glory after winning the Scudetto and Coppa Italia.

Here are the declarations of Allegri to the media at the Juventus Stadium on 1 June 2015:  

“Everyone dreams of preparing for a game like this. It’s been an extraordinary season that will go down in history, winning the Champions League would make it even better”

  Juventus – Barcelona 

Allegri adding, “Preparing for a game like this is enjoyable. Everyone dreams of doing so and I consider myself very fortunate to coach players who have brought great joy over these past four years. It’s been an extraordinary season that will go down in history, and winning the Champions League would make it even better.”

Juventus’ route to the final saw holders Real Madrid dispatched at the semi-final stage and Allegri claims the test against Los Galacticos will serve his men in good stead for handling the likes of Lionel Messi at the Olympiastadion.

“The meeting with Real was a useful test for us, enabling us to pit our wits against top quality players, as we’ll be doing when we face Barcelona. It will be even tougher in Berlin, but it’s a one-off game and that perhaps represents a slight advantage for us.”

“We need to appreciate that we’ll be in for some difficult spells but also moments that go in our favour. We’re not travelling to Berlin to make up the numbers. It’s the final and taking on the world’s best players is something that’s perfectly normal, but this shouldn’t make us anxious as we have great character.”

Character will be teamed with a compact tactical approach in Germany and the Tuscan revealed his pre-match preparations are covering all bases, including a penalty shootout scenario in the event of the scores remaining tied at 120 minutes.

“We need to stay compact and keep it tight. They possess great quality, but so do we. We’ll prepare for every eventuality, including penalties, but I don’t think it will go to spot kicks.”