And then there were two.
After months of preliminary qualifying, a gruelling group stage and a dramatic knockout round, we’re down to the final of the 2014-15 UEFA Champions League: Juventus faces Barcelona in Berlin, the first final in 17 years that pits the Italian and Spanish league champions against each other.
Here are five interesting storylines to keep in mind ahead of Saturday’s game.
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The Treble
Both Juventus and Barcelona are on the cusp of completing historic campaigns. Juve has already won the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia. Barca has claimed the La Liga crown and the Copa del Rey. Only one can win the treble. A Champions League final victory would put them in exclusive company, as only seven teams have previously won their league and domestic cup competition, and the European championship in the same year: Celtic (1966-67), Ajax (1971-72), PSV Eindhoven (1987-88), Manchester United (1998-99), Barcelona (2008-09), Inter Milan (2009-10) and Bayern Munich (2012-13).
Can Juve stop Messi?
That’s the question most pundits and fans are asking. The mercurial Argentine is the key man for Barca, and common sense dictates that if the Italians can shut him down then they have a good shot at winning. If only it were that simple, though. Lest we forget that Luis Suarez and Neymar are attacking forces; if Juve concentrate solely on Messi, it could open up space for his two teammates to exploit. All that being said, Messi must be stopped, but history shows that’s easier said than done—he’s already scored in two previous finals for Barcelona, in 2009 and 2011. If he finds the back of the net on Saturday, he’ll become the first player to score in three finals since the beginning of the Champions League era in 1993—Alfredo Di Stefano scored in five straight European Cups from 1956 to 1960.
Xavi says goodbye
Xavi Hernandez made his competitive debut for Barcelona at age 18, scoring against Mallorca in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup. That was on Aug. 18, 1998. In the ensuing 17 years, Xavi established himself as a Barcelona icon, one of the best (if not THE best) Spaniard ever to play for the team, and a world-class midfielder, exuding grace and elegance with his passing ability and calm on the ball. But now he’s set to leave his beloved Barca, and join Qatari club Al Sadd at the end of the season. Win, lose or draw, Saturday’s final will be his last game for the only team he’s ever known, marking an end to a truly remarkable era for the Catalan club.
Buffon the last holdover
It’s been 12 years since Juventus previously contested the UEFA Champions League final, losing to AC Milan in a penalty shootout at Old Trafford. A key figure for the bianconeri in 2012-13 was goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who just happens to be the only remaining player from that Juventus squad. Three years after that loss, Buffon helped Italy win the World Cup. In the aftermath, Juventus was relegated to Serie B as part of the Calciopoli scandal. Buffon could have left Juventus—a lot of star players did, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Patrick Vieira and Fabio Cannavaro. Buffon was among those who stayed and helped Juve regain promotion at the first time of asking. Buffon’s loyalty is unquestionable. He has yet to win a Champions League title. Wouldn’t it be great if he did?
Evra vs. Suarez
Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini has been ruled out of the final because of a calf tear, which means he won’t get a chance of face Luis Suarez again—you might remember how the Uruguayan took a bite out of the Italian international at last summer’s World Cup. But Suarez will renew acquaintances with Patrice Evra, the French defender who in 2011 when playing for Manchester United was racially abused during a game by Suarez, then a member of Liverpool. When United and Liverpool faced off again four months later, Suarez snubbed Evra during the traditional pre-game handshake between the teams, leading to more ugliness on and off the pitch. Will tensions boil over again in Berlin?
