The time has come for Barcelona and Juventus to do battle at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, with the 2014-15 Champions League trophy up for grabs.
Barca line up with European goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen between the sticks, Jordi Alba and Dani Alves at left-back and right-back respectively and Gerard Pique partnering Javier Mascherano in central defence.
In midfield, Andres Iniesta has shaken off fitness concerns to appear alongside Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic, while the most feared attacking trident in world football – the MSN – will be looking to fire the side to glory.
However, Xavi Hernandez will have to make do with a substitute’s appearance at best, in what would be his last game in a Barca jersey before heading for Qatar this summer.
Juve, on the other hand, were dealt a pre-match blow with the loss of defensive stalwart Giorgio Chiellini, and his replacement Andrea Barzagli has also struggled with injury problems of late.
Nonetheless, it’s business as usual elsewhere, with Massimiliano Allegri keeping faith in his 4-3-1-2 formation, as opposed to 3-5-2, which begins with Gianluigi Buffon in goal.
Patrice Evra starts at left-back, Stephan Lichtsteiner at right-back, while Leonardo Bonucci joins up with Barzagli at the heart of the Old Lady’s back four.
Moving further forward, Juve’s acclaimed midfield trio of Claudio Marchisio, Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba line up together, while Carlos Tevez partners Real Madrid’s nemesis and former player Alvaro Morata.
Both clubs are vying for the treble this evening, with La Blaugrana searching for their fifth European cup and Juve their third, although they have lost their last three finals on the bounce.
Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir will be entrusted with overseeing proceedings in the German capital.
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Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci, Evra; Marchisio, Pirlo, Pogba; Vidal; Tevez, Morata
Subs: Storari, Ogbonna, Padoin, Sturaro, Pereyra, Coman, Llorente
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Neymar
Subs: Bravo, Bartra, Mathieu, Adriano, Xavi, Rafinha, Pedro
Referee: Cakir [TUR]
