Barcelona beats Juventus 3-1 in Champions League final

Published June 7, 2015
Luis Suarez celebrates scoring the second goal for Barcelona. — Reuters
Luis Suarez celebrates scoring the second goal for Barcelona. — Reuters
Barcelona players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Champions League final. — Reuters
Barcelona players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Champions League final. — Reuters
Barcelona's Jordi Alba celebrates with the trophy and team mates after winning the UEFA Champions League. — Reuters
Barcelona's Jordi Alba celebrates with the trophy and team mates after winning the UEFA Champions League. — Reuters
Barcelona's Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez celebrates with the trophy after the UEFA Champions League Final football match between Juventus and FC Barcelona at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on June 6, 2015. FC Barcelona won the match 1-3.— AFP
Barcelona's Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez celebrates with the trophy after the UEFA Champions League Final football match between Juventus and FC Barcelona at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on June 6, 2015. FC Barcelona won the match 1-3.— AFP
Barcelona players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Champions League final. — Reuters
Barcelona players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Champions League final. — Reuters

BERLIN: Barcelona won the Champions League for the fourth time in a decade on Saturday, with Luis Suarez grabbing the crucial goal in a 3-1 victory over Juventus at the end of a season that began with the Uruguay striker serving a ban for biting.

The $110-million recruit from Liverpool scored Barcelona's second in the 68th minute after Lionel Messi's shot was palmed away by goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Neymar had a goal disallowed for handball but, with the final going into a seventh minute of stoppage time, the Brazil striker found time to score again.

This time it counted. Ivan Rakitic had sent Barcelona into a fourth-minute lead, but the Spanish champions failed to build on their early dominance before Juventus leveled 10 minutes into the second half through Alvaro Morata.

Juventus, though, couldn't prevent Barcelona from collecting the European Cup for the fifth time as the formidable Messi-Neymar-Suarez front three took their goal tally to 122 this season.

Lionel Messi kisses the trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League. — Reuters
Lionel Messi kisses the trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League. — Reuters

The triumph comes after four years without success in European competition and ensures both coach Luis Enrique and Suarez end their first season with the club with a treble.

Juventus initially looked like it could cause an upset against the most dominant team in Europe in the modern era. Assertive from kick off, Juventus made Barcelona look anxious initially.

It didn't last long, just four minutes, in fact. In a move that involved all 10 outfield players touching the ball, starting with Jordi Alba's throw in, Barcelona took the lead. So often the provider of goals, Messi delivered a precise cross-field pass in the goalward advance.

It landed at the feet of Jordi Alba, who played in Neymar and the ball was then slipped through to Andres Iniesta. With a flick, Iniesta squared for Rakitic to power into the net from close range past Buffon.

The expectation was that Barcelona would take a stranglehold on the final. Had it not been for Buffon's stretching save at the start of the second half to deny Suarez, Juventus would have been two behind. Messi, for once, also couldn't find the target after a one-two with Suarez.

It proved costly. A back-heel from Claudio Marchisio began the move that led to Juve's equalizer.

An initial shot from Carlos Tevez was parried by Marc-Andre ter Stegen. But Morata, who scored in both legs of the semifinal against former club Real Madrid, sent the follow-up into the net with ease.

Juve didn't use the opportunity to swing the final in its favor, and Barca was back in front 13 minutes later after launching an electrifying counterattack.

Within five minutes of Suarez's goal, Barca was celebrating again, but the joy was short-lived.

Neymar was spotted to have headed the ball onto his arm before it went past Buffon.

But Neymar did have the final say in this final with the late, late goal.

Opinion

Who bears the cost?

Who bears the cost?

This small window of low inflation should compel a rethink of how the authorities and employers understand the average household’s

Editorial

Internet restrictions
23 Dec, 2024

Internet restrictions

JUST how much longer does the government plan on throttling the internet is a question up in the air right now....
Bangladesh reset
23 Dec, 2024

Bangladesh reset

THE vibes were positive during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent meeting with Bangladesh interim leader Dr...
Leaving home
23 Dec, 2024

Leaving home

FROM asylum seekers to economic migrants, the continuing exodus from Pakistan shows mass disillusionment with the...
Military convictions
Updated 22 Dec, 2024

Military convictions

Pakistan’s democracy, still finding its feet, cannot afford such compromises on core democratic values.
Need for talks
22 Dec, 2024

Need for talks

FOR a long time now, the country has been in the grip of relentless political uncertainty, featuring the...
Vulnerable vaccinators
22 Dec, 2024

Vulnerable vaccinators

THE campaign to eradicate polio from Pakistan cannot succeed unless the safety of vaccinators and security personnel...