SOME FACTS ABOUT THE GAME
1. Juventus star, Arturo Vidal is the first Chilean to play in the UEFA Champions League Final.
2. Xavi became the first player to make 150 UEFA Champions League appearances when he featured as a substitute in the semi-final second leg against Bayern.
3. This is Juventus’ eighth European Cup final. Their record is Win: 2 Loss: 5
4. This is also Barcelona’s eight European Cup final and their record is Win: 4 Loss:3
5. Juventus has played in four UEFA Cup finals – winning three (1977, 1990, 1993) and losing one (1995) – as well as the 1984 European Cup Winners’ Cup final, which they won.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
1. Juventus edged past Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate when the clubs met in the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. After a 1-1 draw in Turin, Marcelo Zalayeta’s 114th-minute goal secured victory for Juve at the Camp Nou after Xavi had equalized a Pavel Nedvěd strike.
2. Luis Enrique played alongside Xavi in both of those ties, captaining Barcelona in the second leg.
3. Barcelona ended Juventus’ European Cup defence in the 1985/86 quarter-finals, winning 1-0 in Spain before a 1-1 draw in Turin where Michel Platini got the Bianconeri’s goal.
4. Five years later, Barcelona came out on top in the sides’ 1990/91 European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final, winning 3-1 at home before a 1-0 defeat in Italy.
About the Writer: Ajayi Akeem is an Administrator, Data manager, Social Media Person. He’s currently the Director of Splendy Mobile Biz and HOD Data Department Connect Nigeria. Email: hakumss2011(at)gmail.com, Twitter: @AkeemAjayi
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