Barcelona vs Juventus: 5 Things You Should Know About 2015 Champions League Final
The 2015 Champions League is coming to a close. Only Barcelona and Juventus remain for the chance to called "best soccer club in Europe." While these two elite clubs will not face off until June 6, soccer fans are waiting anxiously.
Here are five things you should know about the upcoming finals.
1. Lionel Messi Going For 4-0
Everyone knows Lionel Messi is one of the greatest soccer players of all-time. He hasn't been able to win a FIFA World Cup or even a Copa America yet, but Messi has won three Champions League tournaments. Those three victories came in 2006 against Arsenal, and 2009 and 2011, both of which were against Manchester United. Before Messi arrived at Barcelona, they were just 1-3 in the finals. This will be the first time Messi faces a non-English Premier League team in the finals.
2. Italy-Spain finals
Italy and Spain easily represent two of the biggest and best soccer nations of all-time. Italy has won a total of 12 Champions League titles with AC Milan leading the way with seven of those. As for Spain, they have the most Champions League wins ever with 14 much thanks to Real Madrid's 10 victories. The last time Italy and Spain collided in the finals was in 1998 when Real Madrid defeated Juventus, 1-0. This will be the first time that Barcelona and Juventus face off for the championship.
3. Giorgio Chiellini and Luis Suarez Meet Again
It wasn't the most pretty moment of the 2014 FIFA World. In a Group D game between Italy and Uruguay, Luis Suarez appeared to bite Italy's Giorgio Chiellini. Suarez was banned for the remainder of the World Cup as bite marks were shown on Chiellini's shoulder. Chiellini currently plays for Juventus while Suarez is a member of Barcelona. Suarez has been one of the hottest players in of all of La Liga over the last two months, so it's important that he focus on winning. You can bet officials will be watching these two players very closely.
4. Messi Chasing Scoring Record
Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will forever be compared. Messi isn't just chasing his fourth career Champions League title, he's also trying to break the record for most Champions League goals of all-time. Messi and Ronaldo are currently tied for the most Champions League goals in soccer history with 77. What better time to break a goal record than in the biggest European soccer game of the year? If Messi can score at least one goal against Juventus, he would have more goals than Ronaldo despite playing in 16 less Champions League games.
5. King of Spain, and Europe
Barcelona is currently in first place in the Spanish Premier League with just two games remaining. Unless an incredible miracle takes place, they will win La Liga. To win La Liga and the Champions League in the same season is a great team accomplishment. Wrap your minds around this. Only four times since 1959 has a team won both La Liga and the Champions League in the same season: Barcelona in 2011, Barcelona in 2009, Barcelona in 2006 and Barcelona in 1992. Incredibly, all four years that Barcelona has won the Champions League, they have also won La Liga. Real Madrid last accomplished the feat in 1958.