Barcelona produced a 3-1 victory over Italian giants Juventus in Saturday night’s Champions League final and claimed their fifth European Cup.
The Catalan outfit enjoyed a dream start taking the lead after just four minutes with a superb team move.
Neymar flicked the ball into Andres Iniesta, who found central midfield partner Ivan Rakitic and the Croatian fired past Gianluigi Buffon in the Juventus goal.
The Spanish champions came close to doubling their lead when a Neymar effort went narrowly over the bar.
The Spaniards were in control and on 13 minutes again had a strike on goal, Buffon producing a superb saved from Dani Alves’ side-footed effort from inside the penalty area.
Towards the end of the half the Italian side grew into the game as an attacking force. Alvaro Morata curled a shot past the far post, while Claudio Marchisio hit an effort over the bar.
Suarez came close to doubling Barcelona’s advantage on the stroke of half-time. The Uruguayan saw a powerful effort well saved by Buffon in the Juventus goal. The Italian champions were back on level terms rather against the run of play on 55 minutes.
Juve’s goal was another good team move. Marchisio back-heeled a superb pass to Stephan Lichtsteiner who strode down the right flank and pulled a cross back to Carlos Tevez in the penalty area.
The Argentinian’s effort was well parried by Marc-Andre ter Stegen, but striker Alvaro Morata was on hand to score from close-range with the rebound.
Juventus then looked the more likely to get a second goal as the momentum was with them. Tevez shot over the bar with an effort from the edge of the area, while midfielder Paul Pogba hit an effort straight into the grateful arms of Ter Stegen.
With the Italians looking more dangerous it was Barcelona who took the lead on 68 minutes. Lionel Messi picked-up the ball and drove at the Juventus defence, before seeing a shot parried by Buffon. However, Luis Suarez raced in ahead of Rakitic and fired home from close-range.
Barcelona thought they had scored a third soon afterwards. Jordi Alba’s cross found Neymar, whose header hit his hand before beating Buffon. The goal was ruled out as the third official behind the goal hand had spotted the infringement.
The Italians tried desperately to find an equaliser and Ter Stegen got down well to save a long-range effort from Marchisio in the dying moments of the game. However, it was Barcelona and that man Neymar who had the final word with the last kick of the game.
The Spanish giants hit Juventus on the break and Pedro teed-up the Brazilian to fire a powerful effort past Buffon and confirm Barcelona’s status as European champions.
Outgoing captain and legend Xavi lifted the trophy to make it a perfect end to his Barcelona career, after the midfielder had made a 15 minute cameo appearance for the Catalan giants.
Is this Barcelona side better than Pep Guardiola’s?
The best team won but Barcelona did ride their luck…. Their second goal came following a counter attack that took place after the referee mistakenly didn’t assign a penalty to Juventus…. Had the penalty been assigned Barcelona wouldn’t have scored their second goal in that instance and most probably Juventus would have taken the lead…. Unfortunately we’ll never know what would have happened if the referee took the right decision…