The game started quickly in terms of attacking. Juve pressured Barca hard and it forced Mascherano into an early error that gave the Italian giants a corner. But Juve's quick start was short lived: Rakitic put the ball into Gigi Buffon's net after a good run of passing started by Neymar. Announcers tried to pin this goal on Pirlo but it was not him who missed his runner. I think it was Vidal (but do not know) who let Iniesta run into a position where he could slide it over to the waiting Croatian. Vidal received a quick yellow after Barcelona's goal and he got crazier as the first half went along; he was asking for a second yellow. After this shocking goal in the fourth minute, causing a huge swerve of momentum, Juve needed to get back in the match quick or else it might've turned into a real wopping! Luckily they did not give up and they kept pushing on. After Vidal finally settled down he showed his Chilean appetite for the game that Alexis Sanchez has showed for Arsenal all year. If those two got a chance to play with each other in North London next season that would be amazing for all Arsenal fans.
The game went back and forth in the first half with both teams earning a chance every so often. The teams went into the locker rooms at half with Barca in the lead 1-0. Juventus came out firing in the second half! Pogba lit up the midfield and played a wonderful game, Tevez seemed to be everywhere up top, and Juve's excellent midfield was moving the ball around nicely. Runs were made by Evra and Lichtsteiner up the wings really giving Barcelona fits. The Juve goal came off a wonderful back heel by Marchisio that sent the ball into the path of the oncoming swiss right back Lichtsteiner who took a few dribbles and sent the ball along the ground to Carlos Tevez. Tevez spun and took a shot that deflected off Barca's keeper that fell to the waiting Morata who slotted it home! Morata has loved scoring of late especially against Spanish super clubs. This tied the game and now the Italian giants looked like they would score another! Barca's big three had different ideas. Lionel Messi, who didn't have a giant game today (he shies away in big games sometimes *cough cough World Cup Final*) dribbled past a few of Juve's players and fired a shot at Buffon's goal. Buffon parried it away but Luis Suarez ran onto the ball and put it into the back of Juventus' net. Buffon had an excellent game and this shot was hard to parry out of danger. I don't blame Buffon for this goal, I blame the defenders who couldn't shut down Messi on the initial shot.
After this goal Juventus tried everything they could to tie the match up again, but after a couple of missed oppurtunites and a giant penalty shout by Paul Pogba it just wasn't going to happen for Juve. In stoppage time Barcelona tacked on another one by way of Neymar, but really the game was much closer than 3-1. The ref didn't seem to have the best game to me, he called a lot of fouls that shouldn't have been fouls and he let fouls go that should've been called. I'm not blaming Juve's loss on the ref but he certainly didn't do them any favors. Juventus looked very good attacking but had a few questionable moments in the back. They missed Chiellini just as much as Suarez did. If Chiellini would have been there the Serie A champions might have been more solid defensively and Suarez might've gotten a snack.
In the early parts of the game when Messi tried to put skill moves on Pirlo they didn't work out very well for the Argentine. I just had to point that out because I love Pirlo and Messi isn't exactly my favorite player out there. After the match Pirlo and Xavi shared a "touching" moment by sharing a hug and exchanging a few words. It was definitely Xavi's last match for his club and possibly Pirlo's. It would be nice if Pirlo made his way over to the states to have a go in the MLS.
Overall it was an entertaining final and it was a good ending match to Europe's club season. As we football fans go into the summer period we still have Euro qualifying and the women's world cup to look forward too It's been a great club football season.
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