Barcelona lift fifth Champions League title

Firstclass newsline learnt that Barcelona claimed their third
Champions League in six years as the brilliance of their attacking
trident proved too much for the brave challenge of Juventus in
Berlin's Olympic Stadium on Saturday,British Broadcasting
Corporationreports.
It was Barca's fifth Champions League win overall.
In a thrilling spectacle, and with both Barcelona and Juventus
attempting to claim a treble after winning domestic league and cup
competitions, it was Luis Enrique's side that eventually came out on
top.
Barcelona started as if they would romp to a comfortable victory when
Ivan Rakitic capped the sort of passing move that has become their
symbol to put them ahead inside five minutes.
Juventus, always a danger after ending notions of an "El Clasico"
final by beating Real Madrid in the last four, showed fierce
resilience and with veteran keeper Gianluigi Buffon defiant, held on
for Alvaro Morata to scramble an equaliser before the hour.
Redemption time arrived for Suarez, the player who ended last summer's
World Cup in disgrace after biting Italy's Juventus defender Giorgio
Chiellini, in the 68th minute when he showed a predator's touch to
pounce after Buffon failed to hold Lionel Messi's shot.
Juventus could not mount another recovery and Brazil superstar Neymar
wrapped up the win in what he described as the biggest match of his
life with the final kick of the game.
For all Barcelona's brilliance, built around Neymar, Messi and Suarez,
Juventus ran them every inch of a compelling encounter and were left
with a hard luck story to tell as they were convinced they should have
had a penalty when Paul Pogba tangled with Dani Alves seconds before
Suarez scored.
In the end, however, Barcelona simply had that extra touch of fantasy
that places them above the rest of Europe and Enrique's side can put
their names alongside those who brought the giant trophy back to
Catalonia as they claimed their fifth triumph in the tournament.
As well as Suarez's happier storyline, there were other sub-plots too
as Neymar made up for his own World Cup heartbreak last summer, when
he was injured before their 7-1 loss to Germany in the semi-final.
And for 35-year-old Barcelona legend Xavi, he was able to say farewell
after a glittering career with another Champions League win before a
move to Al Sadd in Qatar. It was the perfect ending as Andres Iniesta
handed him the armband.
This was a wonderful antidote to the sour taste left after a week of
corruption allegations levelled at Fifa, the world game's governing
body.
Firstclassnewsline.net