- Title: SOCCER-CHAMPIONS/BARCELONA NEWSER Barcelona wary of Juve dangers
- Date: 5th June 2015
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (JUNE 5, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BARCELONA DEFENDER GERARD PIQUE AND FORWARD NEYMAR JR. ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCELONA DEFENDER, GERARD PIQUE, SAYING: "Well tomorrow I think we will have the ball and more control, but even though they're an Italian team they really want to play with the ball, they
- Embargoed: 20th June 2015 13:00
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- Location: Germany
- Country: Germany
- Topics: General
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- Story Text: Barcelona are anticipating a tough Champions League final against Juventus in Berlin on Saturday night (June 6).
Barca are on a high after they wrapped up the La Liga title and King's Cup last month and now stand on the verge of repeating their historic treble from 2009.
The Catalan giants are favourites to triumph at the Olympic Stadium but Juve showed what they are capable of by dispatching Barca's rivals and holders Real Madrid in the semi-finals.
Sitting alongside Brazilian striker Neymar, defender Gerard Pique told a news conference on Friday (June 5): "I think we will have the ball and more control, but even though they're an Italian team they really want to play with the ball, they showed that in Bernabeu, a very difficult stadium - they went out under pressure in that particular stadium, so they will do the same thing tomorrow.
"But we're ready for that - we'll be pressing as we usually do, we'll try to steal the ball and keep it as high as we can and we'll play possession and we'll try to make chances. We like to have a lot of possession although we've enjoyed counter-strikes this year as well, that gives us further strength, and I'm really looking forward to the ball starting to roll."
"I think that we have to focus on this game, keep playing like we played during all the season and if we do the same I think that we have a lot of chances to win."
Neymar, one of the Barcelona striking trio which has netted 120 goals this season, revealed he has faced Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon many time - on a gaming screen.
"Juventus are a great team and we know that it is going to be a difficult final, very difficult. Buffon is a great goalkeeper in the history of football. He has been with me since childhood when I used to play against him on the playstation."
Barca coach Luis Enrique outlined his side's aims.
"We have to dominate offensive play and defensive play. We want to play our match, the match that we are interested in. We want to have the ball, we want to generate danger through all our possibilities and we want to minimise any opportunities for our opponent," said Enrique.
"This match is going to be one where we have more possession of the ball than our opponent. We hope to spend more time in the opponent's half of the field. I believe that we have to play at a very high level."
"It is going to be a difficult match, I'm sure our opponents will play their own game to create situations and I don't think there'll be a clash of styles because Juve has a very similar style to ours - they also need to have the ball to be able to play their style. It's also true that they're very good in defence in their part of the pitch."
"They have a lot of resources and that is why this team is in the same circumstances as we are - they have the treble very close. So we will have to see what happens."
Enrique, who is in his first season in charge at the Nou Camp, said midfielder Andres Iniesta should be fit for Saturday's match after an injury scare this week.
Spain midfielder Iniesta will be expected to help unlock a stubborn defence, though Juve's chances have been hit by an injury that has ruled out influential centre back Giorgio Chiellini.
Like Barcelona, Juve have already won the domestic league and Cup double this season. They will be appearing in their eighth European Cup final and are chasing a third triumph.
Barca have also played in seven finals, winning four, and are bidding for their third triumph in seven years in Europe's elite club competition. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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