How Barcelona won the Champions League

Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano tells ITV Sport: "In the season we had some difficult moments we had to pass but we did it. We kept working and today we can celebrate.

"Luis (Suarez) came here for this. He's a great player with a positive mentality. He's a top player and a really good person so I am really happy for him."

Luis Enrique: "After all these games, I'd just like to thank everyone who put their trust in me"

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany: They were better then us when they beat us. We knew they were better then everybody else too. They've raised the bar again. Congrats Barca.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given: Best team won #FCBarcelona #ChampionsLeagueFinal. Congrats to them.

Jack Wilshere: Two absolute legends leaving European football today, As a young player growing up and looking up to both of them it's sad to see them go. Congrats to both Xavi and Pirlo! Both still heroes of mine and privileged to have played against both!

There's plenty of selfies being taken by the Barcelona players.

Standing with the Champions League trophy and next to your mates Lionel and Neymar is the daddy of all selfies. Surely.

Xavi is carried around the pitch on the shoulders of his team-mates, with the matchball safely tucked underneath his shirt. He's not letting that out of his sight.

Steve has been at a house party in Turin this evening, where Juventus fans have been going through every emotion.

"All smiles after the final whistle. General consensus is bright days ahead for Juventus.".

Steve CrossmanCopyright: Steve Crossman

And Steve even managed to get in this picture (second from the left). Great work.

Lionel Messi did most of his work on the right so, as these attacking thirds show, Barcelona are more than a one-man team. We kind of knew that anyway, I suppose.

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Barcelona striker Luis Suarez: "It's incredible, it's something unique. To win these trophies you have to suffer.

"I think after the equaliser they pushed on a little more, but we have players who made the difference. We have gone from game-to-game and achieved all our objectives.

"The best thing about this side is the spirit and the fact we've been united since the start of the season."

Steve has been at a house party in Turin this evening, where Juventus fans have been going through every emotion.

"Fair play to Juve, amazing effort. Fans here applauding at full time. Allegri has done something amazing this season."

Steve CrossmanCopyright: Steve Crossman

This is how it feels to win the world's biggest club competition.

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So Pique's cutting down the net while the rest of his team-mates celebrate. What's the strangest souvenir you've ever bagged yourself?

"Luis Enrique is arm in arm with departing Barcelona legend Xavi as he celebrated his final performance with a Champions League win. This is a positively conventional celebration compared to Gerard Pique cutting the goal net away to keep as a souvenir and Luis Suarez on his mobile phone. Different era this."

Sepp Blatter: Congratulations @FCBarcelona on winning the #UCLfinal 3-1 in Berlin, qualifying again for FIFA Club World Cup in Japan, in December.

Neymar looks like he'll be celebrating harder than most this evening as he wraps a Rambo-style bandana round his head and excitably chases Lionel Messi for a piggyback.

I wonder if Pique can persuade Shakira to do a spot of cabaret at the Barca party?

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"A brilliant end to Xavi's career, the pinnacle of world football. The best moments of your life, the best days of your life, you can't recreate these moments in your life."

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Uefa president Michel Platini leads Xavi to the podium, trophy in hand, and hands it over to the departing maestro. Cue tickertape, music and general joviality.

Barca are good. They're very good. They're champions. Make it a treble.

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The Barca players take the advice of House of Pain and 'jump around'.

Those who have collected their medals wait patiently to lift the glittering trophy.

Barcelona FC: Rakitic: "That has to be the most important goal of my career"

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Luis Enrique leads Barcelona to collect the trophy. Lionel Messi might be the greatest player ever to grace this earth - depending on your viewpoint, of course - but he still looks like a humble, excitable schoolboy as he steps up to collect his prize.

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Remember, the football doesn't stop once this game is finished. Far from it. Once we've wrapped you can head straight on over to our live text coverage of the opening game of the Women's World Cup between hosts Canada and China in Edmonton - a game that kicks off a month of live action from the event on the BBC. You can double-screen tonight's game on BBC Three.

Barcelona FC: Suárez: "When you come to a Club like Barça, you know you are here to win. It's a dream come true."

Barcelona line up to clap Juventus on their way to picking up runners-up medals from Michel Platini. They played their part tonight.

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Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen on ITV: "I can't explain what happened today but I'm really happy for the team. We did a good season. We knew that Juventus would come back but we always have to continue like this. We're treble winners, it's awesome."

Sean Harrison: Well on balance, I'd say Suarez probably made the right decision in leaving us last year #LFC

Ben Dunbar: Thomas Vermaelen: 5 seasons at Arsenal = 1 trophy; 63 minutes at Barcelona = 3 trophies

John Roberts: Anyone else finding it hard to take Barça's coaching staff seriously when they're all wearing double denim?

"This is exactly why Luis Suarez left Liverpool and vindicates his decision. They are up to the levels of Pep Guardiola's Barcelona side from four-five years ago."

Like heavyweight boxers who have knocked 10 bells out of each other all night, the two teams congratulate/commiserate with each other. Lots of respect between the two European giants.

Juventus have lost the CL/European Cup final six times, more than any other club.

You have to feel their pain.

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I get the feeling Barcelona's Twitter feed had this one ready prepared...

"Juventus went toe to toe with Barcelona. They stayed in the game and fought hard in the second half, they were undone by the better side.

"This, as a spectacle, is the best Champions League final I have been involved in.

"There is a little bit of a gap opening up at the top of European football and Barcelona are at the top of it."

How good is this Barcelona side? One of the best ever?

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Barcelona celebrate to a man: Sergio Busquets and Dani Alves capturing the attention with some sort of duelling bulls celebration. Meanwhile, the tears stream down Andrea Pirlo's face.

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"We have seen a masterclass from Barcelona tonight. That goal from Neymar typifies what they are about, so devastating on the counter-attack. It is up to the rest of Europe now to catch them up.

"Rest of Europe need to find a front three as good as Barcelona's's. They have without doubt, the best front three in the world."

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After a week of the ugliest side of football imaginable, the beautiful game reemerges. Congratulations Barça. Well played Juve.

There's not even enough time to kick off again. Game over.

Get yourself to Catalunya or Berlin if you want to party tonight.

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"It's been a wonderful final. Juventus have played their part."

Twenty seconds left and the Barca fans chant 'campeones'...

"Who can beat Barcelona these days? They're back to their best. The front three are sensational."

Barca charge forward and win a corner. Nearly there now. Even the greats of the game like to run down the clock by the flag.

Josh Brigham: Five minutes away from an unprecedented treble. Stepping away from the shadow of Pep, Luis Enrique is about to embrace immortality.

I'm reliably informed that there have been late goals in the last three Champions League finals. Time for the sting in the tail?

TEVEZ... a curling shot with his right foot is bent towards goal... but it's straight at the keeper.

Five minutes added on as Lionel Messi scampers through on goal but the ball is acrobatically cleared by Leonardo Bonucci.

Alistair Wiseman: Barca players are a cross between titans and the titanic. They play fantastically but they go down far far too easily!

Lord Bushrod: Once again Barcelona have shown they're the best team in Europe at falling over.

Joel McInally: How come people are complaining that Barca's goal should have stood but not about the blatant penalty Juventus didn't get?

Carlos Tevez tries his luck from 35 yards out and the ball takes a bobble before being tipped wide.

The world winces as one - replays showing Luis Suarez crumple under his own weight when landing awkwardly. He looks in trouble, then decides to run it off.

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The streets of Barcelona are lined with smiling football fans... at the moment anyway.

"It's kitchen-sink time for Juventus. They've got to gamble now. I'd think about pushing Pogba a bit more central."

Luis Suarez drags a shot wide, just as Juventus bring on Spanish striker Fernando Llorente for compatriot Alvaro Morata.

"I'm old enough to have seen Maradona play. He was a brilliant player, no question, but Messi tops him."

"Juventus still nursing a sense of injustice - they felt they should have had a penalty when Paul Pogba was wrestled down by Dani Alves moments before Luis Suarez scored. What a fight they have put up, though, in the face of Barcelona's brilliance. Last 10. Will there be a late twist?"

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Do it for Shakira. Do it for Shakira. The ball is in the air for an age and Gerard Pique watches it onto his foot... but blazes over from eight yards out. High and humble.

"There's time left in the game. I think it's too early for Juventus to gamble and leave themselves open at the back."

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Luis Suarez has had a hand in 15 goals in his last eight games with Barcelona all competitions (8 goals, 7 assists).

"I was lucky enough to play against Xavi in youth football and you could see the quality that he had even then. He's had a fantastic career, he's done it with class, and this is a fitting end."

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Here comes a giant of our time. In a Barcelona shirt for the last time, Xavi fittingly replaces his fellow pass-master Andres Iniesta, who hands over the captain's armband in ceremonial fashion on the touchline.

Former Burnley and Reading winger Glen Little: You can't give handball for that.

Barcelona FC: Neymar goal ruled out for what looked to be an involuntary hand ball.

Paddy Emmerson: It has to be intentional handball. If they disallow the goal then under the rules he should've been booked. Poor decision.

While the crowd does some kind of 'We will rock you' stamp and clap, Barca line up a free-kick but it's not troubling the keeper from Lionel Messi.

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"I've just taken an entirely neutral poll and 100% of people think it was handball."

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If you're just joining us, Steve is at a house party in Turin this evening.

The keepers are all over the place at the moment - Barca's Marc-Andre ter Stegen flapping at a cross and raising the heart-rate of every watching Catalan.

"Aaaaaaaand we're back to square one."

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AP McCoy: Brilliant from Messi & Suarez

When that second goal went in, it was Luis Enrique's Sir Alex and Brian Kidd moment. He danced onto the pitch in sheer delight. More importantly, however... why isn't he wearing any socks?

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"Don't tell me a goal-line official has actually made a decision! I think that's very harsh. There was no intent to handle the ball"

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What's going on here then? Neymar has the ball in the back of the net but the referee is talking to his assistant... and he chalks off the goal because the header deflected in via the Brazilian's hand. Harsh? You decide.

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"The minute that Messi picked the ball up, there was only one thing on his mind: going for goal. It was a good save from Buffon, but when it fell to Suarez, he showed great technique."

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"Pogba's influence is growing in this second half. Alves isn't coping with his physical strength on the left-hand side. Bacelona can't get out now."

Paul Pogba punches the ground in anger as his penalty appeal is turned down. The Frenchman appeared to be dragged down by Dani Alves. Looks a penalty for me. The Old Lady has every right to be furious.

Alvaro Morata is the second player to score in both semi-final legs and the final in a single Champions League season after Arjen Robben for Bayern Munich in 2012-13.

This is surely one of the best Champions League finals of recent years. Maybe Juventus have been kidding us and have been playing rope-a-dope tactics all night. Now they suddenly seem to have a bit of momentum. Still got to fancy Barca though.

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House party latest...

"Joy. This is what it looks like."

Steve CrossmanCopyright: Steve Crossman

"I'm in awe of some of the football that we're seeing from Barcelona tonight. It's pass-and-move of the highest order, it's from another planet."

Andres Iniesta has us all drooling with a cute pass where he looks one way and slides the ball the other, Ronaldinho-style, but there's just too much on it and Luis Suarez is beaten to it by the keeper.

Matt Collingwood: For all of the attacking flair, this Barca side are awful at the back. The equaliser was always likely.

James Gallagher: Has the feel of the Murray vs Djokovic match earlier - good comeback but the final outcome is still predictable.

Belete Eshetea: Buffon really wanted to win this game and here is the fruit of his GREAT saves. Game on!

Great chance for Juve but Carlos Tevez gets under the ball and puts the bag of wind into the stand from the edge of the box.

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Andrea Pirlo's heat map hasn't changed much has it? The Juventus midfielder has still spent most of the match 'sitting' in front of the back four.

"It's anybody's game at the moment. Juventus have come back into it. They're making tackles, they're winning second balls, they're beginning to worry the Barcelona back four."

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Brazilian Mario Jardel in 99/00, Pavel Nedved and Nigerian midfielder James Obiorah (both in 02/03) are the other three.

"I look at this game tonight, and I think English clubs are nowhere near this level."

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It's all set up. 89th-minute penalty for Barcelona... Xavi steps up.

Pirlo plays a Pirlo pass - there's no other way to describe it - but a heavy touch from Paul Pogba ruins what could have been the perfect opportunity. He would have been in one on one with the keeper.

Just when it looked like Neymar could do no wrong.....

The striker's namesake - a three-year-old colt - won the 8.40 at Newcastle but that equaliser for Juventus from Alvaro Morata has suddenly put the win double in doubt.

It sounds like all of Turin is packed inside the Olympic Stadium now. Deafening. Game on, this time Alvaro Morata heading over.

"Morata has been a nuisance for Mascherano and Pique all night. He's caused them problems with his sheer physical presence."

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"Watching Barcelona in the last five minutes, they were just toying with Juventus. But it just shows you that Juventus can sting. It's a wonderful final."

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Mood has picked up at number 12 Via Montevecchio.

Juve have responded well and their supporters are on their feet again.

Barcelona are as slick as oil - one-touch passes all the way before Lionel Messi blazes over the bar. You get the impression they have another couple of gears if they need them.

"You don't get a sense of the size of Buffon when you watch on TV. He's huge, and he's got such presence. He's the heartbeat of this Juve team."

Andrea Pirlo stands over a free-kick 35 yards out, but his floaty delivery is headed behind by Pique.

The corner is cleared and Barcelona break - it's five on three, but Luis Suarez has his shot saved by Buffon at the near post.

Andres Iniesta slips seamlessly back into his role in midfield in which he dictates play like a master puppeteer. If he wasn't going grey, I'd question if he was human - rather like we do with Messi.

"What Juventus have got to do is stay in the match for as long as possible, take it to the last 10 minutes at 1-0, and then go for the throat."

Arturo Vidal has to be careful. The Juventus midfielder's tally of five fouls is one more than Barcelona made in the first half. He has been cautioned.

There were 15 fouls committed by Juventus in the first half - the most by any side before the break in the CL this season.

Another 45 minutes of footballing delight ahead of us. Maybe more?

It's gone dark in Germany now, but there's a hint of pink in the sky above the Olympic Stadium. Should be a nice day in the capital tomorrow, then.

David 'Bumble' Lloyd: Great footballers on view in the final ...anybody plucked up courage to tell some of them that their haircuts are quite ridiculous?

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I love this... the Barcelona team take the escalator down to pitchside. Bad escalator etiquette from Messi and Co though - they're congregating down both sides. Stand to your right, lads.

"Barcelona a joy but this has not been the carnage for Juventus that the early moments might have indicated. They have prevented Barcelona getting that second goal and are still fighting to somehow find a way in. Barcelona, in clusters of attacks, have looked scintillating."

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Josh Hammond: Busquets is a diver and play actor, and no matter how good at football he is, THAT is what he is known for, sorry Phil (Neville).

Kuntal Majumdar: For everything that he does, Busquets is the biggest unsung hero of the Barca machine. Legendary player by a mile.

Callum Johnstone: Suarez and Busquets are marking Pirlo out of the game. They're not taking the limelight by putting in one hell of a shift!

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

The football doesn't stop once this game is finished. Far from it. Once we've wrapped you can head straight on over to our live text coverage of the opening game of the Women's World Cup between hosts Canada and China in Edmonton - a game that kicks off a month of live action from the event on the BBC. You can double-screen tonight's game on BBC Three.

Watching Barcelona and Lionel Messi: what a time to be alive.

"Barcelona could have been three goals up after 15 minutes. It was a disastrous start for Juventus and a breathtaking opening from Barcelona. But Juventus actually bounced back really well, and they're right in it. Allegri will be happy at half-time."

A jinking, slaloming run into the box from Lionel Messi is the last action of a hugely-entertaining first half. The ball runs out of play and Juve run off for sanctuary when the whistle blows.

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Claudio Marchisio has got a sledgehammer of a shot on him and his latest rasper is saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

"Busquets is the unsung hero of Barcelona. He's the engine that makes everything tick. He never takes more than one or two touches, he just sits in there and lets the others play."

The average age of the Juve team is 30 years and 153 days. That's the second oldest for a Champions League final, behind the Milan side of 2007. Could age catch up with them in the second half? They've been chasing a lot of shadows in the first.

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Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo's heat map shows where his preferred 'zone' is...

You know the feeling. You've been given the runaround by the little fella for 40 minutes and he beats you again. Just bring him down to earth. Into the book, Mr Paul Pogba.

Mark Duffell: Are they having a 'who's got the worst Barnet' competition? Pogba, Neymar, Messi, Alves, Vidal clear leaders.

Former England spinner Graeme Swann: Well I think that the award for worst 'Barnet' in a Champions League final has been snapped up #vidal #horrorlid #diy. Vidal knows it too. Proper angry with his barber and taking it out on the Spaniards.

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Shane Daly: Going off topic for a second, but Pirlo has a great beard, my wife likes it a little too much. Guess who she wants to win?

You can't take your eyes off this match for a minute. This time Luis Suarez's daisy-cutter rolls across Buffon and almost nestles into the bottom corner. Then the ex-Liverpool striker ends the perfect team move with a powerful shot which is tipped over.

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The above graphic of the average position of each player so far shows Barcelona have been very much on the front foot.

They nearly do it again. Like with the first goal, Messi kicks things off on the right and the ball ends up with Iniesta in the box. He squares to Luis Suarez but the move breaks down. Juventus clearly haven't learned.

Ooohhh... Paul Pobga tumbles in the box under the challenge of Jordi Alba. Penalty? No. The Italians surround the ref, but he got it right according to the replays.

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"Juventus's fans are not giving up on this one. One small passage of possession sent a huge roar sweeping around their end of Berlin's Olympic Stadium. Coach Max Allegri is deep in discussion with his lieutenants - one subject might be how to solve the problem of the ridiculously hyped-up Arturo Vidal."

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Juve win a corner and four men stand on the edge of the box, waiting to time their run, drag their marker and head home. But it doesn't work out that way as a short corner is pressed back and ends with Carlos Tevez clipping the ball back to the keeper.

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Juventus are trying to impose themselves now and Patrice Evra gets free down the left and drills in a low ball which Gerard Pique cuts out.

You know that house party we mentioned earlier? The one with the miserable-looking Juventus fans... (see 20:10)

BBC Sport's Steve Crossman, who has crashed that party, will be speaking to some of those in attendance on BBC Radio 5 live at half-time. You can listen via the live coverage tab at the top of this page.

"What Juventus have done in the last ten minutes is just to draw little fouls and stop the rhythm of Barcelona. It's more stop-start, and that suits Juventus more."

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Jason Varga: Playing great football but still Barcelona dive all over the pitch. It's the reason despite everything many can't totally love them.

James Dale: Best team in the world showing it in the best club game in the world.

Abhishek: Pogba slowly becoming influential. Won't get a bigger stage than this to show his talents

Juventus coach Max Allegri is in deep discussions with his denim shirt-clad assistant manager.

"We just need to get about them more, boss."

"I'm not telling Arturo that."

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There is a lot of chat that this could be Dani Alves's last Barcelona match.

If it is, he is going out in style. The defender has had nine more touches than any other player so far - with a passing accuracy of 96%.

So far, it seems you know your stuff.

We asked what the outcome of tonight's game would be, and 62.2% of you said Barcelona would win in 90 minutes.

Thanks for voting.

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"Barcelona slow things down, they lull you into a false sense of security, and then bang, they get the ball in to the front three."

A poor defensive header from Patrice Evra lands at the feet of Neymar, but the Brazilian's shot is tame and easy for Buffon in the Juventus goal.

"Juventus are having their best period of the game. Pirlo is having a few more touches."

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Juventus are troubling Barcelona when they get about their man and Alvaro Morata forces a mistake which sees the ball run loose to Claudio Marchisio, whose incredibly powerful punt sails into the stands.

How's this for a stat?

Ivan Rakitic's opener was the first Barcelona goal from open play without a Messi, Suarez or Neymar goal/assist since February 28.

Barcelona / TwitterCopyright: Barcelona / Twitter

All 10 of Barcelona's outfield players touched the ball in the lead-up to the goal.

Another mis-placed pass lets in Juve and Alvaro Morata curls a shot just wide, under pressure from Jordi Alba. Close.

There was an excitable cacophony of noise inside the cavernous Olympic Stadium before Barca scored. Now it's a mixture of a nervous din from one end and expectant energy emanating from the other.

With Messi taking care of things on the right, Neymar is doing the same job on the left. Iniesta just patrols the middle of the park and switches play. Simple.

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I was invited to a little gathering to watch the game with Juve fans.

Safe to say the 'party' has been taken out of house party here.

Steve CrossmanCopyright: Steve Crossman

"The encouragement for Juventus is that every time the ball has gone up towards Morata or Tevez, they have caused Barcelona problems with their physical play."

Can somebody count how many Barcelona players are on the pitch? It looks like they've got 15 men out there.

However, their desire to commit men forward almost costs them when Paul Pogba breaks and plays the ball across the box before Javier Mascherano cuts the pass out with Carlos Tevez waiting to slide home.

Wale Ibraheem: Early goal for Barca... booom!! Game plan in the dust bin.

Behrang Rashidian: Vidal better calm down, the last thing Juve need is to get a player sent off Sassoon !

Lionel Messi is positioning himself on the right and drifting inside, pinging passes between the Juventus lines. The Italians look like they've been whacked round the chops by Anthony Joshua. Dazed. Confused. Can they go home?

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"After two early slips at the back, Barcelona have looked in rampant mood and Juventus are right on the rack here. The Italians are just about clinging on but one or two of their defenders look like they fear this might be a long night - and the wild tackling of Arturo Vidal could see him having an early night."

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The Barcelona man is also the first player to assist a goal in three different Champions League finals.

Barcelona FC: Rakitic scores @FCBarcelona's fastest goal in a European Final.

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Barcelona domination so far...

"If I was the Juventus manager, I'd be looking at my substitutes' bench, thinking, 'Shall I bring Vidal off?' I'd be really concerned about his mental state - he's not in the game at all."

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Arturo Vidal, who has already been booked, is walking a tightrope now after avoiding a second yellow for a crunching tackle on Neymar. Calm down, son.

"That's the best save I've seen in a Champions League final in a long time. Buffon was going to his right but he had to swing to his left with his left arm."

Who said finals never deliver? Gianluigi Buffon makes an unbelievable one-handed save to deny Dani Alves. Superb athleticism. Not bad for a 37-year-old.

I remember asking my dad how good Pele was. Everyone who is watching this game will be answering a similar question for their kids/grandkids in the future. The subject? Leo Messi, of course.

Arturo Vidal is in the book for a foul on Sergio Busquets.

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"Barcelona undoubtedly dipped after Guardiola left. But this is Barcelona back to their best."

"Because Pogba and Marchisio are playing so narrow, the switches of play are on for Barcelona all the time."

BBC Football Focus presenter Dan Walker: Another average Barcelona goal. Juventus defence still on the escalator!

@mrdanwalkerCopyright: @mrdanwalker

End to end already. The moment a Barca move breaks down, Juve sweep up the other end and Alvaro Morata's persistence puts his marker on his bum and the striker squares for Arturo Vidal, who shoots over.

A minute later, Neymar's rising shot goes over. 100mph.

Juventus can't get the ball off Barcelona now. The Catalans' ability to play keepball is in their DNA.

"That was brilliant play from Barcelona. There must have been 30, 40 passes. It was the composure of Iniesta to see Rakitic out of the corner of his eye and square the pass that was crucial."

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Former Manchester United and Juventus goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar: Let the final begin!!

@vdsar1970Copyright: @vdsar1970

"I think we'll see Juve put a high press on early on. They're not going to allow Barcelona to play out from the back. I think that's a really good tactic. When you put pressure on defenders they do get nervous."

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A first sight at goal as Barcelona take one pass too many across their backline and give the ball away. Luckily for them, Carlos Tevez hasn't got his shooting boots on yet.

It's some sight in Berlin. The last dregs of daylight are giving way to the floodlights which train a continent-wide spotlight on two of the best club sides in the world.

Let's do this.

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AFP/GETTYCopyright: AFP/GETTY

Gary Lineker: Some people are on the pitch. They think it's not started.

@GaryLinekerCopyright: @GaryLineker

Live opera greets the players - a male and female duo belting out the Champions League theme tune. You know the one. Time for the handshakes.

Jimmy in Bracknell: Suarez 24 goals for the season, perfectly respectable haul in England. Messi has more than double, absolutely ridiculous!

Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez line up side by side in the tunnel. They whisper into each other's ear.

"I bet you a tenner I score, Carlos."

Right then, the players are heading onto the field. Here are the line-ups...

The players are congregating in the tunnel, where they have the option of taking the stairs or escalator down to pitchside. Juve defender Stephan Lichtsteiner opts for the latter. Funny guy.

Beaten before you've started Gianlugi?

The Juventus goalkeeper tells the official final programme: "In terms of the tie against Madrid, we might have had a 35 per cent chance to make it past them. I guess the chances of now winning the trophy against this Barcelona side are even slimmer.

"We are aware of this and we can't deny it because it's just obvious. We have an abundance of respect for Barcelona and what they have achieved But we have a few weapons.

"In the matches I have played, I have definitely had more satisfaction succeeding as an underdog, but being favourites makes you feel pretty good as well."

Thirty five percent? Where did he pluck that number from?

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Lionel Messi is glowing in his praise of Barcelona stalwart Xavi - who is playing his last game for the Catalans this evening after 17 seasons.

In the official Champions League final programme, Messi says: "To describe Xavi as a player is really difficult. Everybody knows what he has achieved on the pitch and will achieve.

"Over time, and all the matches he has played in, I can only say that it has been a pleasure to play for so long alongside him and enjoy every minute with him, not only in matches, but in training sessions as well. He has been the best player in the history of Spanish football and that, I think says it all."

It certainly does Lionel.

Lionel Messi (77) has scored 33 more Champions League goals than Juventus' starting XI & subs put together (44).

No need to be afraid Juve. Honest.

"In a game that's all hustle-and-bustle, Xavi and Pirlo slow the game down. They dictate the tempo and pace of the game with their technqiue. They taker markers into space that they're not comfortable. They're special players."

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Somehow I don't think anything like this will happen again this evening...

In 1982 Aston Villa won the European Cup by beating Bayern Munich 1-0 in Rotterdam. After a joyous homecoming, the players took the enormous trophy around to supporters' clubs to show the loyal fans. At one such function at a pub near Tamworth, Aston Villa left-back Colin Gibson got into an argument with a man who, unbeknownst to anyone, picked up the European Cup and left the pub!

"We were concentrating on winning a game of darts when someone turned around and said: 'The European Cup's gone!'" Gibson has been telling the BBC World Service's Sportshour programme. "It had been stolen. We sort of went: 'Oh my God!'"

There was a happy ending though.

The perpetrator turned up at West Bar police station in Sheffield with the trophy in the boot and promptly handed it over.

"We decided we might as well hold a football match for the cup," recalls PC Graham Wragg. "We picked two teams of four and away we went! In the middle of the night. In full uniform!"

Listen to more of this story here.

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Heading into the game, one third of Barcelona's attacking 'trident' Neymar says it is the biggest match of his career.

The 23-year-old said: "Ever since I was six or seven I have been dreaming about this possibility and now the time has come."

He suffered injury agony when he carried the hopes of Brazil in last summer's World Cup as he was ruled out with a back injury before they suffered their humiliating 7-1 loss to Germany in the semi-final.

"I have played many finals but I think this is the most important one of my career to date," added Neymar. "It is the most important match of my life. It has been my dream since I was a child and I really hope to enjoy this game."

Allegri admits the team's objective when the season started was to reach the quarter-final. Now they've reached Berlin, however, they want to go all the way.

"We have to be winners," said Allegri. "We need to take the last step; that's always hard, especially in a Champions League final."

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Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri wants to win tonight and dedicate the victory to the 39 fans who died in the Heysel Stadium tragedy of 1985.

Allegri said: "It is very important. Thirty years ago we saw a tragedy which is going to stay with us and has gone down in the history of football, so I think for Juventus, for Italian fans and for world football, this year is a year to be remembered."

Read more on that here.

I read somewhere that Luis Enrique loves football that much, he often turns up at games as a spectator - in disguise of course.

For somebody who clearly lives and breathes the game, it surely can't get much better than managing this group of Barcelona players?

"We have a unique set of players, a unique generation given the number of trophies Barcelona have won," said Enrique. "I hope we see a great final, an open exciting game - that would be great for football, and the better side would win. This is going to be one of the best matches you can watch - the champions of Italy and Spain. It's going to be spectacular."

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Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo lead the goal scoring charts in this season's tournament with 10 apiece but Leo will fancy taking the lead outright this evening.

A hat trick for Carlos Tevez would put him level with the duo...

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The measure of greatness? Surely one of the markers has to be goals in the big games.

And this is where Lionel Messi really stands out. In 23 finals for Barcelona, he has scored 20 times. It's just another kickabout for the boy wonder.

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Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon is in a tricky situation tonight - his sons kind of want Barcelona to win.

The veteran admitted: "I have a son who's a great fan of Messi, and the other is a fan of Neymar, so they won't know what to wish for! I think they'll be sad if Juventus lose, because they're Juventus fans - they'd have preferred another team, Real Madrid or Manchester City, in the final."

Daddy or chips? Daddy or Messi?

Southampton manager and 1992 European Cup winner Ronald Koeman: Fuerza #Barca !

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Can Barca make it a fifth European Cup triumph? If they do, they will only be five final wins behind Real Madrid...

"Normally in great teams you get one great player. This Barcelona side have got three great players up front in Messi, Neymar and Suarez, who can win a game on their own. I think they are the three best players in the world at this moment in time."

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No sitting on the fence from Gary Lineker here.

The former Barcelona and England striker has made his mind up on the Maradona v Messi debate.

"I never thought I'd say anyone was better than Maradona - he was my time, and I was totally in awe of him - but I honestly think, for a number of reasons, Messi has surpassed him," said Lineker.

Neal Collins: Strange to see Carlo Tevez and Javier Mascherano, former West Ham relegation fighters, battling it out in a Champions League final.

"I was really impressed by the way Juventus played against Real Madrid. They went to the Bernabeu and took the game to them. There's more to this Juventus than rugged Italian defenders - they've got great technical players too."

Does this count?

We asked earlier which three players have won back-to-back Champions League titles with different clubs.

Our answers were Marcel Desailly (Marseille and AC Milan), Paulo Sousa (Juventus & Borussia Dortmund) and Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona & Inter).

But now Gerard Pique has been thrown into the mix (Man Utd 2007-08 and Barcelona 2008-09). He travelled to Moscow (he's on the right of the picture below) but didn't feature in the squad for the final, but I bet he still counts it...

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Our colleagues at the BBC World Service have produced video profiles of both teams ahead of the final, with Dietmar Hamann the man tasked with casting his expert eye.

One particular quote pricked my ears. Asked about Neymar, Hamann questioned if he was as good as his reputation made him out to be. His verdict? He's better.

High praise indeed, and it's very easy to forget the Brazilian's impact on what Hamann reckons is the best forward line ever assembled.

Watch the Barcelona and Juventus team profiles here.

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In Javier Mascherano, we're watching the best player in the world tonight. At least if you value the opinion of England manager Roy Hodgson.

The Three Lions boss also picked Germany duo Philipp Lahm and Manuel Neuer in his top three picks for the Ballon D'or. No sign of Messi and Ronaldo, then.

At the time, ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said Hodgson was "going for a clean sheet" with his selections.

I like Mascherano. But surely not ahead of Leo of Cris?

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As Phil alludes to below, despite hosting a European Cup final for the first time, the Olympic Stadium in Berlin is no stranger to some of the world's most iconic sporting moments.

It has hosted two World Cups, with the final being played there in 2006, and Usain Bolt broke the world 100m record there when he clocked 9.58 seconds in 2009.

Perhaps the most significant moment of them all came in the 1936 Olympic Games when Jesse Owens won four gold medals in an event that was marked by the attempts of Adolf Hitler to use the games for Nazi propaganda purposes.

"The teams are out warming up on this steamy, strength-sapping Berlin night. This spectacular bowl of a stadium, steeped in history from the feats of Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympics to the modern notoriety of Zinedine Zidane's red card for France for head butting Marco Materazzi against Italy in the 2006 World Cup Final, is filling up - with both the Barcelona and Juventus ends producing a cacophony of noise."

Turkey's Cuneyt Cakır has been given the whistle for tonight's game. The 38-year-old has been in charge of four Champions League games this season, including the last 16 first-leg tie between Paris St-Germain and Chelsea.

A quick internet search tells me that Cakir also works as an insurance agent.

Oh yeah... and he was also punched by a goalkeeping coach in 2007 moments after having his shirt ripped by Manisaspor's Bulent Ataman who was subsequently given a 12-game ban.

He's earned his stripes.

"This is the biggest game in world football apart from the World Cup final. The whole build-up is an absolute blur, you're so nervous. Football's been dragged through the mud this week - it's important to put on a show tonight for the rest of the world."

More of your footballing heroes when you were eight.

Ryan Heatly: Eoin Jess at Aberdeen was my footballing hero. Glided with the ball at his feat.

SecretAgenda: My football hero was Johan Cruyff. Only player to have a trick named after him. Absolute class.

Josh Hammond: Giggsy is still my footballing hero! utter class. tearing defences apart and THAT goal against Arsenal... legend.

"Juventus are a team in form, they play good football, but they will need some of that old-fashioned Italian defensive mentality to get a result tonight."

BBC Radio 5 live are broadcasting live match commentary from Berlin. Their build-up has began...

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Barcelona might want to keep a close eye on Carlos Tevez tonight, because it's a historical fact that Argentines (and Englishmen!) are the joint top goal-scorers in Champions League finals.

They've bagged 17 times each - a stat I know thanks to Tailorbet.

More, I hear you scream. OK...

Did you know that Spaniards are the dirtiest in finals with 28 bookings, ahead of Italians with 18 and Germans with 14? You do now.

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I've seen many adjectives applied to Lionel Messi's name: genius, magician... the list is endless.

But I think the latest comparison by Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon takes some beating: "he's an extra-terrestrial who plays with us humans".

The Juve keeper thinks the Argentine is from a different planet, adding: "We hope that on 6 June he returns to earth and becomes a human too."

So, there you have it. Messi is from Mars, Buffon is en-vious.

Get it? En-vious, venus? Never mind...

Half and half scarf. Tick.

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It seems like a long, long time ago that Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez pitched up at West Ham. Now they're lining up against each other in the final of club football's most glittering competition.

Mascherano is looking forward to the challenge: "We have played against each other during Boca v River games, during Manchester United v Liverpool. We have played together as well. Our paths in the beginning were quite similar but then he went to Manchester and I went to Liverpool. Of course, he is a top player, a magnificent centre-forward and, above all, a player who likes to win. He's made for these games."

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Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has enjoyed a fine first season in charge, hasn't he? The 45-year-old could end the night with a treble in his sky rocket. Lofty standards to follow, that's for sure.

I particularly enjoyed the comparison of his achievements which was made by Chris Bascombe of the Daily Telegraph.

"Enrique winning the Champions League at his first attempt would rank alongside Paul McCartney writing Yesterday at the age of 22, or Judy Garland nailing Over the Rainbow as a teenager. No matter how great what follows, the reference point will make everything else seem inferior," Bascombe wrote.

Not bad company to be keeping.

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Competition winner Flora Berens, who is eight years old, will lead out the teams tonight and admits her hero is Gareth Bale. We asked who your heroes were at the same age.

Daniel Jones: My hero growing up was, and still is Jan Molby. Controlled the game without moving from the centre circle but could pass a ball.

Neil Harris: My favourite player at 8 years old was Laurie Cunningham for @WBAFCofficial. Everybody loves a quality winger. What a player!

Arnaud Humblot: My heroes where Platini, Van Basten, Careca.

Earlier, I posed you a little teaser. Hopefully it got the grey matter ticking over.

I'll tell you the answers after the break.

Only joking! I'm not as cruel as Tarrant. The three players who have won the Champions League in successive seasons with two different clubs are Marcel Desailly (Marseille and AC Milan), Paulo Sousa (Juventus & Borussia Dortmund) and Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona & Inter). Could Alvaro Morata become the fourth?

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Barcelona midfielder Xavi will be playing his final game for the club tonight and he deserves to end with a fourth Champions League title, according to his partner in crime Andres Iniesta.

"He is the number one for me and it has been great to have him as a colleague and also a friend," said Iniesta. "Hopefully it will be the perfect ending for him and the team."

If you were to put together a combined Barcelona and Juventus team, what would the split be?

World Cup winner Marcel Desailly was given this task by CNN and only selected three Juve players - Buffon, Pirlo and Pogba.

It's hard to disagree, isn't it - but imagine adding Carlos Tevez to that Catalan forward line. Wowzers.

Selfie sticks are clearly not banned in the Olympic Stadium.

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One interested spectator tonight will be former Champions League winner Steffen Freund. Born near to Berlin, the midfielder can remember a time when the Stasi tried to influence him as a 17-year-old.

Worried about defectors, the secret police told Freund: "You will work for the Stasi and tell us about your team-mates. If you don't, your family will be in trouble."

Freund said no, and the full story is regaled to BBC World Service's Steve Crossman here.

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There are not many who slipped Sir Alex Ferguson's net, but Paul Pogba appears to be one of them.

The French midfielder claims he left Old Trafford as a teenager because of a lack of opportunities - and just a few years later he is worth £60m and being chased by the biggest clubs on the continent. It almost seems daft to ask if Pogba regrets leaving Manchester.

"I am happy with how my time has gone in Turin," Pogba said. "I don't regret it at all. I am very happy here and I enjoy it.

"I am in a Champions League final with Juventus, not Manchester, so things have worked out very well for me."

bbc5live: Hot dogs. A universal language.

@5liveSportCopyright: @5liveSport

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Don't spoil it Javi...

We know all about Barcelona's strikeforce and the fact they have scored more than 100 goals this season. So, when the team breaks for the summer and has a drink together, surely Messi, Suarez and Neymar won't have to get a round in?

Wrong. As manager Luis Enrique explains: "The greatest thing about this season, in my opinion, is the fact we have a team with a unique and special strike force who have shown themselves willing and able to work for the rest of the team - realising that in order to defend we all have to defend together.

"To concede just 19 goals in 37 league games, you need everyone to work hard and work together, and to press as a unit and do whatever we decide to at any given moment."

This is not your normal press room.

As BBC Radio 5 live's Sam Huxley reports, there is a running track and sandpit inside the Olympic Stadium's media centre.

Jesse Owens and 1936 springs to mind...

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This is one thing which annoys me - but is completely understandable with a business head on.

A survey by cheaprooms.co.uk has found that the price of some hotels in Berlin has risen by more than 1,000%. The website says that East Side Hotel in the Friedrichshain district has hiked its price for a room from 99 euros to 1,145 euros. Eye-watering, isn't it?

Where's the next final? Milan? Is there any spare land going?

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is currently strolling around the turf, wearing trainers and sucking on a lollipop. Suit and trainers? That man can pull it off.

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Many have tried, most have failed.

Just how do you stop Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar? I reckon it's akin to taking three toddlers to B&Q and asking them to stay by your side while you juggle pots of paint. It won't work and it will end messy, if you excuse the pun.

Juve legend Gianluca Vialli reckons his former team might need to park the bus.

The Italian said: "They will have to defend with so many men behind the line of the ball, even if that means parking the bus like Mourinho and Di Matteo."

I'm not sure that tactic would work. I imagine Messi, Suarez and Neymar would pick a pass in the middle of a crowded service station car park. Now... that's an idea for an advert!

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So near, yet so far.

Giorgio Chiellini and Luis Suarez looked set to be in biting distance for the first time since that World Cup incident last summer tonight.

But, alas, the reunion will not happen because the Italian defender has been ruled out with a calf tear. Like Mayweather and Pacquaio, the world will have to wait for these two to meet again.

Any idea whose brother this might be?

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Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney: Good luck to my former teammates tonight, Patrice Evra and @carlitos3210 who I won the Champions League with.

@WayneRooneyCopyright: @WayneRooney

Jake Cope, forecaster at BBC Weather Centre: "After a scorcher of a day across Berlin with temperatures reaching 31 Celsius this afternoon, we'll see temperatures dip off a touch before kick-off with the mercury showing 25 degrees as the anthem rings out. A light north-westerly breeze will drift a few errant clouds over the Olympic Stadium through the game but with low humidity, there isn't any rain on the cards, even if this goes all the way to penalties."

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The Juventus team are arriving at the stadium as I type. There's no missing their bus.

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"Last time I was in Berlin's Olympic Stadium, Colombian pop songstress Shakira was also here and gave a stirring rendition of her haunting - and not in a good way - hit 'Hips Don't Lie' before Italy's World Cup final win against France in 2006.

"She is here again tonight but this time it is a family matter as she is here to provide support for her partner, Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, in the Champions League final."

This graphic from Uefa.com illustrates perfectly how we got to this point.

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I've just seen a clip of some television pundits pitch-side in Berlin: Thierry Henry and Gianluca Vialli. Best suit? It's got to be Vialli's royal blue number.

The winning club will win a cool £27.2m tonight - a sum of prize-money not to be sniffed at.

It's dwarfed by the Premier League though, where QPR banked almost £65m just for finishing bottom of the pile.

Stephanie Wynn Scott: Look what team the Scott family are supporting:

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"Hundreds of the world's media flock to the Champions League final - this is literally a tiny snapshot of just how many are here in Berlin."

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Tonight's teams will be led out onto the turf by eight-year-old Flora Berens, who won a competition which involved her filming a video of herself playing football and subsequently celebrating scoring a goal.

Every young person's dream, that. Unfortunately for Flora though, Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez just don't have the same appeal as her footballing hero.

"I was hoping Real Madrid would win because I like Bale, but they went out," Flora said.

Who was your footballing hero when you was eight? Mine? David White.

Stephen Glover has bagged a ticket for tonight, and he looks to be enjoying the build-up in Berlin. If you're there too - send us a picture.

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Not strictly about tonight's game, but it's 10 years since Liverpool's dramatic Champions League comeback against AC Milan.

We've heard all the tales about it in the subsequent years. But one caught my eye this week - and it was recounted by Djimi Traore.

He knew he was being dragged off at half-time when Rafa Benitez shouted "shower" at him. Apparently, that is how the new Real Madrid manager would inform his players they weren't going out for the second half.

"But boss..." "No buts, Djimi... Shower."

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Former Juve striker Pierluigi Casiraghi says victory tonight would complete manager Max Allegri's transformation from unpopular appointment to all-time managerial great.

"Juve fans did not accept him at first, but he convinced them with his mentality, his hard work and with good results, which helped him make Juventus fans change their mind," Casiraghi said.

"If he wins the Champions League, it would clinch an extraordinary treble that would put Allegri on a level with the great Italian managers: Trapattoni, Lippi and Conte."

One for the petrol heads this one. Well actually, electric car heads... if they even exist!

The Champions League trophy was due to be delivered to the stadium in an electric van, while more than 100 plug-in cars have been used for transporting VIPs around Berlin and to the event.

Hopefully the car didn't run out of energy with the trophy in tow. Imagine the panic in two hours' time.

"Quick, plug it in Dave."

Former Barcelona, Chelsea and Everton striker Samuel Eto'o: You can never stand against where your heart belongs to.. Let's make it one more time today!!!Go Barca!

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And here's another one for you. Juventus defender Patrice Evra will be playing in his fifth Champions League final this evening. Is that a record? No, it's surprisingly nowhere near it.

As well as the players in the above graphic, Edwin van der Sar, Phil Neal, Jose Augusto, Mario Coluna, Jose Santamaria and Jose Maria Zarraga have also appeared in five finals.

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Quick quiz question for you.

If Alvaro Morata lifts the trophy with Juventus tonight, he will become only the fourth player to win the trophy in successive seasons with different clubs. Who are the others?

I'll tell you later!

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One man who won't be in the stadium tonight is Pep Guardiola. The Bayern Munich manager was invited to the final by his former club Barcelona, but has declined the offer. Is that the football equivalent of being invited to your ex-partner's wedding?

"It's OK, Mr Rosell... I'm busy on Saturday night. But save us some cake."

Olympic stadium in Berlin looking very nice...

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"On a head count of those earlier arrivals, Juventus win by some big numbers. The Champions League final has been something of a regular date for Barcelona in recent years - they are aiming for their fourth win in 10 season - but it has been 12 years since "La Vecchia Signora" (The Old Lady) of Italian football were involved.

"It's been a while and those black and white-clad Juve fans are savouring every moment."

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In the run-up to this evening's final, I've has been speaking to former Juventus, Italy and Chelsea striker Pierluigi Casiraghi.

Casiraghi believes the current Juve side is more than a match for the European Cup-winning team of 1996 - the last time the Bianconeri won the competition.

"The 1996 squad was physically much stronger, but today's squad have more quality in midfield with great players like Pirlo, Pogba and Marchisio," Casiraghi said. "Up front, Tevez and Morata can keep up with Vialli and Del Piero."

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No lack of atmosphere on the Berlin streets already...

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Barcelona supporters are bang up for this one - and almost 80,000 fans applied for tickets. The only problem is the club were only allocated 13,294. Could Uefa have sold out the stadium twice over? I bet they could - perhaps the governing body should build a 200,000-seater stadium which could be used for all showpiece matches? Over to you, Mr Platini.

The BBC are all over this game.

You can follow it live here, of course.

BBC Radio 5 live will have full commentary...

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And the News Channel's John Watson and his camera crew are all set up outside the Olympic Stadium to broadcast updates to a global audience...

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You won't miss a thing.

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A wise man once told me that before you criticise somebody, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, they can't hear you because you're a mile away and they can't catch you because you have their shoes.

I was reminded of that little piece of advice when I saw a story earlier in the week, about the Juve fan who walked all the way from Turin to Berlin just to get a ticket to the final.

That's the equivalent of walking from Southampton to Newcastle and back again. The trek took Nicolo De Marchi more than a week.

So, tonight, we're asking you: what's the most extreme thing you've done to ensure you got to a particular event - sporting or not. Tweet us, using #bbcfootball, send a text to 81111 or post to the BBC Sport Facebook and Google+ pages.

Is that Pirlo cooling down in the fountain?

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So, first thing's first: what time is kick-off?

It's a 19:45 BST kick-off in Berlin and we can go to extra time and penalties if need be. Clear the diary, take the phone off the hook and put the cat out. It's time to focus on one thing, and one thing only.

As for Juventus, they led Serie A from the fourth round of fixtures onwards and sealed their fourth straight league title and 31st Scudetto with four games to play before beating Lazio 2-1 after extra time to win the Coppa Italia.

The Old Lady now have a chance to complete a treble and cap their revival as a European force in the year that marks the 30th anniversary of one of the club's darkest moments - the Heysel Stadium tragedy, in which 39 fans lost their lives.

Tonight's victor will complete a domestic and European treble this season, with both clubs having already claimed their respective league titles and main national cup competition.

Two points separated first and second in La Liga this campaign, with Barca taking the crown from fierce rivals Real Madrid courtesy of a 1-0 win over 2013-14 champions Atletico Madrid in the penultimate game of the season.

They followed this up with a 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao at the Nou Camp in the Copa Del Rey final to leave the Catalan club, in the words of defender Gerard Pique: "90 minutes away from perfection".

Evening all. You well? Good. Now... here's your chance to predict the future. Well, a tiny bit of it anyway.

Who do you think will win tonight, and in what fashion?

Vote via this page - and here's the terms and conditions. Go.

"Berlin is basking in searing temperatures and thousands of Barcelona and Juventus fans are already enjoying the baking hot temperatures in the wide open spaces surrounding the Olympic Stadium hours before kick-off.

"Juventus coach Max Allegri and his players were in extremely relaxed mood when they spoke to the media on Friday evening.

"The great Juve and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon admitted they were second favourites to Barcelona but also pointed out this was a team that contains great experience and is a club with a rich tradition in this tournament, so victory was not beyond them.

"There was also poignancy in the words of Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci, who said the players had been given added stimulus because it was the 30th anniversary of the Heysel Stadium disaster, when 39 fans died before the European Cup final between the Italians and Liverpool on 29 May 1985. He said he hoped they would be able to dedicate a victory to the families."

Before we go any further, let me clarify one thing: tonight is the first and last time I'll open a live text with the word 'bants'. I hope.

One word I might end up putting your way a lot though is 'Messi'.

Because, Saturday nights are made for Messi.

In the footballing sense, of course.

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There are many things you could do on a Saturday night.

Wash your hair, head down the pub or order a takeaway.

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Stay in and watch Big Brother, have friends round and dig out the kids' karaoke machine or spend the evening glued to social media.

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Or you can watch the biggest game of club football in the world and join in the 'bants' with me.

No contest, is it?

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