Juventus vs Barcelona - Juve remember Heysel victims - 7M sport

Juventus vs Barcelona - Juve remember Heysel victims



Posted Saturday, June 06, 2015 by PA

Juventus hope to dedicate a victory in the Champions League final to the victims of the Heysel disaster.

The Italian side play Barcelona in Saturday's final in Berlin, 30 years after 39 supporters - mainly from Juventus - lost their lives when Liverpool fans rioted in the Heysel stadium in Brussels.

Juve defender Leonardo Bonucci told a news conference at Berlin's Olympic Stadium: "As regards the Heysel tragedy, I went to a commemoration last week for the victims.

"The memory of what happened there is a further stimulus for us because we hope to dedicate the victory to those who lost their lives that night."

Juventus manager Max Allegri added: "Heysel will always be one of the dark pages of football history - and not just for Juventus but all football. For us, it is important to remember the victims and commemorate their deaths."

Juve, who eliminated Barca's arch-rivals Real Madrid in the semi-finals of Europe's elite club competition, have enjoyed a successful season under Allegri in his first year at the club.

The Italian champions won the domestic double for the first time since the 1994-95 campaign, losing just three of their 38 Serie A games overall and finishing 17 points clear of nearest rivals Roma.

As regards Barcelona, Bonucci insisted Juventus were not too concerned by the renowned attacking threat of the trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar and that their 3-0 win in Germany against Borussia Dortmund had given the Italians confidence.

He said: "It will not be the Barca attack against the defence of Juventus. The game in Dortmund made us realize that we are a great team, gave us that awareness .

"We come here knowing that we are probably a rung below Barcelona, but in a final the differences dwindle. It is up to us to fight for every ball. We will not be the victims here."

Meanwhile, Barcelona central defender Gerard Pique insists his team are just 90 minutes from perfection, standing as they do on the brink of emulating the feat of the 2009 side in winning the treble: Spanish league and cup, and most important of all the Champions League.

This time around, Barcelona may be even better thanks to their awesome front trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez - perhaps the best attacking force in club football since the days of Ferenc Puskas, Alfredo di Stefano and Gento for Real Madrid.

Pique at least believes that the current Barca side are the best, telling a news conference: "We have an amazing team - one of the best sides in the history of our club. We are 90 minutes from perfection.

"Maybe we were not at our best at the start of the season but we have managed to turn it around. But if we want to be seen as the best we have to prove it, and tomorrow is the time to show it with so many people watching."

For Brazilian forward Neymar, winning the Champions League would be the high point in his career so far, and he believes that having clicked off-the-field with his fellow Latin Americans Messi and Suarez has helped their understanding on the pitch.

Neymar said: "Leo and Luis are two extraordinary players, they are extremely high quality. We're very good friends off the pitch as well as on it and I think that helps a lot.

"I'm feeling quite confident we can be victorious - this is the best moment in my life so far and I hope I can kiss the trophy tomorrow."

Neymar was criticised for for show-boating in the Spanish Cup but he countered that by saying: "No, I'll change nothing. Just keep scoring, keep dribbling."

The 23-year-old Neymar has followed in a rich tradition of Brazilian players to wear the Barca jersey but not all of them have lifted the Champions League trophy while at the club.

"To play in the final is a dream that I've had as a boy and I'm very close to it," Neymar added.

The Primera Division champions last won the competition in 2011 and were eliminated last season by Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals in Neymar's first year at the club.

Barca, in Luis Enrique's first year as coach, have enjoyed a hugely successful campaign already.

They won the Primera Division title and claimed a record 27th Copa del Rey trophy - Neymar's first with the team since arriving two years ago, while coach Luis Enrique also confirmed that midfielder Andres Iniesta is available after a calf injury.



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