DPA
Berlin
Barcelona clinched a fifth European champions title with a 3-1 victory over Juventus in the Champions League final in Berlin yesterday.
Juventus went behind in the Olympic Stadium to a finely-worked early goal from Ivan Rakitic as Barca stamped their authority on the game.
Veteran keeper Gianluigi Buffon kept the Serie A champions hanging on with saves from Dani Alves and twice from Luis Suarez, before Juve came back with a stunning equaliser 10 minutes after the break from Alvaro Morata.
But with Juve enjoying their best spell, Barca struck in the 68th minute when Buffon could only parry a Lionel Messi shot and Suarez followed up to score.
Barca completed the scoreline in the seventh minute of stoppage time when Juve threw everything forward and were hit on the break with Neymar finishing.
Barca, under coach Luis Enrique in his first season, have now repeated the treble of league, cup and Champions League they achieved under Pep Guardiola in 2009 and become the first club in history to claim all major trophies in a season twice.
Every Barca outfield player touched the ball before their fourth-minute opener which caught Juve cold after a sweltering day and warm evening in Berlin.
But it was Messi’s crossfield pass to Jordi Alba on the left which initiated the goal. Alba knocked the ball to Neymar who moved out of the area before turning and slipping the ball neatly inside to Andres Iniesta.
The Barca captain may have thought about a shot but saw Rakitic in front of goal, and the Croatian swept the ball with his left foot past Buffon - who had yet to touch the ball - into the net.
Messi, often dropping deep, was the architect of much of Barca’s opportunities in a flurry of early chances.
Luis Suarez celebrating scoring the second goal for Barcelona in yesterday’s match.
