Juventus 1 Barcelona 3

Finally, the European football season is officially over after a Champions League Final scheduled so late that I had completely forgotten it was actually happening. There were possibly 12 minutes in this match where Barcelona's triumph didn't feel like a foregone conclusion. The opening 2, when Barca's defence appeared jittery under Juve's high pressing and in the 10 minutes that followed Moratta's equaliser, gratefully snatched after Ter Stegen could only spill Carlos Tevez's shot. Prior to that, it was a cagey first half following an early Ivan Rakitic goal in a superb move featuring every single of Barcelona's outfield players.

Lionel Messi, for my money is the greatest footballer I've seen in my lifetime. He had a less imperious evening last night but still confounded Buffon with a shot that much like Stegen, could only be pushed into the grateful path of Luis Suarez. Both him and Gareth Bale have scored in the Champions League final in the season after moving from the Premier League to La Liga. It seems that the grass is always greener on the other side. Juventus were industrious but never looked likely to breach Barcelona's defence again. The third came with the last kick of the match, Messi finding Neymar perfectly to slide the ball between Gianluigi Buffon's legs.

Buffon has been the exceptional Italian goalkeeping talent for years, but there's little he or anyone else could do with a frontline as irresistable as Neymar, Suarez and Messi to face. This Barcelona team are not as dominant and all conquering as the 2009-11 vintage that defeated Manchester United twice in the final with something to spare. But the fact this side have comfortably been the best side in Europe this season with scope for improvement is something that gives pause for thought. Worthy winners.

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