You could forgive Barcelona fans for getting a little blasé after tasting Champions League glory so often in recent seasons, but as Jason Pettigrove explains, last year’s final in Berlin was still as special as ever.
What was the atmosphere like in Berlin?
It was great. Supporters of both sides were enjoying each other’s company and looking forward to the game ahead. Both in the centre of Berlin and outside the ground, there was a party atmosphere. Men, women and children laughing, joking, eating, drinking…there was even a man walking a cow in an oversized half Barca/half Juve shirt near the Brandenburg Gate. No idea why.
Were you nervous before the final, or confident?
Not nervous at all before the game. A third final in six years affords you the luxury of being confident that your team have the tools to do the job.
**Having seen Barcelona win the Champions League so often, is the final still special?
**
Of course. How can it not be?! It’s a Champions League final after all. The pinnacle of European football.
What are you memories of the match itself?
The actual game itself was very fast paced, and pretty much as I expected it to be. Barcelona took hold of the game early with lots of possession, punctuated by some pressing from Juve and some tough tackling from the likes of Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba in particular. Ivan Rakitic’s early goal gave Barca the perfect platform to build from and allowed them to move the ball around with confidence, knowing that Juve had to come out and play. In all honesty, if it wasn’t for the heroics of Gigi Buffon, the game would’ve been over by half time – he made some sensational saves to keep his side in it.
When Juve equalised did you think Barca might blow it?
This was the only time in the day and the game itself when I was nervous. Juve had a period just after the goal too where they put some pressure on, but Barcelona’s second goal killed the game as a contest I think.
Describe the moment when Barca scored that winner…
Utter jubilation. It looked as though the move itself had broken down, but Neymar took the chance expertly well and ran right over in front of where we were in the stadium. It was an incredible feeling. Mind you, all the time the referee refused to blow his whistle, there was that very small, sneaking suspicion that Juve could snatch something. The fact that win gave us another season treble made the final even more special.
How was the after party?
Brilliant as you might expect! I was in Berlin with Penya Blaugran London, the Barcelona supporters club from London. We all headed to a bar in town and partied until the sun came up. And again, I have to credit the Juve fans who were all still out in force and were happy to congratulate us and share an after-game beer.
Want to be part of this season's final? Put your name in the box below and it will be micro-printed on the official UEFA Champions League circle flag!
- Goal