Chiellini out of CL final, no Suarez reunion

Published June 5, 2015
BERLIN: (L-R) Berlin’s interior and sport secretary Frank Henkel, treasurer of the German football association Rainer Grindel and retired French international footballer and UEFA ambassador Christian Karembeu pose with the 2015 Champions League trophy at the UEFA Champions Festival on its opening day here on Thursday, two days before the final.—AFP
BERLIN: (L-R) Berlin’s interior and sport secretary Frank Henkel, treasurer of the German football association Rainer Grindel and retired French international footballer and UEFA ambassador Christian Karembeu pose with the 2015 Champions League trophy at the UEFA Champions Festival on its opening day here on Thursday, two days before the final.—AFP

BERLIN: Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini’s hotly anticipated first meeting with Luis Suarez since the Uruguay forward bit him at the World Cup has been scuppered through injury and he will miss Saturday’s Champions League final.

Barcelona striker Suarez was banned for four months for sinking his teeth into Chiellini’s shoulder in the Group ‘D’ match between Uruguay and Italy in Brazil last year and the pair were due to lock horns again in Berlin.

However, Chiellini suffered a calf injury in training on Wednesday and a scan on Thursday ruled him out of the clash, robbing Juve of one of their most important players.

“The tests showed a first degree injury in the calf muscle of the left leg and he will not be available for the match against Barcelona,” Juve said in a statement on their website.

Chiellini has said the Suarez incident is all in the past. Asked on Monday if he would shake Suarez’s hand before the game, Chiellini replied: “Of course I will!”

It was to be Chiellini’s first Champions League final and his place will now be taken by Andrea Barzagli, who returned to training on Wednesday following his own, recent injury knock.

If Barzagli proves to be unfit for the game, Juve will turn to Angelo Ogbonna, who has played only sporadically for the Turin giants this season on their way to a league and Cup double as they chase a treble of trophies.

Stephan Lichtsteiner and Patrice Evra are the likely starters at full-back.

Suarez’s ban expired at the end of October and since then he has hit top form, helping fire Barca to the brink of a treble of Champions League and Spanish league and Cup titles.

Chiellini, whose natural position is at left-back, is regularly ranked among the top defenders in Europe and has often given Juve extra potency in attack when he moves up the park for corners and free kick situations.

Chiellini scored the opener for Juve in their recent 2-1 Cup final win over Lazio as the Bianconeri clinched their first Cup and first league and Cup double since 1995.

Juventus had their final training session at their Vinovo training complex on Thursday and are set to travel to Berlin on Friday morning.

Chiellini’s absence, meanwhile, will not be a disappointment to Barca, who look set to recover key midfielder Andres Iniesta for Saturday’s final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.

Barca’s midfield pass master Iniesta suffered a right calf injury during last Saturday’s 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final. but took part in a full training session on Thursday.

“The whole team took part in training Thursday including Andres Iniesta, who had been training alone these last two days,” Barca said on their website.

Iniesta said on Tuesday that the possibility of not being ready to play Juventus for the European Cup “doesn’t cross my mind.”

Luis Enrique is expected to stick with his first-choice 11 of Messi, Suarez and Neymar in attack, supported by Iniesta, Ivan Rakitic and Sergio Busquets in midfield.

The defence is likely to be Jordi Alba, Javier Mascherano, Gerard Pique and Dani Alves, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal in Barca’s 4-3-3 formation.

Barca also announced on Thursday that forward Pedro Rodriguez has extended his contract until 2019 despite being pushed into a fringe role over the past season.

He has scored 11 goals this season despite losing his starting job to Neymar and Suarez. On Tuesday, Barcelona said left back Alba had also agreed to extend his contract until 2020.—Agencies

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2015

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