Ukraine, Egypt explore preferential trade deal: Zelenskyy    Egypt, Russia's Rosatom review grid readiness for El-Dabaa nuclear plant    Mastercard Unveils AI-Powered Card Fraud Prevention Service in EEMEA Region, Starting from Egypt    Global tour for Korean 'K-Comics' launches in Cairo with 'Hellbound' exhibition    China's factory output expands in June '25    Egyptian pound climbs against dollar at Wednesday's close    New accords on trade, security strengthen Egypt-Oman Relations    Egypt launches public-private partnership to curb c-sections, improve maternal, child health    Gaza under Israeli siege as death toll mounts, famine looms    EMRA, Elsewedy sign partnership to explore, develop phosphate reserves in Sebaiya    Philip Morris Misr announces new price list effective 1 July    Egypt Post discusses enhanced cooperation with Ivorian counterpart    Egypt's Environment Minister calls for stronger action on desertification, climate resilience in Africa    Egypt in diplomatic push for Gaza truce, Iran-Israel de-escalation    Egypt teams up with private sector to boost university rankings    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Egypt condemns deadly terrorist attack in Niger    Egypt, Tunisia discuss boosting healthcare cooperation        Egypt's EHA, Schneider Electric sign MoU on sustainable infrastructure    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Grand Egyptian Museum opening delayed to Q4    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Egypt discovers three New Kingdom tombs in Luxor's Dra' Abu El-Naga    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Egypt's FM inspects Julius Nyerere Dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Barcelona Wins Fifth Champions League, says Good Bye to Xavi
Published in Amwal Al Ghad on 07 - 06 - 2015

Barcelona's midfield axis of Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta looks like they have won their last trophy together: a fourth Champions League trophy in a decade.
Xavi, who is leaving for Qatar's Al-Sadd after this season, replaced Iniesta in the 77th minute as Barcelona beat Juventus 3-1 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
Barcelona went ahead on a fourth-minute goal by Ivan Rakitic. Alvaro Morata levelled for Juventus in the 55th minute before Luis Suarez and Neymar put the game out of reach.
"That's the last game for us," Iniesta, the man of the match, told reporters. "It's the best image we can leave, winning the Champions League."
Barcelona, which also won the Spanish league and cup this season, is the first team in European soccer to win a so-called treble on two occasions. It now has five elite European titles, drawing level with Liverpool and Bayern Munich. Only Real Madrid with 10 and AC Milan with seven have more.
The Catalan team handed Juventus a record sixth loss in a European Cup final.
Xavi, 35, has played more than 500 times for Barcelona in the last 18 seasons, although he only started two Champions League games to Iniesta's 10 this season. Iniesta, 31, will stay with the team next season.
The 5-foot-5 (1.7-meter) Xavi and 5-foot-6 Iniesta also helped win Spain win its first World Cup in South Africa in 2010 and pushed Barcelona to seven La Liga titles in 11 years.
"It gives you a shiver when look back and realize the things we've managed to achieve," Iniesta said.
Barcelona passes the mark of six other European teams who have won the treble once: Glasgow Celtic (1967), Ajax Amsterdam (1972), PSV Eindhoven (1988), Manchester United (1999), Milan's Internazionale (2010) and Bayern Munich (2013).
Although they haven't won the personal accolades collected by four-time FIFA world player of the year Lionel Messi, Xavi and Iniesta have gotten plenty of praise.
"I don't think Iniesta and Xavi have ever given the ball away in their lives," Alex Ferguson, the then Manchester United coach, said in 2009. "They get you on that carousel and can leave you dizzy."
Barcelona's short-passing style, dubbed tiki-taka, has evolved since they won earlier Champions League titles under Frank Rijkaard and Pep Guardiola although the team still dominates possession.
Iniesta and his teammates, now coached by Luis Enrique, made 16 passes on the way to Rakitic's goal. Morata made it 1-1 in 55th minute after goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen could only parry Carlos Tevez's shot into the forward's path.
"I thought we could win but Barcelona got away," Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri told a news conference. "They were extraordinary and we were unable to stop them."
Suarez scored in the 68th minute after Messi tore up the defense and Gianluigi Buffon parried his shot.
Neymar has a goal disallowed two minutes later when the ball deflected off his head onto the back of his hand and into the net. He later scored with the last kick of the game.
The Brazilian tore off his jersey and vaulted advertising hoardings next to the field to celebrate.
"Last year we won nothing," coach Luis Enrique said. "We had injuries and new staff. After that difficult year, the team has come together and done the things right throughout the season. They've overcome difficulties and tough times together; together we're stronger and that's when individual quality comes out."
Source: Bloomberg


Clic here to read the story from its source.