please log in to view this image please log in to view this image TEAM NEWS AND EXPECTED LINE-UPS Juventus will go into the final without their first choice centre-half Giorgio Chiellini after he was ruled out with a calf strain picked up in training on Wednesday. Andrea Barzagli, himself struggling with a thigh injury this week, should be fit enough to slot into defence. Likely Line-up: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci, Evra; Marchisio, Pirlo, Pogba; Vidal; Morata, Tevez Barcelona's one injury concern was over Andres Iniesta, who picked up a calf injury in last weekend's Copa del Rey final win over Athletic Bilbao, but he returned to training on Thursday and should be fine. Likely Line-up: Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets; Rakitic, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Neymar
This year's final will be held at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany. The magnificent arena, originally constructed to stage the 1936 Olympic Games, holds 74,475 spectators, is a UEFA four-star venue and is home to Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin. This is the first time Berlin has played host to a European Cup or Champions League final and it becomes the fifth German stadium to host a European Cup final after the Neckarstadion in Stuttgart, the Olympiastadion and Allianz Arena in Munich and the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen. please log in to view this image The 74,475-capacity Olympiastadion in Berlin will host the Champions League final on Saturday evening please log in to view this image It is the first time the Olympiastadion, built for the 1936 Olympics, has staged the European showpiece please log in to view this image A mosaic spelling out the Barcelona club motto 'Mes que un club' will be displayed at their end of the stadium
please log in to view this image Lionel Messi in a relaxed mood as he jokes with team-mate Luis Suarez during Barcelona training this week please log in to view this image Juventus star Andrea Pirlo steps off the plane upon the team's arrival in the German capital MAN IN THE MIDDLE Turkey's Cuneyt Cakir takes charge of the final. At Euro 2012, he took charge of the semi-final between Portugal and Spain and was the fourth official in the final between Spain and Italy. Cakir controversially sent off Manchester United's Nani in the quarter-final, second leg of the Champions League in 2013, effectively costing Sir Alex Ferguson's team the match. He also dismissed Gary Cahill of Chelsea in their Champions league semi-final with Barcelona in 2012. THE MATCH BALL The official match ball for the final was unveiled by Adidas on Thursday. The colourful design incorporates the stars of the Champions League logo and features an image of the Brandenburg Gate, the iconic symbol of Berlin. please log in to view this image The official Champions League final match ball on display outside the Olympiastadion in Berlin please log in to view this image The match ball features an image of the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin's iconic landmark WHERE ARE THE PLAYERS STAYING? Barcelona are staying at the five-star Grand Hyatt on Potsdamer Platz, right in the heart of the city. Its Vox Restaurant specialises in sushi, while the mesa restaurant serves authentic German cuisine. If Barca are successful (or even if they're not), the players and staff might enjoy perusing the list of 240 whiskies available at the Vox Bar. Juventus will be housed at the Regent Hotel on Charlottenstrasse, just around the corner from Unter den Linden and the Brandenburg Gate. The website for this five-star hotel quotes Conde Nest Traveller magazine, which called it one of the 'best places to stay in the world.' One highlight is the Fischers Fritz restaurant, which has two Michelin stars.
I think it will be tighter than most people think, Italian teams are no mugs defensively. Barca by a whisker for me.
Can see this being a good game. Chiellini is injured and won't take part, but I still think Juve might give Barca a game, although Barca will win.
I will be wearing my Barca top, yes that one, the one with the swear word on the back " H@@@@S" I will be drinking Spanish Beer, watching the sun go down over Mt Teide, with the Kestrel circling over my head. Life is good.... Messi please make my evening...
I'm still not convinced that they're Kestrels Beth. They don't really circle overhead much. Peregrines do!!!!
Hmmm! I can see it being more than that and I don't see it going to pens. I am hoping for a good match with both teams showing what they can do. Tevez still has something to prove in the CL for Juve. For Barca, it largely depends on how hungry Suarez is. (Sorry, couldn't resist). 4-2 Barca. Just got 55/1 on Berfair!!
Weather has changed not so hot and they are flying lower...and one flew right passed me yesterday...we are half way up the cliff. Smallish about double size of pigeon..lighter fronts...speckled or barbed front....much darker backs...edges to wings. Real hawk face...Pedestrians are bigger and lighter aren't they Col.???.....they have 3.babies which are smaller than the two adults One Caught a lizard yesterday... and took it to the kids, who came off the cliff to harrass mum or dad. We have not seen them hover...I must admit....lots of circling....and he just swooped on the lizard from quite a great height. Anyway whatever they are...they have made my holiday....I can still hear them calling from my room...anyway beer and footy calls
If they are double the size of a pigeon Beth, they are almost certainly Peregrines!! I'm sure you would have seen some "hovering" by now if they were Kestrels and also, Kestrels are a quite light brown. There again, Kestrels do catch lizards! It's just the "edges to the wings" that are throwing me. If you get a close look again, see if they have a yellow ring around the eye (Peregrine). It could be that the 2' wing span of a Kestrel is leading you to think that they are bigger than they actually are. They are around the same size as a pigeon.
You should go up to the observatory at the top Beth, you'll see the clearest night sky possible. I was there in 2004 for my 50th birthday and there was a 'blood moon' lunar eclipse. We had a guy from the observatory give us a lecture on the night sky and all the things you can see including satellites going past, it was a truly amazing night...
