Champions League: Gianluigi Buffon focused on Barcelona test with Juventus
Friday 5 June 2015 16:34, UK
Gianluigi Buffon is preparing for what he has called “the game of our lives” when Juventus meet Barcelona in the Champions League final on Saturday.
The experienced goalkeeper has been at Juventus since 2001 but despite winning a World Cup with Italy and eight Serie A titles with Juve, Buffon has yet to taste success in Europe’s premier competition.
He came close to landing the prize in 2003 but despite saving two penalties in a shootout against Milan it wasn’t enough as Juventus were beaten 3-2 on spot kicks.
And 12 years on, Buffon is focused on not letting this opportunity slip through his grasp.
"This is the game of our lives," said Buffon, who is the only player remaining from that Juventus squad that were defeated in the final at Old Trafford.
"I would always want to be starting off as a favourite, but we have our weapons to try and make Barcelona's job more difficult.”
With four consecutive Serie A titles behind them, Massimiliano Allegri's side carry a wealth of experience heading into the game.
Four of their squad have already won the Champions League with other clubs - Andrea Pirlo with Milan in 2003 and 2007, Patrice Evra and Carlos Tevez with Manchester United in 2008 and Alvaro Morata with Real Madrid last year.
Allegri earned praise this week from his captain Buffon, who is returning to the Olympic Stadium in Berlin where he can reflect on happy memories of Italy's triumph against France in the 2006 World Cup final.
"What has impressed me most is (Allegri's) great intelligence in terms of settling in with the squad and trying to find out not just our technical qualities but also the mentality and morale of the whole team and each individual player," Buffon told UEFA.com on Monday.
"Plus, his tactical knowledge is outstanding -- after years of playing a certain system, he managed to get us to try alternatives and to perform even better," he added.
"Even so, he has not tried to completely change how we've played because in some situations or matches we have returned to how we played before.
"So I think this is his biggest achievement. He didn't try to enter the club and change everything, but to make changes step by step based on our needs and the situations encountered."
