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Juventus logo
Champions League | Final
Jun 6, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Barcelona logo

1-3

Morata (55')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Rakitic (4'), Suarez (68'), Neymar (97')

Half-Time Report: Ivan Rakitic sends Barcelona ahead in Berlin

Barcelona lead Juventus 1-0 at the interval of the 2015 Champions League final in Berlin.

Barcelona lead Juventus 1-0 at the interval of the 2015 Champions League final courtesy of an early goal from Ivan Rakitic.

The Croatian's strike came inside four minutes, but Juve managed to repel a host of pressure to keep the deficit at one goal after 45 minutes.

Ivan Rakitic of Barcelona scores the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League Final between Juventus and FC Barcelona at Olympiastadion on June 6, 2015© Getty Images

A poor clearance from Barcelona centre-back Javier Mascherano gave Juventus a sight of goal inside the first minute in Berlin, but Carlos Tevez could only volley over the crossbar from just outside the penalty box.

Barcelona took the lead in the fourth minute, however, when Neymar played in Andres Iniesta, who found fellow midfielder Rakitic inside the box and the Croatian finished into the back of the net.

Juve again had a sight of goal in the eighth minute when Alvaro Morata drove down the right before squaring for Arturo Vidal, but the Chilean could only curl over the crossbar.

Moments later, Neymar fired over the Juve woodwork as both teams attacked in the early exchanges.

Gerard Pique of Barcelona (top) celebrates with team mates after the goal scored by Ivan Rakitic during the UEFA Champions League Final between Juventus and FC Barcelona at Olympiastadion on June 6, 2015© Getty Images

Barca again came close in the 13th minute when Dani Alves let fly from inside the box, but Gianluigi Buffon managed to make the save as Juve's back four struggled to contain the flow of pressure.

Jordi Alba then fired over the crossbar from a corner as Juve desperately struggled to remain in the match in the opening 15 minutes.

Juventus improved as the half developed, but Barcelona remained the dominant side in Berlin, with Alba and Alves both causing problems in wide areas.

Morata had a swing at goal in the 24th minute after lacklustre Barca defending, but the Spaniard fired wide of the post.

The score remained 1-0 as the 30-minute mark approached, with Juve making it more difficult for the likes of Messi and Luis Suarez to combine in the final third of the field.

Juve had a penalty shout 10 minutes before the interval when Alba appeared to bring Paul Pogba to the ground, but replays showed that the challenge, which was fairly soft, was actually outside the box.

Suarez came close to scoring a second for Barcelona five minutes before the break, but his poked effort just moved wide of the post. Suarez then stung the palms of Buffon as the Spanish champions turned up the heat late in the first period.

Claudio Marchisio had a half-chance for Juve late in the half, but he fired straight at Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the Barcelona goal in the 45th minute to keep Barcelona on course for their fifth European Cup.

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Carlos Tevez of Juventus celebrates as he scores their second goal from a penalty during the UEFA Champions League semi final first leg match between Juventus and Real Madrid CF at Juventus Arena on May 5, 2015
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