Messi chasing history as Juventus eye redemption

Spain 4 Italy 0: The scoreline that scarred a nation, and above all, one set of players.

There were six from Juventus who suffered that defeat in the European final three years ago and six from Barcelona who celebrated victory. Italians have always maintained that the injury which reduced them to 10 men in Kiev was decisive, and tonight the absence of the injured Giorgio Chiellini will tilt the scales against them again.

This match offers a fascinating contest between Europe’s most prolific attack and meanest defence, but there is more to it than that.