Juventus's Giorgio Chiellini (calf) out for UCL final vs. Barcelona
Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini will not play in the Champions League final on Saturday against Barcelona because of a calf injury, the team announced Thursday.
Chiellini, 30, was forced to leave the team’s training session on Wednesday after he pulled his left calf muscle.
The team said an exam showed that Chiellini has a first grade tear of the soleus muscle in his left leg, forcing him out of the anticipated matchup at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.
Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has not announced a replace for Chiellini, but Andrea Barzagli could be tasked with that duty.
At home with Barcelona, Luis Suárez faces past demons in UCL final
Saturday’s match would have been the first time Chiellini would have faced off against Barcelona forward Luis Suárez since Chiellini was bitten by Suárez in his shoulder during Italy’s World Cup Group D match against Uruguay last June.
FIFA banned Suárez from all football activities and stadiums for four months, fined and suspended him from nine international matches for displaying "an act of unsporting behavior towards another player."
Chiellini has said the biting incident is in the past and would have no problem shaking Suárez's hand before the final.
- Scooby Axson
