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Backheel Breakfast: It’s Champions League final week!
Juventus know they shouldn’t win, but Barcelona are facing an injury problem.
Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images
Juventus are heading into the Champions League final as pretty big underdogs, according to their captain.
“Against Real we might have had a 35 percent chance of making it past them, so I guess the chances of now winning the trophy against this Barcelona side are even slimmer,” said Gianluigi Buffon.
“We are aware of this and we can’t deny it, because it’s just obvious.”
Their job could get a bit easier if Andres Iniesta can’t play. Luis Enrique says he’s not sure if his playmaker will recover in time after he had to come out of the Copa del Rey final with a calf injury.
On a completely different note, here’s a story about a kid who asked if Juventus were still in the Champions League when he woke up from a coma.
In the news
Clint Dempsey, Geoff Cameron and Alejandro Bedoya are out of the latest USMNT roster. (Stars and Stripes FC)
South Africa admit paying $10 million to CFU accounts, but say it wasn’t a bribe. (BBC)
Yaya Toure says he is definitely staying at City. (ESPN FC)
Arsene Wenger says he’s not spending huge this summer. (Mirror)
Leicester City players are in trouble after they filmed themselves having sex and racially abusing a woman. (Guardian)
Hertha Berlin have hired interim boss Pai Dardai permanently. (Bundesliga)
Derby County have appointed Real Madrid assistant Paul Clement as manager. (BBC)
You should be reading
Richard Farley on the totally unpredictable USWNT. (Soccer Gods)
Dustin Ward classified defenses based on different characteristics. (StatsBomb)
Alex Netherton on how Manchester United need to seriously strengthen their squad. (Paste)
Fun with transfer rumors
The section in which nothing should be taken seriously. It’s rumor season, so this section will be expanded, and as the summer rolls on, will probably be bigger than the actual news section.
Monaco might sign Jeremy Menez. (Football Italia)
Bayern are looking into Angel Di Maria, while Manchester United would like to bring Dante the other way. (Bild)
Chelsea might be interested in Toby Alderweireld. (Mirror)
Rafa Benitez to Madrid could spark Raheem Sterling’s interest. (Marca)
Yohan Cabaye is leaving PSG. Where’s he going? Maybe Crystal Palace. (Mail)
This weekend’s games
Barcelona coasted to a Copa del Rey win.
Wolfsburg impressed, winning the DFB-Pokal over Dortmund.
Arsenal thoroughly dominated Aston Villa to win the FA Cup.
South Korea held the USWNT to a 0-0 draw. (Stars and Stripes FC)
What to watch on Monday (click for listings, all times ET)
Karlsruhe vs. Hamburg (2:30 p.m.) - HSV drew 1-1 at home, and now face a serious fight to stay in the Bundesliga.
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