Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon believes that his side only have a slim chance of defeating Barcelona in the Champions League final. 

The two clubs face off on Saturday evening in the same stadium where Buffon won the World Cup with Italy in 2006, but the 37-year-old underlined his respect for the opposition.

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon believes that his side only have a slim chance of defeating Barcelona in the Champions League final. 

The two clubs face off on Saturday evening in the same stadium where Buffon won the World Cup with Italy in 2006, but the 37-year-old underlined his respect for the opposition.

“Against Real we might have had a 35% chance of making it past them, so I guess the chances of now winning the trophy against this Barcelona side are even slimmer,” he said in an interview with UEFA.com.

“We are aware of this and we can't deny it – because it's just obvious. So we certainly have an abundance of respect for the Barcelona squad, for what they have achieved and for the players they have.

“But like I said about Real, we have a few weapons to compete and ways to try to make things difficult for them. So we will play based on that.

“I'm going back to Berlin after nine years. And I am curious to see whether the feelings and sensations will be the same. But I don't think there will be big differences to nine years ago.”

The veteran goalkeeper has never won a Champions League title and described his joy at winning the semi-final against Real Madrid.

I just felt a great happiness that I have only really experienced a few times, because when you are not the favourites or the stronger team and you still make it through to the next round, that is something very rewarding,” he said.

“For me personally, this is a big goal. It's a big goal because my career has been a long one – and obviously during all those years there have been a lot of complicated and difficult decisions to take.

“I took those decisions based on my feelings and based on my way of life. And I have to say that after nine or ten years – some of which have been really difficult – to come here again and make it with the whole team, the whole staff, the whole club and all our fans, that is just something great and something really rewarding.”

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