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Sports News of Friday, 5 June 2015

Source: goal.com

Juventus plan for CL final without Asamoah

Kwadwo Asamoah Kwadwo Asamoah

The Ghanaian's trammates have named their 22-man squad for Juventus’s match against Barcelona on Saturday

Kwadwo Asamoah's Juventus have named their 22-man squad for Saturday's Champions League final against Barcelona in Berlin.

Max Allegri has named the 22-man squad to face Barcelona in the continental showpiece in Berlin on Saturday. Asamoah, who has played only once since returning from an extensive injury absence, has not been named in the Bianconeri select having not been registered for the knockout stages of the Champions League.

The Black Star misses out on what would have been the biggest match of his career alongside defender Giorgio Chiellini, who has been battling to recover from a calf problem, but who has also failed to make the cut.

By contrast, however, Juve have been boosted by the news that Andrea Barzagli—who won the World Cup with Italy in 2006—has made the squad, having recovered from a torn thigh muscle to make Allegri’s 22-man party.

Asamoah has keyhole surgery in December to fix a cartilage problem in his left knee, meaning that he missed the Africa Cup of Nations and the majority of Juve’s season.

He initially suffered the injury in November, and before his absence, made his last appearance for Allegri’s side in a Champions League victory over Olympiakos.

Heading into that match, he had featured six times in the league and twice in the Champions League.

The road to recovery has been long, and Kojo only returned to the bench on May 16 for Juve’s away victory over Inter Milan.

He took to the field against Napoli on May 23, playing 49 minutes and picking up a booking as the Old Lady secured a 3-1 victory over Rafael Benitez’s side.

The former Udinese man wasn’t involved in Juve’s 2-2 draw with Hellas Verona as the Italian champions rounded off their successful season, and will surely be watching on as his teammates attempt to secure their first European Cup since 1996.

Juventus have already claimed the Serie A title this season-Kwadwo's third-and also lifted the Coppa Italia after beating Lazio in the final.

Juventus squad:

Goalkeepers: Buffon, Storari, Rubinho

Defenders: Ogbonna, Bonucci, De Ceglie, Barzagli, Lichtsteiner, Evra

Midfielders: Marchisio, Pogba, Pirlo, Vidal, Padoin, Coman, Pepe, Pereyra, Sturaro

Strikers: Tevez, Morata, Llorente, Matri