The Olympiastadion in Berlin hosted the 2006 World Cup final between France and Italy, and it will soon again host a heavyweight showdown between Barcelona and Juventus in the Champions League.
Ahead of the final of Europe’s elite club competition, with the Blaugrana contesting the Old Lady (11/5 with Coral to triumph), here is a star-studded list of players to have featured for both successful clubs during their careers.
Lilian Thuram France’s record international appearance holder Thuram enjoyed a highly decorated playing career both in Spain and Italy with these two European giants.
After five seasons with the Old Lady, where the defensive giant claimed back-to-back Italian top-flight crowns, Thuram joined Barcelona for a two-year stint following the Calciopoli scandal.
Watch Thuram make two great challenges before scoring a delightful double for France.
Gianluca Zambrotta Like Thuram, this former Italy international full back arrived at the Nou Camp from Juventus in the summer of 2006, but could only lift one Spanish Super Cup in his time in Spain.
Zambrotta’s most influential and successful playing days came in Serie A, when he won a double of league crowns, but was denied a Champions League medal in 2003 when Juventus were overcome by his other eventual employers AC Milan.
Watch Zambrotta strike a superb effort against Ukraine on the way to Italy’s World Cup victory in 2006.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic “You bought a Ferrari, but you drive it like a Fiat,” the damning words of PSG’s Ibrahimovic, describing the man management ploys used by his former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola.
It’s fair to say Zlatan never really enjoyed his time at the Nou Camp, but he still managed to strike 22 goals in 46 appearances, an impressive feat considering he netted 26 times in 92 outings for Juventus.
The Sweden international star has rallied to league title triumphs with both clubs, but remains without a Champions League medal in his prestigious career so far.
See Ibrahimovic typically score in sensational fashion for Juventus against Ronald Koeman’s Benfica.
Martin Caceres The only player in our list currently still featuring for one of the two clubs in question, but unfortunately will not make an appearance in the Champions League final this season, having picked up a troublesome ankle injury.
Uruguay international defender Caceres has only made 14 appearances this term for the Italian giants and will also miss his country’s Copa America campaign this summer (11/1 to triumph in Chile).
The 28-year-old enjoyed two loan spells in his career; including in 2009 when he was at Barcelona, before eventually making a permanent switch from Sevilla in 2012. Caceres was part of the 2009 Champions League winning Barcelona squad and has won four consecutive Serie A titles in Italy.
Watch Caceres clinically pick out the top corner for the Old Lady’s winner against rivals AC Milan.
Michael Laudrup This deadly Dane was an exhilarating attacking star for Juventus for four seasons before switching to Barca in 1989, where he went on to captivate the Nou Camp for five years, winning the European Cup in 1992 and four La Liga titles.
Watch Laudrup finish off a lovely Barcelona move to volley past El Clasico rivals Real Madrid.
Edgar Davids Last, but certainly not least, Dutch legend Davids featured for the Old Lady during seven successful years, securing a treble of Serie A crowns and two Italian Super Cup victories.
In his final year with the Turin titans, combative Davids was sent out on loan to the Nou Camp, where he helped Barcelona finish second to Valencia, having been faltering mid-table previously under Frank Rijkaard.
This Netherlands legend lifted the Champions League with Ajax in 1995, while his former club Barcelona will be vying for their fifth European crown in Berlin, and are odds-on 4/11 favourites to triumph.
Watch Davids score an absolute thunderbolt for Ajax in an Eredivisie clash.
