Juventus defender Chiellini ruled out of final

Juventus are resigned to being without central defender Giorgio Chiellini in Saturday's UEFA Champions League final, the 30-year-old having suffered a torn calf muscle in training on Wednesday.

A statement from the Turin club reads: "As the clock ticks down to Saturday's showpiece event at the Olympiastadion, Massimiliano Allegri's men focused on tactics at the Juventus Centre. Missing out was Giorgio Chiellini, who underwent tests after reporting discomfort in his calf on Wednesday. The scan revealed a grade one tear of the soleus muscle in his left leg, meaning the defender will miss Saturday's final with Barcelona."

With the Italian international definitely sidelined this weekend, coach Massimiliano Allegri will have to consider his options in the next two days. Andrea Barzagli is expected to be available after shaking off a thigh injury and could slot in next to Leonardo Bonucci in a conventional back four, with Angelo Ogbonna an alternative if the 34-year-old is not up to the challenge.

A more cautious approach might be to field the three central defenders – Bonucci, Barzagli and Ogbonna – in the starting XI, though this would deprive the Bianconeri boss of any defensive solutions on the bench.