Hopes of a Giorgio Chiellini clash with Luis Suarez in Saturday’s Champions League final has been dashed after the Juventus defender was ruled out through injury.
The Italy centre-back, 30, had been expected to line up against Barcelona forward, Suarez, who bit him at the World Cup last June.
But the key defender will miss the Berlin showpiece due to a calf tear.
Uruguay’s Suarez was banned for four months after biting Chiellini on the shoulder in the group game in Brazil.
Speaking earlier in the week, Chiellini had played down a potential first meeting with the 28-year-old since the incident, saying he would “hug him happily” and had “no problem at all”.
With no further injury worries, Barcelona coach, Luis Enrique will be able to call on his first-choice attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Suarez, who have scored 120 goals between them this season.
