Can Juventus become ninth team to complete treble?
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
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Juventus have already captured the Scudetto and Coppa Italia, meaning just Real Madrid stand between them and history as the ninth team to win the treble.
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Juventus are bidding to become the fifth team in nine seasons to register a treble, but only the ninth in all. The Scudetto and Coppa Italia are both in the bag, meaning all eyes are now on Cardiff on Saturday. Succeed, and the Bianconeri will be in illustrious company – here are the eight sides to achieve the feat so far.
Celtic (1966/67)
Britain's first European Cup was secured by a team of players all born within 50km of Celtic Park, but often overlooked is the fact that in beating Internazionale Milano, Jock Stein's Lisbon Lions became the first side to complete the treble of domestic league, cup and European Cup.
Ajax (1971/72)
Inter were also the opponents for Ajax in the decider five years later and they had no answer to the Amsterdam outfit's 'Total Football' as two goals from Johan Cruyff clinched the treble.
PSV Eindhoven (1987/88)
With Guus Hiddink in his first season as a head coach, PSV romped to Eredivisie glory but the Dutch Cup and European Cup were tougher – decided in extra time and penalties respectively. Five of the squad added a EURO winners' medal that summer.
Manchester United (1998/99)
Sir Alex Ferguson's men were behind on the last day of the league season (defeat would have cost them the title), were a penalty away from bowing out in the FA Cup semis and, most famously of all, went into added time of their UEFA Champions League final trailing Bayern. They won them all.
Barcelona (2008/09)
Josep Guardiola's side beat Athletic Club 4-1 in the Copa del Rey final, demolished Real Madrid 6-2 to land the Liga title and made light work of United in the continental showpiece. "We're not the best team in history," said Guardiola. "But we've played the best season in history to win three titles."
Internazionale Milano (2009/10)
The fall guys for Celtic and Ajax's two trebles, the Nerazzurri found themselves on the opposite side of the coin. Diego Milito was the star, scoring the last-day decider in Serie A, the only goal of the Coppa Italia final and then both goals for José Mourinho's team against Bayern.
Bayern München (2012/13)
Bayern were sad to see the back of Jupp Heynckes but not so Dortmund. Reigning German champions BVB finished second in the Bundesliga (25 points adrift of Bayern), lost to their rivals in the German Cup and yielded again in the UEFA Champions League final – to a last-minute goal.
Barcelona (2014/15)
Barcelona's first term with Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar ended with a second treble – the only club to achieve the feat. As in 2008/09, they pipped Real Madrid in the Liga, saw off Athletic Club in the cup and won the UEFA Champions League by two goals, with Juventus vanquished by Luis Enrique's men.