Even before Giorgio Chiellini's injury robbed us of a meaty reunion with Luis Suarez at tomorrow night's Champions League final, there were already plenty of subplots to come between Barcelona and Juventus.
Suarez will still have to face to face with Patrice Evra, who he famously clashed with while both were in the Premier League.
Lionel Messi could etch his way even further into the pantheon of all-time greats if he can cap his recent great form with an inspiring performance to win yet another Champions League winners' medal.
Former West Ham buddies (albeit briefly) and fellow Argentines Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano will go toe-to-toe, while Paul Pogba could make a statement regarding his huge potential.
But one subplot stands out for me and that is Xavi and Andrea Pirlo. The Catalan and Italian duo are arguably the two greatest midfielders of their generation, with a host of medals in their cabinets - or wherever they keep their huge and varied haul of trophies.
And when you trace both of their careers, there is more symmetry than you would think.
Early struggles
Born about six months apart - Pirlo just turned 36 and is elder of the two - both players took time to work their way to the status they currently hold on to.
Despite his potential and playing further forward than he later did in his peak years, Pirlo struggled to make an impact after signing for Inter Milan from Brescia way back in 1998. In the end, he just made 22 appearances for the Nerazzurri over three seasons which were largely spent on loan.
Xavi impressed early on after breaking through from Barcelona's famed youth academy under the management of Louis van Gaal, but recently reminisced that he was not fully appreciated in an interview with El Periodico: "I didn’t get recognition until 2008, when I’d been in the team for ten years. If I leaf through papers from years gone by, it makes me laugh: they said I was obsolete, that Edgar Davids made me look good, that I only moved the ball from side to side, they called me ‘the windscreen wiper.'"
Styles
The two share some similarities and striking differences in their respective approaches in midfield. Both can control the flow of a game - Xavi in the more metronomic style that aided Barcelona in the peak years under Pep Guardiola with Off The Ball's European football correspondent Graham Hunter likening it to "the reverse sheepdog" as he moves team-mates and opposition around to his will.
It goes without saying that Pirlo can pick out a gem of a pass from his favoured deep-lying role as has been exemplified over the years, without looking flustered.
But it's the fact that the two rely on intelligence and mastery of the ball amid the physicality of midfield which really unite pair, and watching them over the years, it always seemed as if they had an eternity on the ball.
Admired by Pep
It is probable that Pep Guardiola would not have as much as he did in charge of Barcelona without Xavi's guidance in midfield, with Guardiola recently lavishing him with the title of best ever Catalan player.
But the Bayern Munich coach also tried to attract Pirlo to the Nou Camp as the bearded genius recalled in his autobiography:
"We're already very strong, I really couldn't ask for better, but you'd be the icing on the cake," Pep had told him. We're looking for a midfielder to alternate with Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets, and that midfielder is you. You've got all the attributes to play for Barcelona, and one in particular – you're world class."
International success
Both Pirlo and Xavi became integral to their respective national teams' successes at international level. As Spain moved towards a tiki taka philosophy during the latter years of Luis Aragones' time in charge, the 35-year-old became the key cog and ideologue of the style. It was his pass that fed Fernando Torres in the final of Euro 2008 - a tournament in which he won the Best Player award - and was also a crucial part of victories at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
Likewise, his Italian counterpart played in the final of a European Championship, but lost to Xavi's Spain three years ago. However, he also won the most Man of the Match awards (three) as he helped his side to victory at the World Cup in 2006, which means he returns to Berlin tomorrow which was the scene of that triumph.
But before, Spain or Italy won those tournaments, Pirlo and Xavi were part of sides that initially underachieved at major tournaments, with the Azzurri bowing out of of Euro 2004 at the group stage - Pirlo's first major tournament.
Xavi suffered similar disappointments in 2002, 2004 and 2006.
With Xavi moving to Qatar and Pirlo being linked with an MLS move, let's enjoy those two legends one more time tomorrow night.
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