There was a point in the 2014-15 UEFA Champions League season where Barcelona seemed destined for failure.
FIFA-imposed sanctions placed months earlier hindered any action during the transfer window period. Sporting Director Andoni Zubizarreta was given the pink slip for comments made about the club's inner working and the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision to uphold Barça's trade embargo.
As if off-the-field issues weren't enough, Luis Enrique -tasked with managing the second most valued sport franchise in the world - reportedly lost locker room influence when he and star striker Lionel Messi let their egos get the best of them.
"It happens at every club, but because it's Barcelona, it's made out to be a big huge thing. That's the problem," said defender Jeremy Mathieu in January following a highly-publicized verbal spat between Messi and Enriquez.
Just two days after being awarded the La Liga title, long-time defender Dani Alves on Monday aired grievances about contract negotiations breaking down. Alves - who has a contract until June 30 - begrudgingly said club officials didn't want to extend his contract six months ago, adding "Whether I stay at the club is an unanswered question."
Despite the lack of consistency, and in-house drama, the Catalans hit their stride at just the right time. It was bound to happen with possibly the greatest attacking trio the world has ever seen.
They beat Premier League champions Manchester City in the knockout round, and disposed of Coupe de la Ligue champion Paris Saint-Germain by a 5-1 goal margin in the quarter-finals. By the time Bayern München had won the second leg of their semi-final matchup, Barça had already stamped their ticket to Berlin.
Barcelona won 10 of 12 matches - losing a 3-2 thriller to PSG in September and in the semi-final at Munich Arena - and allowed just 10 goals on their historic run. Keeper Marc-André ter Stegen kept no fewer than six clean sheet in that span.
The extraordinary run couldn't have been possible without the three-headed monster of Messi, Neymar, and Luis Suarez; a trio that scored 121 goals in all competition this season. Neymar scored 50, including two in a 3-2 semi-final win over Bayern München that secured Barça's first trip to the European Cup final since 2011.
Suarez missed the first part of the season serving his World Cup suspension for biting an Italian defender, but progressively improved as he adjusted to his new surroundings. The former Liverpool striker, who signed a lucrative five-year contract last summer, played a pivotal role in the quarter-final first leg win over PSG, scoring two goal in a 3-1 victory.
And, of course, there's Messi; the near-flawless captain of an infallible team. Leo tied Cristiano Ronaldo for most goals and one-upped him in assists to lead all Champions League Scorers. There was a point where he scored 30 goals and notched 16 assists in just 29 appearances.
Messi's second-half strike in the La Liga title bout against reigning champion Atlético Madrid was the only score of the game. Two weeks earlier, he dethroned Ronaldo as the UEFA Champions League all-time scorer with his 77th goal in 100 appearances.
With the world's premier striker at the top of his game, there's little doubt Barcelona will be in top form against Juventus. They are composed of winners, unfazed by the grandiose of the game. Come June 6, they'll prove how potent a team deeming itself "more than just a club" can be.
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