Grand Finale – Juventus vs. Barcelona meeting tonight at the Champions’ League Final
The Catalans from Barcelona are going to face the Italians from Turin tonight in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, for one of the world’s biggest soccer spectacular. How will it pan out?
June 6, 2015
The focal point of the European Soccer season is approaching by the minute now. Where two of the continent’s top teams will compete not only on the league’s title, but also on another very unique year of glory. As either side that wins will complete a fantastic treble (where a club wins three titles or trophies in a single season or calendar year).
Barcelona already did it in 2009, and Juventus wants an entry ticket into this exclusive club. The fact that both already took this season a respectable double will not be consolation – As the Champions’ League Final is a title on an entirely different level, so how will it go tonight?
Barcelona is the favourite to win tonight, a fact that is already been admitted off the record by some of the Juventus players. But the Italians were already an underdog this season against Real Madrid, and came out victorious. Juventus is a very strong team that is tough, organized, strategic, smart and hard working more than any other European side. Talent however, is in more abundance in the Barcelona side. This is why tonight is expected to be a great battle that is far from a one-sided match.
Although Juventus is the inferior side on paper, it is not absolutely the case, and as happened in the semi-final, Juventus bet the bookmakers and every other prediction and went on to win. It will still be a very tall order for Juventus, having to defend and close down Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr. and Luis Suarez – one of the most lethal attacking trio in football history. Probably the way for Juventus to slow down the trio (as stopping it is not an option), will be to try and concentre on a single player at a time – probably mainly guarding and closing down on Messi.
The main problem for Juventus with this Barcelona Trio is that they are all coming in top fitness, hungry and wanting to win. So for sure there will not be the possibility of declining them from having their way, it will probably be more about a fine balance of damage control.
The most interesting personal rivalry in this match is between the two Argentinian strikers that are rumoured to be foes off the field also – Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Juventus Carlos Tevez (it is said that Messi vetoed Tevez being summand to Argentina’s National Team for the last world cup.
There is also the rivalry between the two coaches. Remember, that both Luis Enrique from Barcelona and Massimiliano Allegri from Juventus are in their first season at the helm. Both managed to hit the ground running and implement interesting changes in their teams on the go. Allegri is more experienced from his Spanish counterpart, and is considered a better tactical manager. Still, Enrique also proved this season immense talent and extraordinary creativity when required.
So what will tonight bring us? The midfield is going to be fascinating. Juventus holds one of the best connecting midfield crews in the world: Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba, Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal. This crew will be the crucial component in Juventus’s chance to surprise. Facing Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta, the Juventus 4 will try to produce some midfield dominance and create more ball possession, but should also be crucial in slowing down Barcelona’s attacking trio and cutting fast ball supply to Barcelona’s front.
Barcelona will most likely dominate possession and dictate the game pace, whereas Juventus will answer with a strong and aggressive defense, and will try to come out to bursting attacks, sending long balls to Carlos Tevez.
It will be one of the most phenomenal games to watch, I’m excited!!
