On Saturday night Europe’s two best football clubs will contest the UEFA Champions League final in Berlin, with the winner between Juventus and Barcelona crowned the best on the continent.
Both sides recently won their respective league titles in Italy and Spain, convincing local crowds that they are the best team to represent their countries in this illustrious final. They also went on to lift their top cup competition trophies in recent weeks, meaning that they are both on a double this season, and the winner of the June 6 showdown will secure a stunning treble.
It is perhaps a surprising to accept that Juve have earned their place at this stage of the competition considering the other favourites that many would have expected to see in the ultimate encounter, but the Italians have been consistent and managed the downfall of Real Madrid in the semi-final, stopping the prospect of an El Clasico Spanish final.
Barcelona on the other hand have been amongst the favourites throughout the season, and their form has added further expectation to their European pedigree as they despatched of Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain along the way.
Many believe that the Spanish side is simply to strong and dominant for the Serie A champions to handle on Saturday, and with an incredible attacking trio formed by Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, it will certainly be difficult to find a bookmaker with odds in favour of the Bianconeri.
That being said, Juve have reached the final based on their defensive solidity and discipline, which is a trait that Italian teams always seem to possess in spades. A strong showing from the Turin giants could certainly derail Blaugrana plans in Berlin, and with midfielders such as Arturo Vidal, Paul Pogba and Andrea Pirlo supporting the likes of Alvaro Morata and Carlos Tevez, the Italians will be dangerous on the counter-attack after soaking up the pressure with their defence.
A massive blow for Juventus, however, is the fact that star defender Giorgio Chiellini will not be able to take part in the final following a calf muscle tear sustained in training, denying him the opportunity to face Suarez, the striker who bit Chiellini’s shoulder when Uruguay defeated Italy at the 2014 World Cup.
Angelo Ogbonna is set to replace the veteran Azzurri defender at the back, while Andrea Barzagli’s return to training after a thigh injury means that he could also be considered for a role on the night.
Concerning Barcelona’s injury worries, reports in Spain suggest that Andres Iniesta is nursing a thigh problem, though it seems that he will be fit enough to take part in Saturday’s decider.
Messi has been in phenomenal form once again this season, and after scoring two great goals to secure the Copa Del Rey last weekend, he will be anxious to make his mark on yet another final, and bring the treble to his beloved Barcelona. A determined Italian underdog stands in his way, and the encounter will certainly serve up a great deal of entertainment, as well as a piece of history.
