This Sunday morning, 00:15 IST, Juventus will take on Barcelona in a clash of epic proportions. Both sides have won their respective domestic leagues and cups. The team that wins the final will achieve the elusive treble.
Juventus coach, Massimiliano Allegri paints an edgy picture on the sidelines. Very unlike the forty seven year old. He keeps his emotions in check and urges his players to move higher up the pitch. Three minutes later, he pumps his fist in the air and is floating on air or as some would call it 'on cloud nine'. Juventus have just beaten ten-time champions Real Madrid. The man who started his managerial career in the lowest tier of Italian football has just guided his team to their first ever champions league final in twelve years.
This Sunday morning, 00:15 IST, Juventus will take on Barcelona in a clash of epic proportions. Both sides have won their respective domestic leagues and cups. The team that wins the final will achieve the elusive treble. For Barcelona, it would be a record second after their triumph in 2009 under Pep Guardiola.
The last time these two sides met was way back in the 2002-2003 Champions League quarter-finals. That tie ended 3-2 on aggregate in the Old Lady’s favor. A lot has transpired since then. Juventus were rocked by the Calciopoli scandal in 2006 and were relegated to Serie B for the first time in the club’s rich history. They did manage to secure a place back among the Italian elite the very next season. Slowly and steadily, the bianconeri etched themselves as Italy’s best. Barcelona on the other hand has won Europe’s most coveted trophy four times in the past decade.
Fast forward to 2014-2015 season and both teams find themselves on equal footing. Luis Enrique has metamorphosed the Catalans into a slick, ruthless machine. The stellar trio of Messi, Neymar and Suarez has scored 120 goals this season between them. The Blaugrana no longer dwell on the ball for prolonged periods. They are at ease even playing on the counter attack. Their tiki taka style of football has been replaced by a more eye pleasing alternative. Defensively, Barca look suspect and have been caught out on numerous occasions. But their opponents just haven’t managed to pick them apart. There’s a reason to this- Barcelona attack with such intensity that even opposition forwards regularly find themselves in their own half helping out their teammates. If and when they do get hold of the ball, the players are out of position and fail to crack open the Blaugrana defence. No wonder they’ve conceded only twenty one goals in la liga this season.
Juventus on the other hand have tinkered with their style of play throughout the season. Particularly in the Champions League. They’ve played eight games with a back four and four games with a back three. They look at ease under either formation. But considering how menacing Barcelona is up front, one can expect Allegri to field four proper defenders in the final. The black and white’s strength lies in midfield. Pirlo, Vidal, Marchisio and Pogba form one of Europe’s best midfield lineup. They ensure fluid transitions from defense to attack. Counter attack will be the name of the game. Although Juventus themselves are comfortable on the ball, expect Barcelona to dominate possession. This does not mean the bianconeri have to park the bus. Letting Barcelona have the ball for extended periods of time will put immense pressure on the defense. They key is to press high up the pitch and ensure Barcelona’s back four don’t have any time on the ball. Tevez and Morata have durable lungs to keep harrowing the Catalan defense all night. Player alert- defender Giorgio Chiellini will miss the final due to a calf tear.
Unsung heroes
Sunday will also see individuals who don’t end up on the front pages but are nonetheless vital to their side’s chances of success. For Barcelona, Ivan Rakitic and Javier Mascherano are two indispensable personalities. Rakitic replaced the legend Xavi, as the team’s midfield lynchpin. While he may not be as mechanical as the Spaniard, he is nonetheless equally effective. The Croat has a pass accuracy of 90% this season and rarely loses the ball. Mascherano has steadily established himself as one of Europe’s best defenders. The diminutive centre back is a ball winning savage and will be key to keeping Tevez and Morata quiet.
They say defending is a lost art. But don’t mention that to Patrice Evra and Stephan Lichtsteiner. The two fullbacks have been instrumental in Juventus’ hunt for the Champions League and Serie A. Frenchman, Evra has created a stupendous thirty three goal scoring chances for his team. Thirty of them have been key passes (passes that have the potential to lead to goals). Lichtsteiner on the other hand has been menacing both marauding forward as well as keeping his defense watertight. Prior to the final, he told Football Italia, “It’s not just about how we move in defense. How we move as a team will count. We come in with a lot of respect, because Barcelona are strong, but with absolutely no fear, just as with Real [Madrid]”
Two of Europe’s best have scaled numerous mountains in their celebrated history. But on June 7th, all previous victories will be put on the back burner as the epoch making treble awaits either of them.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}