The bookies have placed Barcelona as favorites for tomorrow night’s UEFA Champions League final for obvious reasons.
The Catalans are blessed with probably the greatest player ever, Lionel Messi and supported by probably the best number 9 in the world in Luiz Suarez and also probably the best ’23 and under player’ in the world in Neymar.
Who will triumph in Berlin come Saturday night
Victories in two other competitions they played this season also strengthens that claim add in the fact that the Spanish side are chasing a second treble in six years and your claims are not far-fetched.
But what the bookies will not tell you is that Juventus want to win this this final as much as the Spanish champions. The Italians are probably better placed to win this final than you can imagine and here are the five reasons why.
– Head to Head/History
Juventus always cherish a clash against Spanish teams. Just like their victory over Real Madrid in the semi-finals, Juve have a better head to head record against Barca.
In 8 matches between both sides, the Old Lady has scored 10 goals compared to Barcelona’s 9.
In their most recent match in the Champions league, Juventus edged past Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate when the clubs met in 2003. After a 1-1 draw in Turin, Marcelo Zalayeta’s 114th-minute goal secured victory for Juve at the Camp Nou after Xavi had equalised a Pavel Nedvěd strike.
Barca boss, Luiz Enrique was captain when the Italian side knocked out the Catalans in 2003
Juventus will want to use that as motivation to win again.
– Morata and Pirlo’s Motivation
Ahead of the final, Alvaro Morata (remember he knocked out his childhood club, Real Madrid) and Andrea Pirlo (the architect) have both given reasons why they are extra motivated for the final.
While Morata says he wants to win the champions league so his childhood’s clubs greatest rival never wins the trophy, Pirlo says he wants to win the final to end his European career on a high note.
Morata is a player that uses different situations for his motivation. He used the motivation that Real Madrid never kept him as a player to knock them out of the Champions League at the semi-finals.
Alvaro Moratta celebrates his winner against Inter Milan in the league putting on an eye shade.
Pirlo meanwhile is 35 years old and has said he would like to end his Italian and European career with a third champions league medal. At 35, the maestro cannot perform at same level week-in week-out and on Friday morning hinted at a move to the MLS in America.
He said, “If we win it I might move abroad because Juventus will be my last team in Italy. MLS could be an idea, but for the moment I don’t have any thoughts about it; Juve is the only thing on my mind.”
With such motivations for Morata and Pirlo, you wouldn’t bet against both men turning in man of the match performances.
– Juve’s Defense
Like this writer pointed out before the Juventus/Real Madrid semi-finals, Juve have probably the best defense in the world. The combo of Bonucci and Chiellini in a four man defence of the former two and Barzagli in a three man defence will give any attack in the world problems.
Ask Dortmund, Monaco, Atletico Madrid, Napoli and Real Madrid.
Chiellini is know to be thuggish while Bonucci is known for his ability toread the game quickly
Though Barca has a great attack, it can always be thwarted. The last time any team produced any sort of defensive masterclass against Lionel Messi and co was in 2010 and that was by another Italian team; Inter Milan. In the second leg of the 2010 semi-finals, Inter played against probably the best Barca in history with 10 men for more than an hour following Thiago Motta’s red card.
Jose Mourinho and Chelsea especially have shown that a sturdy defense against the Spanish champions will produce results. Think that 2012 champions league semi-final against Chelsea which Fernando Torres and Ramirez settled.
– Barca are too reliant on Messi
Messi is a great footballer without doubt. Already a legend at 27 years old but even he himself knows he can be marked out of a game. Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid did it against him in six consecutive matches.
Lionel Messi is already a legend of the game at 27
If the supply to Messi is cut cut, Barcelona are in trouble. Messi has been invloved in 80% of Barcelona’s goals this season whether as the scorer, the man to assist or the man to start the attacks.
It shows how important he is to the team despite being the Catalans adding Luiz Suarez and Neymar to the team over the summer. When Luiz Enrique decided against playing Messi in Januray against a certain David Moyes Real Sociedad side, he felt the brunt of the press and the team as Barca lost in Anaeta.
Mark out Messi and you mark out Barcelona.
– The Underdog Tag Will Work In Their Favour
Juve have basked in the glory of their underdog tag in the Champions league this season. They were underdogs against a woeful Dortmund in the round of 16, same as in the semi-finals against a star-studded Real Madrid.
The tag of underdogs works a great lot against Barcelona in the champions league. Inter Milan and Chelsea on numerous occasions have shown that when the Catalans are considered favorites they can falter.
Both teams have arrived Berlin for the finals.
Welcome to Berlin
No comments:
Post a Comment
WE LOVE COMMENTS, POST A COMMENT