The UEFA Champions League final is nearly upon, and Playing For 90 has gathered the predictions of its resident experts for you scrutinise. Enjoy!
It all comes down to this.
Barcelona are set to take on Juventus on Saturday evening in Berlin in what promises to be a blockbuster of a match. The match-ups could not have been better.
Following a slow start, Barcelona have well and truly hit their stride in the last few months. While credit has, primarily, gone to the Blaugrana’s infamous ‘MSN’ trident, above all, the often polarising figure in coach Luis Enrique certainly deserves all the plaudits for turning things around. ‘Turning things around’, though, is an understatement, and no words can aptly describe the way in which the Catalans have powered to a domestic double this season.
More from Champions League
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- Manchester City win their first Champions League
- Champions League Final: Manchester City meets Internazionale in Istanbul
- Manchester City standing on the cusp of a treble
- Barcelona Femeni win their second Champions League title
The same, can be said of Juventus, who’s initial appointment of Massimiliano Allegri as Antonio Conte’s replacement raised a ‘few’ eyebrows, shall we say? Nevertheless, a renewed tactical flexibility has allowed the side to become even more dangerous in attack without compromising their defensive solidity, and their achievements in both Italy and Europe thus far, as Serie A champions, undoubtedly cements their status as one of the best.
The treble is up for grabs though, and PF90’s experts have decided to try their hand in predicting the result of Saturday’s encounter.
Cronan Yu (editor): Barcelona 3-0 Juventus
I’m not a betting man by any means, but I can’t see Barcelona losing this. Throughout the course of the season, the Blaugrana have become much more solid in defence, with the resurgence of Pique, their midfield is creative as ever and what more can we say about their front three of Messi, Neymar and Suarez apart from the fact that we already know they’re brilliant. They’ll be a team Juventus will find hard to stop, but at the same time, I’m wary of the threat that Allegri’s men can pose. Let the best team win!
Kevin Kelly (editor): Barcelona 3-1
Barcelona go into Saturday’s showpiece as the strong favourites to lift the trophy – and rightly so. El Blaugrana have been in unrelenting form this season, lead by the trident of Neymar-Suarez-Messi. Together the trio have found the back of the net 120 times this season in all competitions – a near unfathomable feat. While Massimiliano Allegri has injected a greater level of attacking threat to the already successful Juventus side, it is incomprehensible they can outscore Barcelona on the night, which seems like the only scenario in which the Turin side could win. Barcelona’s last Champions League victory in 2011 ended with a 3-1 victory and Saturday will likely be a case of history repeating itself.
Ryan Wrenn (tactical analyst): Barcelona 3-2 Juventus
I can’t see Juventus preventing Barcelona from scoring – Barca has been held goalless only twice in all competitions since the new year – so the trick will be balance. Allegri’s team has a proven ability to catch teams on the break though so I think Barca will also be lucky to get out of this without conceding. The real game will be won in the middle of the park. These are two of the best midfields in the world, though for significantly different reasons. It will be a joy just to see how they set out to best one another.
In the end, it’ll be a more lively affair that most people expect, though Barca’s indomitable offense, in particular Messi, will win out.
I believe Barcelona will be an outright winner, as they have a far stronger unit than Juventus. Barca – Juve final in my opinion will be like that Brazil – Germany World Cup final in 2002, where a defensive minded Germany was thrashed by more proactive and clinical Brazil. I think Barcelona will outpace Juventus, with Messi, Suarez and Rakitic all featuring on the scoresheet.
Fabian Funez: Barcelona 3-1 Juventus
Barcelona will lift the trophy. Juventus just lost Chellini and that only dampens their slim chances that much more. I predict Suarez getting the first ball past Buffon through an exquisite pass from Messi before the 25″ mark. I then see Messi making a second goal from just outside the box because he wants to call it an early night. Carlos “El Apache” Tevez will get one back at the start of the second half; the Italian fans will be on their feet. This will be a short lived celebration as another Copa Del Rey class of goal comes from Leo Messi.