Juventus vs Barca Champions League 2015 Finals: Who's Got the Edge?
Many were left disappointed when the all-Spanish, el classico party between two of the most popular football clubs in the world, led by the top two biggest draws of the sport today in Messi and Ronaldo, was gate-crashed by the Italians. Worse, the spoilsport locked up the gates before the Los Blancos could even enter.
It's Juventus against FC Barcelona in this year's edition of the Champions League. Juve eked out an entry to the finals by beating the heavily-favored Real Madrid with a 3-2 aggregate in their semi-final duel. But Italy's most elite club, dubbed as The Old Lady, has to play the role of the underdogs anew against the Catalonia-based squad.
Juventus would have to face a whole new different monster, and a three-headed one at that, with Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez. The "MSN Trio" combined for 114 goals this season, according to EuroSport.com.
The Old Lady has some proven reliables, as well. The firepower of this Juventus team should provide their counterpart a run for their money with the combination of Paul Pogba, Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo, Alvaro Morata, and Claudio Marchisio -- "A terrifically balanced and adaptable variety of players," says BleacherReport.
The two squads have not had too many encounters in the past. As per NESN, the Italians got the better of their Spanish counterpart in European soccer's elite competitions with a 3-2 head-to-head match-up result. In the Champions League (or formerly European Cup) the two teams were tied.
As for the winning pedigree, Barcelona will be playing in its eighth championship on Europe's biggest stage, and they were crowned Champions League kings in 2009 and 2011. Juventus, on the other hand, has two Champions League titles, three in Europa league, and two Super Cup, as per UEFA.com. These two clubs are two of the most elite teams in Europe, both having a winning tradition.
There are plenty reasons why a Juventus-Barca head-to-head collision could be just as exciting as the Spanish classico would have been. The most notable side shows would include the matchup between Neymar and Pogba, two compeers in their generation, which could make for an exciting preview of a showdown between the two greatest players in the near future -- comparable only to a Messi-Ronaldo tiff, the ESPN FC Asia notes.
Another matchup to watch out for should include Iniesta versus Pirlo, if only to get mesmerized by their mastery of the ball on the field. Also, to be included in your viewing itinerary would be Suarez facing off against his haunting past with Evra and Chiellini around. It's also interesting to note that both Buffon and Pirlo would make their return trip to the very same place where the two Italian National squad team mates were instrumental in La Squadra Azzurra's drubbing of team France for the 2006 FIFA World Cup title in Germany.
And, then there is the Messi-Tevez meet-up; the pair was should-have-been teammates for Argentina National Squad during the last World Cup had Tevez not been cut from the lineup. Now, all these should give every football junkies a lot of reason to be glued to their seats come June 6th, when the two elite squads figure in the final clash in Berlin's Olympiastadion.
Who do you think has got the edge in this year's Champions League finals? Take your pick.