UEFA Champions League Final: Juventus vs Barcelona

UEFA Champions League Final: Juventus vs Barcelona

Barcelona’s Attacking trio would meet Italian giant Juventus’ defence when the both teams meet in Berlin for their 8th Champions League final today. Both teams have won the domestic cup as well as their leagues respectively and winner of this match will decide who wins the treble this season.

The trio called MSN are liked by fans and media alike. MSN have managed to score 120 goals between them this season as Suarez’s adaptability to Barcelona has been commendable while Messi has been on fire since the turn of the year.

Juventus on the other hand managed to keep Real Madrid’s solid attack force at bay when the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez were not able to do much damage to the Italian side over two legs. Former Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata scored two important goals in both legs against his former side.

Both sides however have a squad which has been performing at the top level for the entire season. Barcelona’s Pique and Mascherano have shared a solid defensive partnership along with full backs Jordi Alba and Dani Alves. Whereas Pirlo, Tevez, Morata and Pogba have combined well this season to ensure vital wins for Juventus.

This will be the seventh time these two European Giants have met in European competition. The last time they faced each other was in the quarter-finals of the Champions League back in 2003, when Juventus went ahead to the next round by winning 3-2 on aggregate. Marcelo Zalayeta scored the decisive goal for Juventus in extra time after the two legs had both finished 1-1. Juve went on to reach the final that year but were beaten on penalties by Milan at Old Trafford.

Juventus will be participating in their eighth European Cup final but their record isn't too great, with two wins and five defeats. Those wins came in 1985, when Platini's winner saw off Liverpool at Heysel in a match completely overshadowed by events unfolding off the pitch. Their second win came in 1996 when Juve defeated Ajax on penalties following a 1-1 draw in Rome.

Barcelona are also about to take part in the eighth final and they have won four and lost three. Their first win came thanks to Ronald Koeman's free-kick at Wembley against Sampdoria in 1992. They came from behind to beat Arsenal in Paris in 2006 and have since recorded wins over Manchester United in 2009 (2-0 in Rome) and 2011 (3-1 at Wembley).

Both teams are without a star player each as Iniesta and Chiellini picked up injuries recently, however Iniesta is expected to start for Barcelona as he was present for training on Thursday. Andrea Barzagli had picked up an injury last week but is likely to feature in Juventus’ squad.

Possible Line up Juventus:

Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci, Evra; Marchisio, Pirlo, Pogba; Vidal; Morata, Tevez

Possible Line up Barcelona:

Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets; Rakitic, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Neymar