The 2014-15 UEFA Champions League wraps up on Saturday when Juventus takes on Barcelona in the final in Berlin.
Sportsnet’s panel of soccer writers and broadcasters offer their predictions below.
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James Sharman
There is something that just feels right about a Barcelona vs. Juventus Champions League final. It’s like a snuggly, fitting sweater, an old pair of socks, the decision to end Dexter before it got completely out of hand. Barca-Juve is wonderful: two complete teams that each have star power, grizzled veterans and up-and-comers—not to mention two coaches that entered the season with a lot to prove, both of whom succeeded, and answered the baying wolves.
Of course Barcelona enter as favourites, and rightly so as since the year turned they have treated us to weekly displays of magic courtesy of a front three that just might be the most dynamic in living memory. Juventus on the other hand continued what they have been doing for four years: Utter domestic domination, playing a brand of soccer that really hasn’t got a weak point. This year, however, they added that ruthless touch that perhaps Antonio Conte’s Juve lacked. Max Allegri’s use of Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata has provided Juve with a world-class counter attack that will be key against Barca.
Prediction: Barcelona wins 2-1.
Gerry Dobson
Let’s hope for a classic. Maybe we’ll get it. It sets up well. An offensive juggernaut against a stingy defensive team. Barcelona against Juventus. At least it looks that way on the surface. But is it really that sort of a match up? Look at the final league table for the respective domestic champions. Juventus waltzed its way to the Serie A title conceding a paltry 24 goals in 38 matches. Stingy. But Barcelona were even better allowing just 21 in the same number of games in La Liga. Maybe I’m nitpicking. The point is Barcelona can defend as well.
Offensively there has never been a more frightening team. The three-pronged attack of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez are virtually uncontainable. But Juventus have three vital players of their own. Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba, and Carlos Tevez. Tevez had 29 goals. Yes, Barcelona is the better team and should win. It would take a Herculean effort for Juventus to triumph in Berlin this weekend. But it can be done. If both teams play their best, Barcelon wins. If Juventus play a perfect match and can somehow stifle Barca’s mesmerizing attack, then they have a chance.
Prediction: Barcelona wins 3-1.
Sid Seixeiro
World football’s never felt any better than it does right now. The unravelling of FIFA has begun. Sepp Blatter is on his way out, and the future of two obviously corrupt World Cup bids will justifiably be put under a long overdue microscope. The perfect end to this week would be to see soccer’s greatest player, Lionel Messi, wrap up a historic treble with Barcelona. The neutrals want it. The soccer Gods want it.
But it won’t happen. People have slept on Juventus for far too long. That will end on Saturday when Carlos Tevez nicks an early goal, and Juventus park the bus as only they can. Barcelona are front runners. Always have been. If they face a little adversity in Berlin, Juve will take the Champions League trophy home. For Pirlo, Pogba and Vidal, one of the greatest midfields in the historu of the “Old Lady,” this will prove to be a proper send-off considering one, or possibly two of those names, will be gone later this summer.
Prediction: Juventus wins 1-0
Dan Riccio
Coming into the season nobody would have predicted Juventus was going to make it this far. They’ve had much more talent on paper than their Champions League performance last year showed, and as a result have not been regarded by many as an elite European Club. Both Barcelona and Juventus appointed new managers at the start of the campaign, and Luis Enrique and Max Allegri are big reasons as to why these two teams have made it this far. However, I believe this final comes down to one player. Juventus are the heavy underdog. Why? It’s probably because of that guy named Messi. As good as Juventus is/are/have been, the Argentine is the best player on the planet and continues to show it in big matches.
Prediction: Barcelona wins 2-1.
Thomas Dobby
Juventus beat the odds to get here. And they will really have to upset the odds to pull this one off. Barcelona couldn’t be playing much better at the moment, especially Lionel Messi. The Argentine magician tore Athletic Bilbao to shreds in the Copa Del Rey final this past weekend. Throw in Neymar and Luis Suarez, and the front three look unstoppable right now.
Juve did shut down Real Madrid’s Ronaldo-Bale-Rodriguez trio pretty well in the semis, so they will feel up to the task. It would take an absolutely heroic performance from all 11 Juve players on the pitch. One team will win a treble. What more could you ask for? Enjoy it.
Prediction: Barcelona wins 3-1.
Thomas Michalakos
It goes without saying Barcelona are the favourites to lift their fifth European title—fourth in nine years. All the talk has centred on the attacking trident of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez (120 goals combined this season). Can anyone keep the Blaugrana trio off the score sheet? I say yes; and Juventus will be the first team to do so since February. Naturally, the loss of Giorgio Chiellini from a leadership standpoint is a tough pill to swallow. However, the battle must be won in the midfield for the Bianconeri to be crowned champions of Europe for the first time in almost two decades. The stage is set for Paul Pogba to become a Juve legend and for Andrea Pirlo to show he’s still got it. Claudio Marchisio is the final piece of Juve’s midfield trident that is essential to victory.
But the X-factor is goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. The Italian legend is only missing a Champions League winner’s medal to complete his collection of achievements. The 37 year-old lost in his only finals appearance in 2003—on penalties to AC Milan—but the stars are seemingly aligning for the Italian champions, and Buffon must be at his absolute best for the Bianconeri to succeed in Berlin.
Prediction: Juventus win 1-0
Jamie Doyle
This is what the Champions League does best: Take the giants of the game, franchises that are no longer just soccer clubs but vital cultural institutions in their countries, and pit them against each other. Club football’s showpiece competition may have an overdeveloped flair for the dramatic (see: The Champions League hymn), but matches like this come close to justifying it. Barcelona, the heartbeat of Catalonia and home to arguably the best player of all time; Juventus, the Old Lady, the standard-setters of pedigree in the soccer world.
Between them they have 54 league titles and six European Cup/Champions League crowns. And these past glories are the foundations of what may be a banner season for each club. Both claimed their domestic league and cup titles, meaning a historic treble will be completed this Saturday. So which team will claim it?
Barcelona are the not-quite-overwhelming favourites, for three key reasons: Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi. As attacking trios go, it’s hard to think of a more potent combination in soccer. They scored 86 goals between them in La Liga alone—more than every other team in Spain, bar Real Madrid; all of last place Cordoba’s goals amount to just a quarter of these three Barca forwards. What’s more, they’ve amassed 39 assists between them. Such is the nature of Barcelona’s many-headed-hydra attack: it’s finishers are also creators, stretching defences beyond their limits.
That attack will get the better of Juventus’ defence. Yes, the Bianconeri back line is a world class unit, but they’ll sorely miss Giorgio Chiellini when his veteran wiles will be most needed. Leonardo Bonucci has made a big step up this year, but he’ll need to make a heroic leap to contain Barca’s attack.
All that to say this: Barcelona will score. The question, then, is can Juventus score more? That’s hard to see. Barca’s defenders are no slouches themselves, conceding just 21 goals in Spain this year. The Italians are not to be taken lightly, but they’ve only got one player with a double-digit goal tally this year, and it’s hard to think Carlos Tevez alone can out-score the Catalans.
Prediction: Barcelona wins 3-1.
John Molinaro
As a die-hard Juventus fan since I was a kid, nothing would please me more than seeing my beloved bianconeri win its third European title. Barcelona are the favourites, and few are giving Juventus much of a chance. But I’m reminded of the last time Barcelona faced an Italian side in the final. In 1994, the “Dream Team” was destroyed 4-0 by Fabio Capello’s AC Milan in Athens in one of the most shocking results in the history of the final.
Barcelona has defeated some great clubs en route to the final, but they haven’t encountered a defensively solid team such as Juventus. That being said, Juventus has yet to face an offensively-explosive side such as Barcelona. With all due respect to Juve’s defence and to Gianluigi Buffon, I just can’t see them shutting out Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.
Prediction: Barcelona wins 2-0.
