The unstoppable force meets the immovable object on Saturday night as Barcelona and Juventus go head-to-head in the Champions League final in Berlin.
In an unprecedented event in the competition, both can seal a treble of domestic league title, cup and European Cup.
Barcelona’s strike-force of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez have scored a combine total of 120 goals in all competitions this season.
Messi has scored ten goals and Neymar has scored nine goals in the competition, which makes the Catalan giants the first team ever in the Champions League to have two players who have scored nine goals or more in one season.
Messi needs just one more goal to become the top scorer in the history of the European Cup, as he is currently tied on 77 goals with arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Argentinian has helped the Spanish champions score at least two goals in ten of their last 11 Champions League games.
The Spanish giants also have good recent record in European Cup finals, having won the last three. However, they have a poor record against Juventus in Europe, having won two, drew two and lost four of their last meetings.
That statistic will give the Italians hope, as they head into this clash as underdogs. However, they did see-off Barcelona’s arch-rivals Real Madrid in the semi-finals and are unbeaten in their last nine Champions League games.
The Old Lady’s team is built on the foundation of a good defence and goalkeeper. Gianluigi Buffon is the solid last line of defence with experienced campaigners Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci in front of him. The trio will need all their experience to stop Barcelona’s lethal attacking trio though.
The omens are not good for the Old Lady though, as they have lost their last three finals in the competition, with their last final victory coming against Ajax in 1996, when they won the trophy on penalties.
Prediction
Juventus are no pushovers and it will not be easy for Barcelona to breakdown that resilient defence. However, on current form it is difficult to see any team stopping the MSN at the moment.
My prediction is a narrow victory for Luis Enrique’s side, maybe 2-1 to the Catalan giants.
Who will win the Champions League final?
