Why Juventus Should Play with a Back 4 in Champions League Final

After a 13-year absence, victory over Real Madrid saw Juventus at last return to the Champions League final. The story of that semi-final triumph was undoubtedly the two goals scored by Alvaro Morata, the 22-year-old netting in both legs against the club he left only last summer.

Yet beneath the young Spanish striker’s headline-grabbing performances, another major factor was undoubtedly at play. Massimiliano Allegri has had an incredible impact since being appointed by the Bianconeri, his decision-making proving especially crucial throughout the Old Lady’s surprising run in Europe’s elite competition.

As they prepare to face Barcelona on June 6, it could well be that the choices made by the man in the dugout prove to be crucial. Chief among them is something else that was on display in that clash with Real Madrid earlier this month, leading to a tactical question that could be central to events at Berlin’s Olympiastadion.

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In the first leg against the reigning holders at Juventus Stadium, a 57th-minute strike by Carlos Tevez handed the home side a crucial but fragile 2-1 lead. Just seven minutes later, Allegri sent on Andrea Barzagli, simultaneously switching the side into a hugely familiar 3-5-2 formation for the remainder of the match.

It was a reversal of the shift made earlier in the campaign, the coach moving to a back four after three seasons in which the three-man defence had been the preferred framework of his predecessor Antonio Conte. Barzagli had missed a huge portion of the season injured, but since his return in early March, he had provided Juventus with a formidable tactical weapon.

The 34-year-old has now made 16 appearances, with the team winning on all but three of those outings. They also kept no fewer than nine clean sheets in those games, the former Palermo and Wolfsburg defender once again providing guaranteed solidity every time he takes to the field.

His performances—and those of the team with him in it—have led to speculation that the Bianconeri may line up that way against Barcelona. The 3-5-2 is seen as an antidote to the potent attacking talents of Neymar, Luis Suarez and the incomparable Lionel Messi, but the choice to use it may not be that simple.

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The alternative is what Allegri dubbed “4-3-and then we’ll see” in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia) earlier in the campaign. Within that formation, Juventus have been in devastating goalscoring form themselves, providing far greater support to the newly formed partnership between Tevez and Morata.

It has also allowed the likes of Paul Pogba, Arturo Vidal and Roberto Pereyra much more freedom, making the Bianconeri increasingly dangerous going forward. That stands in some contrast with the way the team can look when deployed to protect the three-man defence, often looking particularly stale if opponents can keep wing-backs Stephan Lichtsteiner and Patrice Evra occupied.

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A back four ensures that other weapons are available higher up the pitch, and it is vital that Juventus do not simply sit deep and allow Luis Enrique’s team to attack them while dominating and dictating the tempo.

Club director Pavel Nedved stressed that the team are acutely aware of that, telling Isport Blesk (h/t Football Italia): "Barcelona have a great attack but we defend well and not only that, we want to create problems for their back line. What we mustn’t do is be passive and hand Barca the initiative. They are used to playing in that situation. We must be careful, otherwise it won’t end well."

Allegri’s decision may also have been made much more simple earlier this week, after the club announced that Barzagli was suffering with a thigh injury. With his availability for the final now in doubt, Angelo Ogbonna perhaps offers an alternative, but handing him a starting berth in such a huge tie would clearly be a massive gamble.

Yet the coach has shown throughout 2014-15 that he is not averse to making bold choices, as he proved in fielding Stefano Sturaro against Real Madrid. The 22-year-old had only made six previous starts since arriving in January, but he repaid the faith of Allegri by turning in an assuredly mature performance.

The three-man defence—particularly in the event that Barzagli recovers in time—offers greater security, but the Bianconeri may once again opt to begin their first final since 2003 with a more traditional back four. It provides an intriguing question that will hang over the buildup to this huge encounter of two of the continent’s most prestigious clubs, and one that could yet decide the destination of the Champions League trophy.