Champions League Final 2015: Odds and Form Guide for Juventus vs. Barcelona
Barcelona and Juventus have the chance to immortalise their names in the rich annals of European football on Saturday, as the two square off in the Champions League final in Berlin.
The champions of Spain and Italy have each thrilled us with their phenomenal performances both domestically and in Europe so far this season. As such, it’s easy to make a case for each team making that final, crucial step in the German capital.
Ahead of the biggest game on the European football calendar, here’s a look at some key odds, the form of each side ahead of this one and the players who could make the difference in this enormous clash.
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| To Lift the Trophy (Form) | |||
| Juventus (DDWWWD) | 12/5 | Barcelona (WWLWDW) | 1/3 |
| First Goalscorer | |||
| Lionel Messi (Barcelona) | 3/1 | Carlos Tevez (Juventus) | 7/1 |
| Neymar (Barcelona) | 5/1 | Alvaro Morata (Juventus) | 11/1 |
| Luis Suarez (Barcelona) | 5/1 | Fernando Llorente (Juventus) | 11/1 |
| Pedro (Barcelona) | 13/2 | Arturo Vidal (Juventus) | 12/1 |
For other markets and full odds listing, check out OddsChecker.com. Figures accurate as of 6 p.m. (BST), June 3.
Luis Suarez—First Goalscorer 5/1
Much of the talk ahead of this final has centred on the attacking talent at Barcelona’s disposal, with the triumvirate of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez terrorising defences across Spain and Europe.
As we can see here courtesy of Squawka Football, the trio has been remarkably prolific during this campaign:
Messi is naturally the favourite to notch the first goal in this encounter, but Suarez represents brilliant value at 5/1. The Uruguayan will play at the point of the attack and has been in blistering form so far in 2015.
After starting the season late because of a ban and subsequently being shifted around this Barcelona team, Suarez struggled to make an initial impact. But Messi’s redeployment on the right-hand side and the former Liverpool man moving into his best position at the centre of the attack has seen Suarez become a ferocious influence for the Blaugrana.
Here are some of his best moments from his debut campaign at the Camp Nou:
With Juventus likely to focus their attentions on stopping Messi in the early stages of this one, some extra space should be afforded to the likes of Suarez and Neymar. The former has been an unselfish presence since joining up with the Catalans, but expect his clinical edge to get Barcelona off to a flyer in Berlin.
Barcelona—To Lift the Trophy 1/3
Juventus are a team to be taken seriously in this final, and those predicting that Barcelona’s attacking flair will blow the Bianconeri away may be a little disappointed. Nonetheless, the Spanish giants will have a little too much on the night.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side showed their mettle to down Real Madrid in the semi-final, and if any team in Europe has the personnel to nullify Barca, it’s the Italians. But the Camp Nou club are a side founded on a lot more than their attacking flair.
As Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe notes here, the Catalonians are a more complete team than their Serie A opposition:
It’s a tough assessment to argue with. Not only do they have a phenomenal array of attacking options, but the midfield—bolstered superbly by the addition of Ivan Rakitic—has been brilliant, as has an admirably stringent defence.
As noted by messistats (via barcastuff), Barcelona kept an impressive amount of clean sheets in La Liga this season:
"Most clean sheets in this Liga: Barcelona 23 - Atletico 19 - Villarreal 16 - Madrid 15 - Sevilla 14 - Athletic 14 #fcblive [via @messistats]
— barcastuff (@barcastuff) May 25, 2015"
They may find it difficult to do so against a Bianconeri team that has an excellent midfield and a couple of superb strikers in Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata. But when two defensively sound teams come together, typically the side with the most game-changers will emerge victorious.
Barcelona have three in their ranks, and after Suarez has got the La Liga juggernauts off to a flying start, expect Messi to relish the space that’ll be afforded to him as the game rumbles on. Eventually, the genial Argentine will fire the Blaugrana to what will be their fifth European crown in a 2-1 victory.
