Logic says Barcelona and Juventus shouldn't even be in the UEFA Champions League final.
One lost their coach just as training sessions got underway last summer. The other gave their sporting director a pink slip mid-season. Deciphering which situation goes with which club is futile as both persevered amid doubt and scrutiny that would destroy other clubs.
In Juve's case, may though failure was imminent. Having just been given the boot by AC Milan, Massimiliano Allegri took over coaching duties for the Old Lady following Antonio Conte's abrupt departure; a move that was met with incredulity from Juventus fans.
Yet they persevered, rolling through the Champions League on their way to the knockout stages. Ageless wonder Gianluigi Buffon stymied opposing strikers throughout the tournament, shutting out Malmö, Athlético, and Monaco before holding Cristiano Ronaldo and defending champions Real Madrid to just two goals.
Carlos Tevez led the club with seven scores, including a penalty goal in the semi-final against Los Blancos. Juventus wouldn't have made it so without the player they deemed "Player of the Season" last year.
Still, Tevez won't be the most dangerous Argentinian striker on the field in Berlin. That distinction goes to Lionel Messi.
A lot was said about Messi's relationship with coach Luis Enrique. There were locker rooms arguments spurned by large egos, ultimately leading to Barcelona's lackluster beginning. Once Enrique just let Messi play, he, Neymar, and Luis Súarez grew unstoppable.
The trio notched a record 120 goals, many during a hot streak that saw the Catalans win 10 of 12 Champions League matches. No two players had ever recorded nine or more goals in a single campaign until Neymar and Messi did so this season. Suarez posted 16 despite missing a big chunk of the season due to a World Cup suspension.
Barcelona arguably carries football's three most potent strikers. Juventus backs Italy's most storied goalkeeper in Buffon. Come Saturday, something's going to give.
When: Saturday, June 6, 2015
Where: Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany
Kick-off: 2:45 p.m. EST
Live Stream: FOX Sports Go, FOX Soccer 2Go
TV: FOX
What to Watch For:
Buffon's redemption - For all the accolades he's received and championship team's he's led, Buffon's one failed accomplishment - the sole blemish on an otherwise impeccable stat sheet - is winning the European Cup.
This may be the 37-year-old goalkeeper's last shot.
Buffon, like Barca's ter Stegen, maintained six clean sheets during Champions League play. The difference is Buffon did not concede a goal within the first or last 15 minutes of a matchup this season. Anyone questioning whether he's still a premier keeper can look to Juve's semi-final matches against Real Madrid where he allowed just two goals on his way to earning Man of the Match honors in the second leg.
If there is such thing as a storybook ending, Buffon is one victory away from it.
Messi and Suarez thriving with Chiellini out -Giorgio Chiellini won't be in danger of Súarez chomping down on his shoulder again. That's both good and bad news for the Italian defender, as a calf tear suffered earlier in the week will keep him from competing.
Chiellini's absence hinders an already inauspicious game plan. Despite Andrea Barzagli's return from a thigh injury, Angelo Ogbonna may start at center-back, opposite Leonardo Bonucci.
Bonucci - a world-class defender in his own right -will have trouble anticipating Messi's wily cuts. The Argentinian strike thrives doesn't have trouble finding blind spots, especially against an opponent who can't keep pace. Had Chiellini withstood injury, Juve would have a glimmer of hope of containing Messi.
Prediction - Barcelona 3-1
Projected Lineups:
Barcelona (4-3-3): ter Stegen, Alba, Piqué, Mascherano, Alves, Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta, Neymar, Súarez, Messi
Juventus (4-2-2): Buffon, Evra, Barzagli, Bonucci, Lichtsteiner, Pirlo, Pogba, Marchisio, Vidal, Tevez, Morata
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