The Barcelona Juggernaut will tear Juventus apart!

A dreaded Thiery Henry-Messi-Samuel Eto’o attacking trio scored 100 goals for Catalan giants in the 2008-10 season, leading the club to a sweep of the UEFA Champions League, La Liga title and the Copa Del Rey! Six years later, under the tutelage of former Spanish and Barcelona great, Luis Enrique, an even dreaded and ruthless Barcelona attack has instilled fear across Europe and the globe. It already has the 2014-15 La Liga and Copa Del Rey titles under its belt. They are on course to hit the 2008-09 treble. The Messi-Luis Suarez-Neymar evil axis has already hit a record 120 goals in the 2014-15 season. They have the chance to add onto that haul in Saturday’s UEFA Champions league final against The Italian Old Lady, in Berlin, Germany.

Juventus earned their place in the final through grit and mettle. After a narrow 1-0 aggregate win over AS Monaco in the Quarter finals, they confirmed its place in final by edging out defending champions, Real Madrid, 3-2. A 2-1 win in Turin was followed by a 1-all draw at the Bernabeau. The chief architect was none other than former Los Blancos forward, Alvaro Morata, who scored one in Turin and notched the priceless away goal in the return match.  Initially considered outsiders in Europe’s elite club competition, Juventus have returned to the greatest stage. Gianluigi Buffon, their decorated shot-stopper has a chance to lift the Big Ears trophy on the same turf, where he won the World Cup in 2006! With former Ac Milan master, Massimiliano Allegri, Juventus have a great tactician capable of winning any final. Remember, he knocked out an equally good if not better Carlo Ancelloti star-studded team in the semis.

However, as Berlin beckons in two days’ time, the odds favor Barcelona to lift the Big Ears on Saturday and cap an outstanding season. With the selfless yet unstoppable magician in Messi, Luis Suarez, one of the most ruthless strikers and the clever Neymar, Barcelona are on course to pop the champagne on Saturday. They got the master dribbler and midfield master in captain, Andreas Iniesta, pass-master Xavi Hernandez and one of the most technically gifted defensive midfielders of his generation, Sergio Busquets. Dan Alves, the hardworking Brazillian right-back is second in the assists charts in this season’s competition, is in their ranks too. Gerad Pique has rediscovered his class at the heart of the defense and comfortably blends with either, Mathieu, Javi Mascherano or the fit again Thomas Vermalean. In left back, Jordi Alba is a fast defender who oozes skill going forward and an appetite for goals. In Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Barcelona has a proven shot-stopper who has stood out in this season’s Champions League. His alternative, Mexico’s Claudio Bravo has excelled in La Liga and is a safe pair of hands too! On the bench, Pedro Rodriguez, Xavi, are players who can win a game on any day!

The near-flawless tik-taka that Barcelona have displayed this season will not disappoint when it matters most! In the first leg of their semi-final against Bayern Munich, Barcelona patiently stroked the ball up to the 77^th minute when sheer genius by Messi opened the floodgates. Did I say that it is the second goal when Messi took out Dereck Boateng’s batteries in a flash before beating a hapless Manuel Nuer in goal? Forget not the sublime skill and determination from Suarez to Messi that fed Neymar for the third goal, as Bayern threw their men forward. Many would say that in the return match in Munich, Barcelona rode luck. But hey, they scored two at the Allianz and anyway, the tie had been decided at the Camp Nou!

June 6^th is two days away. We all know what Messi-Suarez-Neymar axis portends for the Old Lady of Turin! It is likely to be a horrible night for the hard tackling Italian back-line of Chielini-Bonucci/Barzagli-Lichtsteiner-Evra and Buffon between the sticks! My money is on Barcelona to tear Juventus apart. A disappointment for the Catalan giants is unlikely and if it happens, Juventus will be worthy conquerors of Europe! Remember, since 1990, Barcelona have never lost in a Champions league final. Sampdoria (1991-92), Arsenal (05-06) and Manchester United (08-09 & 2010-11) were the victims. Juventus are the 2015 victims!

No one best describes Messi’s football wizardry than Juventus captain, Gianluigi Buffon who described Messi as ‘an alien that dedicates himself to playing with humans’!!