DISQUS SHORTNAME

Friday, June 5, 2015

Barcelona Have Faced Nothing Like Juventus - Lippi

Barcelona have faced nothing like Juventus - Lippi
Juventus' 1996 Champions League-winning coach Marcello Lippi believes the Bianconeri will present Barcelona with their toughest tactical proposition in some time when the two sides meet in the 2015 final in Berlin on Saturday.

Lippi, who also led Italy to World Cup glory in 2006, has told Goal that the Serie A champions have qualities that Barca have yet to face under Luis Enrique, making them something of an unknown quantity to the Catalans.

"These are the best two teams in Europe this season, but when a team gets to this point in a continental competition there are no certainties," explained Lippi. "In my opinion, Luis Enrique and his side have not faced a team so compact, sturdy and so willing to defend as Juventus.

"But the Bianconeri also know how to counter-attack with speed when they regain possession, and this could be a factor in how the game turns out. Barcelona are favourites, of course, but I don't think it will be as easy for them as many seem to think.

"The Catalans have Martians in their attack in Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, and that will make life very complicated for Allegri. But Juve are organised and tough, and we mustn't forget that Buffon is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. I expect a more balanced game than most seem to think it will be."

The 67-year-old added that he sees something in this Juve side that he has seen somewhere before.

"This Juve is growing similarly to my side back in the 1990s, first in Italy and then in Europe. Perhaps before long they will find themselves winning the Club World Cup just as we won the Intercontinental Cup in 1996. I would be delighted if Allegri were to win the trophy. I am not envious as they are all feelings I experienced and they are intoxicating."

And Lippi agrees that Juve have shown a flexibility in their Champions League campaign which bodes well ahead of the final.

"I have no doubt about it, just look at the things we've seen from this side. In Dortmund, for example, Juventus really took the initiative, showing superiority and a real awareness of their potential. Then against Madrid they got on top in the home leg, and while they were forced to suffer a little in the return that is normal for any side at the Bernabeu. They could even have won that game when you consider some of the chances they created.

"After three league titles, Allegri has come in and really added something. He has removed any anxieties from the squad and they have grown tactically. They now play in two different shapes without any transitional issues. This I how huge teams function.

"Luis Enrique has had a similar impact at Barcelona, and has got the best out of Suarez, Neymar and Messi while at the same time they recognise that he is the leader. We all know how the Blaugrana play, the way they use the ball so well and are hard to break down, but they have never faced a team like Juventus, who are so willing to defend so Messi and company will find it difficult

"Juve, though, must believe in themselves and take advantage of Barca's weaknesses. They must not be in awe of the opposition, and remember that all of the pressure is on Barcelona. I expect Juve to be tactically astute, and in 90 minutes anything can happen."

The former Napoli and Inter boss, who had two separate spells in charge of both Juve and the Italian national side, insists there is no set way to prepare for a final.

"Everyone has their own way to prepare for such an event. The important thing is to be focused on the goal, on the field. In a final you have to expect that there will be slight deviations to the general rules, but the only important thing is the result."

Pedro Extends Barca Stay

Spanish international forward Pedro Rodriguez has extended his contract with Barcelona until 2019 despite being pushed into a fringe role over the past season.

"We have struck a deal with Pedro Rodriguez to extend his contract until June 2019," Barcelona said in a statement.

His previous deal had a year to run and the man who has slipped down the Barcelona pecking order since the arrivals of Neymar and Luis Suarez was thought to be considering his options.

The 27-year-old won the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 with Spain, for whom he has 50 caps, but started just 22 games for Barcelona this season, scoring eleven goals.

Pedro came through the Barcelona youth system and was brought into the first team by Pep Guardiola with his breakthrough year being 2010.

Five Key Questions In The UCL Final

Five key questions in the Champions League final at Berlin's Olympic Stadium on Saturday between Juventus and Barcelona:

Can the Juventus defence contain Barcelona's MSN strike-force?

Barcelona's South American strike-force of Argentina superstar Lionel Messi, Brazil's Neymar and Uruguay's Luis Suarez have scored 120 goals between them already this season as Suarez has slotted seamlessly into Barca's attack and Messi has been in the form of his career.

But the Juventus back four managed to subdue Real Madrid's star-studded attack and soaked up all that Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema threw at them in the second leg of their semi-final tie. Now, without the injured Giorgio Chiellini, they must repeat that performance.

Can Juventus get a grip on Barcelona in midfield?

Led by the class of veteran Andrea Pirlo, and with Arturo Vidal, Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba in there too, there is enough quality in the Juventus midfield for them to take on the Barcelona trio of Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic and Andres Iniesta.

Barcelona can also call on the veteran Xavi Hernandez, who will at some point during the game make his final appearance for the Catalans before joining Qatari side Al Sadd next season.

Can the old master Gianluigi Buffon outshine Barcelona 'keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen?

As the only survivor from Juventus' last Champions League final appearance in 2003, the 37-year-old Buffon is showing no signs of ageing and is determined to win his first European Cup.

Buffon, who was outstanding in Juve's 3-2 semi-final win on aggregate over Real Madrid, is relishing a return to the Olympic Stadium where he won the World Cup with Italy in 2006.

In the opposite goal, Ter Stegen, who is 14 years Buffon's junior, has got the nod in Europe this season despite coach Luis Enrique selecting the Chilean Claudio Bravo in La Liga.

Now, in his first season playing in Europe's elite club competition, he is looking forward to facing one of his childhood heroes.

"Buffon is a legend. He really has played a remarkable season. It was great to see him perform the way he did against Real Madrid," said Ter Stegen. "It's a good opportunity for him, but I hope I can win the final, not him."

Can Morata and Tevez break their Barcelona duck?

With 14 and 29 goals respectively, Alvaro Morata and Carlos Tevez have forged an impressive partnership up front for Juventus, but both have an extra point to prove against Barcelona.

Morata never scored against Barca when he was on the books at Real Madrid, while Tevez was on the losing side for Manchester United against Barcelona in his last Champions League final appearance.

Having lifted the trophy with United in Moscow in May 2008 by beating Chelsea on penalties in the final, Tevez played the second half of the 2009 final in Rome when Messi orchestrated Barca's 2-0 victory.

While Messi threatens to again steal the limelight in Berlin, Barcelona's Javier Mascherano warns their Argentinian compatriot Tevez is just as deadly in front of goal.

"He is one of the best players I have ever shared a pitch with and he has an incredible winning mentality," said Mascherano.

"He is a player that likes to play these type of games and clearly is one of the most important players in the Juventus team."

Can Juventus break Barcelona's resolve at set-pieces?

Only once this season has Barcelona's defence been breached from a set-piece, when Bayern Munich defender Medhi Benatia headed past Ter Stegen from a corner early in the Champions League semi-final second leg.

But with their height and strength, Juventus will test the Catalans' defence in the air from dead-ball situations.

Morata's crucial equaliser following a Pirlo free-kick in the semi-final second leg against Madrid ultimately booked Juve's ticket to Berlin. Barcelona's centre-backs Mascherano and Gerard Pique will therefore need to be at the top of their game in the final, especially whenever Pirlo gets the chance to send in a free-kick.

Archive

TWITTER

Hot in week

archive