5 key factors that will decide the outcome of the Champions League final
On Saturday evening, either the champions of Spain or the champions of Italy will deservedly be crowned champions of Europe. In doing so, one of these great footballing behemoths will also complete the treble and round off a magnificent season.
Barcelona remain most people’s favourites to lift the crown for the fourth time in the last nine years, but to discount Juventus is discourteous at best. The Old Lady of Italian football may not quite have the swagger of Catalonia’s finest, but that doesn’t mean to say that their efforts should be discounted.
Real Madrid found out to their cost that the Bianconeri are no pushovers and are more than adept at soaking up pressure and then nicking a goal on the break. They’re likely to have to employ the same tactics again if they want to emerge successful in Berlin.
Let’s take a look at five key factors that will decide the outcome of the Champions League Final 2014/15 -
Can Messi be contained?
Potentially the one player that can decide the destination of this year’s trophy. Lionel Messi is on fire at present, and has peaked at exactly the right time for Barcelona. The goal that was scored against Athletic Bilbao has to rank as one of his best ever, but more than that, he was involved in almost every key moment in the match. Because of the magnitude of his strike, his wonderful ball to Neymar, who’s strike was disallowed, has been largely forgotten.
Massimiliano Allegri will be acutely aware that if his players are able to stop Messi scoring, they’ll still have their hands full because of that innate ability Messi has to find teammates in even the tightest of corners.
If Juventus can limit the Argentine’s influence, then, frankly, they deserve to walk away with the title.
Will Suarez “bite” again when the provocation comes?
Giorgio Chiellini has done his best in the pre-match round of interviews to dispel any notion that revenge is on the cards from his point of view when talking about Luis Suarez.
Suarez’s transfer to Barcelona was delayed because of the Uruguayan’s actions in biting the shoulder of Chiellini in the World Cup, and indeed many Barca fans, disgusted by Suarez’s antics, were none too happy to see that the Catalans were still happy to sign the player.
It’s fair to say that his goalscoring prowess has shut up the naysayers but were he to react again, it’s likely that any incident would be decisive in favour of the Italians. With Patrice Evra not in forgiving mood, it promises to be a fiery opening to the match and whenever Suarez makes strides towards the opposition area.