Barcelona and Juventus take on each other in what is frankly a colossus tie in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Barcelona go away to the Juventus stadium for the first leg, missing the suspended Sergio Busquets. Juventus though have most of their first team available to them for the game.
Also Read: Barcelona team news: Midfield maestro and three players out of clash against Juventus
The Old Lady have been brilliant at home this season, winning each and every game at the Juventus stadium. Take a minute and let that sink in. To say the Bianconeri are tough team side to beat will be an understatement, and tactically the Blaugrana will need to be at their best to get a favourable result to take it back to the Camp Nou.
#1 Play Javier Mascherano in the Busquets role
The biggest negative for Barcelona ahead of the game against Juventus is the suspension of Sergio Busquets. Apart from Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique, he is perhaps their most important player simply because of the job he does.
The only other player who can do a similar job in the team is Javier Mascherano, he plays the same role for the Argentina national and has done so in the past for Barcelona. Andre Gomes is the obvious other option in the role, and every time he has played the position in the League it has cost Barcelona points.
#2 Start Jordi Alba as a wing back
Jordi Alba’s future at Barcelona has been up in the media for a considerable period of time, and the Spanish full-back confirmed that he is not happy with his current situation at Barcelona during the last international break.
With the change in formation, he has been in and out of the side, despite his good performances. Against the pace Juventus have on their wings, with the likes of Juan Cuadrado and Dani Alves, it is not the greatest of ideas to leave Samuel Umtiti exposed.
“When I was playing, I didn't ask for explanations, and I won't do that now, either”, it is perhaps time to do if you don’t play against Juventus.
#3 Man-mark Paulo Dybala
The game between Juventus and Barcelona has been build in many corners as a game between the home team’s defence and the three-pronged attack of Barcelona. While the argument is as valid as salt water in a sea, it is undoubtedly much more.
Juventus are at the top of the Serie A, 6 points ahead of their closest rivals Roma. They have a very capable three-pronged attack of their own in Mario Manduki, Paulo Dybala, and Gonzalo Higuaín who have done excellently for the Turin side.
Their most important player through is their own Argentine Number 10, Paulo Dybala. It is easy to see why he has been linked with the biggest sides in club football, he has almost everything you need in a playmaker. Fast, able to go past his marker on will, vision, and goals, the Bianconeri’s joker.
His performance will be directly proportional to how Juventus do in the first leg, and hence it is important to stop the 23-year-old from playing. The best way to do that seems to man marking him. Cut out the sunlight and the trees will die.
#4 Get the ball to Neymar’s feet at every opportunity
“I'm sure they miss me," Dani Alves said before the game against his former side. It is true that they miss the Brazilian (or any kind of defender who can play as a right back), but in a defence who are as impenetrable as anyone in Europe, he is the only weak link.
Barcelona manager Luis Enrique will undoubtedly know that, and the priority should be to get the ball to Neymar’s feet as soon as possible so that he can isolate his compatriot. Also the fact that Neymar has been hands down Barcelona’s best player in the last couple of months.
#5 The priority should be not to lose than to win
Barcelona, having all the trophies in the last decade have quite the big ego, which they surely deserve to do, but this season has undoubtedly got them into trouble on occasions. There is no doubt that Luis Enrique will be telling his players that an away goal will be invaluable, but what also will be invaluable is a clean sheet.
Their form and the crowd in the Camp Nou during Champions League games is truly intimidating, and no one quite believes that they would overturn a 4-0 first led deficit. There will be a plan, the idea will be to stick to the plan even if they go down a goal, and not throw the kitchen sink, especially when you need the sink for the second leg.
Prediction – Juventus 1-1 Barcelona
