Barcelona vs Juventus combined XI | Champions League 2020-21

Juventus will look to snatch the top spot of Group G from Barcelona
Juventus will look to snatch the top spot of Group G from Barcelona

With both teams already having booked their spots in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, Barcelona and Juventus will round off their group stage campaign on Tuesday when they face off at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona currently sit on top of Group G, having won all five of their previous fixtures. Juventus are currently second, 3 points off the top, with a win by 3 goals or more guaranteeing them top spot in the group.

The game on Tuesday will be the 13th meeting of these two European heavyweights. Barcelona currently have the edge over the Italian champions, with five wins to Juventus' three. But Andrea Pirlo's side have the firepower to cause the Catalans major problems. The fixture pits the two defining stars of the 21st century against each other again.

Both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have had shaky starts to their domestic seasons, but the superstars will look to put on a show when they come up against each other on Tuesday.

Juventus, who currently sit 4th on the Serie A table, beat city rivals Torino 2-1 on Saturday, whereas Barcelona, who suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Cadiz on the weekend, are currently 9th in the La Liga.

Tuesday's fixture is sure to be an exciting one as both teams will want a win to cap off the group stages. On that note, let's take a look at the best combined XI from Barcelona and Juventus.


Goalkeeper

Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona)

Marc-Andre ter Stegen missed the start of the season through injury
Marc-Andre ter Stegen missed the start of the season through injury

Although Juventus' Wojciech Szczesny has drastically improved as a goalkeeper over the years, it would be had to pick too many people over ter Stegen. The German shot-stopper has established himself as one of the world's best 'keepers since joining Barcelona from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2014.

The 28-year old returned from injury in early November and has only played in 6 games this season. But the shot-stopper has conceded just once in his two Champions League games and will hope to keep a clean sheet against Juventus on Tuesday.

Defense

Juventus' Cuadrado and Bonucci make up the right side of the defense
Juventus' Cuadrado and Bonucci make up the right side of the defense

Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Leonardo Bonucci, Matthijs De Ligt and Juan Cuadrado (Juventus)

This could well have been a full Juventus back-line, but Jordi Alba has been one of Barcelona's best players this season, with the Spaniard having provided 5 assists in 13 appearances this season. It was a toss up between Alba and Juventus' Alex Sandro, but Jordi Alba edges it.

Leonardo Bonucci and Matthijs De Ligt were automatic picks in central defense, as Barcelona have struggled at the back this season, and with Gerard Pique being out through injury, there was no doubt about the center-back partnership of this XI. De Ligt and Bonucci have been the mainstays of Andrea Pirlo's ever-changing defense and have formed a solid partnership at the back for Juventus.

Juan Cuadrado rounds out the defense, with the Colombian being picked ahead of Barcelona's new signing Sergino Dest. The American is currently deputizing for the injured Sergi Roberto, but hasn't done enough in a Barcelona shirt to warrant being picked over Juventus' Cuadrado. The winger turned full back assisted both goals for Juventus in the Turin derby and has provided 4 assists in four games in the Champions League.

Central Midfield

De Jong has been one of Barcelona's best players this season
De Jong has been one of Barcelona's best players this season

Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus)

Former Ajax wonderkid Frenkie de Jong has been a bright spark for Barcelona in an underwhelming season. The young Dutchman has shown his class for the Catalans, pulling the strings in Barcelona's midfield, and operates mainly in front of the defense. De Jong's ability to control the tempo of the game from midfield will provide a good foil for his partner in Juventus' Adrien Rabiot.

Rabiot has turned into an all-action midfielder
Rabiot has turned into an all-action midfielder

Rabiot has blossomed under Andrea Pirlo and has become an archetypal box-to-box midfielder. The Frenchman provides mobility and steel to the midfield. Rabiot's addition would provide balance to the midfield alongside de Jong.

Attacking Midfield

Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona)

Griezmann can play in any attacking position
Griezmann can play in any attacking position

Antoine Griezmann has found a new lease of life under Ronald Koeman this season. The mercurial Frenchman has contributed 5 goals and 2 assists in 12 starts for Barcelona and will provide dynamism and versatility to the midfield.

Griezmann also has an eye for goal, with the Frenchman being able move into a supporting striker's role if he needs to. His addition also provides fluidity to the teams attack with him being able to seamlessly fit into a multitude of positions due to his movement off the ball.

Attack

Phillipe Coutinho (Barcelona), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)

Both Coutinho and Messi have been key parts of Barcelona's attack this season
Both Coutinho and Messi have been key parts of Barcelona's attack this season

The team is rounded out by a stellar forward line, as Barcelona duo Coutinho and Messi flank Juventus forward Ronaldo.

Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has shown his faith in Coutinho this season after the Brazilian spent the last season on loan at Bayern Munich.

Coutinho has managed 3 goals and 2 assists in his 8 starts this season and has shown how dangerous he is as part of a front three. The former Liverpool man likes to cut inside from the left and will be a great matchup for Juventus' Cuadrado on Tuesday.

Lionel Messi obviously makes the squad, with the Argentinian having 7 goals and 4 assists in 13 appearances in what has been a quiet season for the Barcelona superstar. Messi famously made an attempt to leave Barcelona in the summer, but begrudgingly stayed on with the Spanish giants. Messi is still one of the best players in the world and will start on the right wing, with his Juventus counterpart leading the line.

Ronaldo has 8 goals in 6 starts in the Serie A
Ronaldo has 8 goals in 6 starts in the Serie A

The other half of the fabled rivalry, Cristiano Ronaldo rounds out this combined XI. The Portuguese forward missed the early part of the season after contracting the coronavirus. But Ronaldo doesn't seemed to have missed a beat, having scored 10 goals in 9 appearances this season. The former Real Madrid man will look to be the difference-maker for Juventus when they face Barcelona on Tuesday.

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Edited by S Chowdhury