Defence
The centre-back pairing is made in Spain and Italy. If there’s one player who does not make the lineup it is Barcelona’s Javier Mascherano. The Argentine defensive-midfielder-turned-centre-back has arguably been the weakest link in the Barca side – both in the Champions League and La Liga.
However, Gerard Pique remains an invaluable member of the squad and is now one of the most senior members of Enrique’s team. The 30-year-old has been the one constant at the back for Barca and even gets the nod over Samuel Umtiti and Juve’s experienced duo of Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini.
For partnering him in defence is none other than Juve’s youngest member of their own version of BBC – Leonardo Bonucci. The central defender can play in both the3-5-2 and 4-2-3-1 formations – the two main formations Max Allegri has used at the Turin club this season.
In the full-backs roles, it’s all Juventus. On the left is Alex Sandro who has been one of Juve’s standout performers – enough to send Patrice Evra packing. A strong dribbler who creates a number of chances with his crosses, Sandro is also defensively adept with his tackling although he is prone to conceding the occasional foul.
Barcelona have not had a specialist right-back since Aleix Vidal’s horror injury and Sergi Roberto is no like-for-like replacement. On the other flank, Jordi Alba has been erratic and is yet to really fit into Barcelona's philosophy of moving the ball (although that philosophy has also been changed in recent years).
At right-back is a man who will find the Camp Nou a familiar hunting ground – Dani Alves. The former Barcelona man left under acrimonious circumstances but has played an integral part in the Champions League no matter what formation Allegri picks. Stephan Lichtsteiner has often played in Serie A but, in Europe, it’s Alves all the way.
