Tuesday 2 June 2015 09:07, UK
Barcelona will beat Juventus comfortably in the Champions League final, and will be glad they are not playing Real Madrid in the Berlin showdown, says Terry Gibson.
Juventus saw off Barcelona’s great rivals 3-2 on aggregate in the semi-final, with both clubs looking for an historic treble.
Barcelona have been in blistering form since the turn of the year, and overcame Bayern with a 5-3 aggregate win last month. Gibson sees their fine form continuing on Saturday at the Olympiastadion.
“I think Barcelona will win because of the style of Juventus’ play,” Gibson told the La Liga Weekly Podcast. “I think Juventus really do suit Barcelona so I will go for a 3-0 at the least.”
“Juventus are a unique team, they play it to feet and there is not a lot of pace to get behind Barcelona. So much goes through Pirlo, but he will be on defensive duty for most of the night.”
Gibson also believes Barca will have been happy that Juventus knocked Real Madrid out of the Champions League last month, because the Clasico ties are always close.
“I think Barcelona will win quite comfortably and will be pleased Juventus beat Real Madrid.
“Because no matter what happens, what positions [Barcelona and Real Madrid] are in the league, it is usually a close game. And a Champions League game would have been really close and intense.”
Juventus have had their eye on Champions League glory since wrapping up Serie A over four weeks ago, and despite Gibson insisting they are a well-drilled side, he questions their pace up front.
“They are very well-organised and methodical, they have good senior experienced professionals, but I wonder whether they have the pace in attack to trouble Barcelona.
“[Alvaro] Morata is a good focal point, [Carlos] Tevez drops deep and wide.
“In the two legs against Real Madrid, Real played to their full potential in the first half of the second leg. The other three halves they didn’t perform.”
