Barcelona vs Juventus: prediction, preview, team news and more
The UEFA Champions League is back in action this week as Barcelona take on Juventus in a Group G fixture that could potentially determine the fortunes of both teams in the competition.
Barcelona will be looking to secure first position in Group G when they welcome Italian champions Juventus to Camp Nou in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
The much-awaited clash between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo finally comes to fruition this week as the two European giants lock horns on Tuesday.
Both sides have already booked their spot in the last-16 stage of the competition, while Barca have a three-point cushion over second-placed Juve, meaning that the Old Lady have serious work to do if they are to snatch first position from Ronald Koeman’s side on the final matchday.
Barca’s Champions League form this season has been excellent, winning all five of their Group G fixtures with an aggregate score of 16-2 to comfortably book their spot in the knockout round of the competition.
Juventus are also already through to the next round, having picked up 12 points from their five group matches courtesy of four wins and one defeat.
The Bianconeri have been so incredibly dominant in Italian football – winning each of the last nine Serie A titles – but it would be fair to say that the Champions League is now the priority for the club.
Reason for Barcelona vs Juventus predictions:
- Barcelona have won all five Champions League Group Stage games this season.
- Juventus have only won three of their seven competitive away games this season.
- Barcelona have conceded in five of their last six home matches in all competitions.
- Barcelona have won three of their last four meetings with Juventus.
- Juventus’ only away victory against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League came back in April 2003 (2-1).
- Juventus haven’t scored in any of their last four meetings with Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League (D2 L2).
- Juventus have won nine of their last 10 UEFA Champions League group stage matches (L1) – the one game they failed to win was against Barcelona.
Barca have actually not lost in the group stages of the Champions League since the 2016-17 season, winning 19 of their 25 matches following the defeat to Manchester City. The Catalan side are unbeaten in their last 38 home matches in the European competition and will certainly be looking to record a morale-boosting victory over the Italian champions on Tuesday night.
Juve have reached the last-16 stage of the European Cup in 18 of their previous 21 Champions League group-stage campaigns, but they have only lifted the trophy on two occasions – in 1985 and 1996 – and have incredibly lost seven of their nine European Cup finals, including each of the last five.
Barcelona and Juventus have faced each other on a total of 12 occasions in the UEFA Champions League.
Tuesday’s clash will be the 13th meeting between the two sides. The Spanish giants have a slight edge of their Italian rivals and have won five matches as opposed to Juventus’ three victories.
Barca ran out 3-0 winners in their last clash at Camp Nou in September 2017, while Juve have not recorded a victory away to the Catalan giants since the quarter-finals of the 2002-03 competition.
The most high-profile meeting between the two sides came in the 2015 Champions League final, which ended in a 3-1 Barca victory.
Both sides have qualified and both have notable absentees among their ranks. Juventus need to win big here to top the group, but the exertion required for such a result might be something they seek to avoid as they try to minimise the chances of further injuries. Barcelona, similarly, have no reason to really go for it here.
Barcelona have won all their matches in the Champions League this season and need to avoid defeat to remain at the top of their group.
Our Prediction: Barcelona 2-1 @ 9.00
