Barcelona-Juventus: as it happened, goals, match report
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Barcelona vs Juventus: match report
No debate about tonight's contest at Camp Nou. Barcelona dominated last season's beaten Uefa Champions League finalists convincingly after a clinical performance that will make many of the pre-season doubters re-evaluate their position on Ernesto Valverde's men.
Maximum points in LaLiga and a resounding 3-0 win over the giants of Serie A points to a team who are dealing more than admirably to the departure of Neymar Jr. One player a team does not make and tonight was proof that this side are candidates to trouble any team in both domestic and European competition.
The match was evenly poised with Juve having more chances in the first period albeit tame strikes at Ter Stegen whilst Barça dominated possession with the dynamic of the contest changing as Lionel Messi played an intricate one-two with Luis Suarez to rifle home the opening goal of the game in the 45th minute.
Possession and poise
The old "good time to score before the break" cliche was apparent as Juve toiled against a disciplined Barcelona midfield and rear-guard as the Catalan side regained possession and poise. Rakitic ended the contest just before the hour mark, firing home a loose ball after great build-up play from Messi.
Messi bagged his brace with a fine individual effort and the rest of the match petered out with Juventus gallantly looking for a consolation.
Next stop for Barça is a short trip to Lisbon to face Sporting (who beat Olympiakos 2-3) but it would be difficult to foresee that any sides barring the current Serie A and LaLiga leaders progressing to the next stage from Group D.
Barcelona vs Juventus live stream online updates: Champions League
Barcelona vs Juventus live stream online: UCL match preview
It's back.... The Champions League group stage for the 2017/18 season kicks off again tonight and what a clash to start off proceedings as current table toppers from LaLiga and Serie A come head to head in the Catalan capital. Tonight's game is also a repeat of last' year's quarter final stage tie where the Italian side progressed with a 3-0 overall aggregate scoreline.
Barcelona
Despite being written off by many observers ahead of the 17/18 campaign after failure to secure last minutes reinforcements, a pre-season overshadowed by Neymary's departure and a social fissure between the Camp Nou faithful and club president Bartomeu, Barça sit aloft of LaLiga with a perfect start: maximum points and yet to concede a goal.
New signing Ousmane Dembele made his debut last weekend in the Catalan derby and impressed in the 5-0 win over Espanyol with the French international expected to start this season in his first appearance in the Champions League for Barça.
Rafinha is set to miss out as he continues to recover from injury as will Arda Turan. The Camp Nou fans will be boosted with the return of Rakitic who played a full 90 minutes against Espanyol and is expected to line up with Iniesta in the midfield area.
Speaking to the media in Monday's pre-match press conference, Barça manager Ernesto Valverde spoke about the Italian rival with the coach insisting that "Juventus are a powerful team that distribute the ball well from the back and who try to press high. They have a great coach and great players, all of whom must be taken into account, not just Dybala," he said.
Juventus
Massimiliano Allegri showed his tactical nous last year in the corresponding fixture as he guided his team through an exemplary defensive display that afforded the Serie A side a semi final place in the 2016/17 Champions League after a 3-0 win in Turin. Will this be the same Juventus tactics that we see tonight? I'd suggest that we'll a more offensive approach given the difference in circumstances,
The Serie A do make the trip to the Catalan with a series of key absentees with the likes of Claudio Marchisio, Giorgio Chiellini, Sami Khedira, Mario Mandzukic, Benedikt Howedes and the suspended Juan Cuadrado all staying behind in Italy.
All eyes will be on Paulo Dybala who has started the Serie A season in fine form and was the man of the match last weekend as Juve secured top spot in the Italian league with a 3-0 win over Chevio Verona, a stunning performance form the Argentine capped off with a late goal at the Allianz Stadium.
The 23 year old was also on media duty yesterday when he and head coach Allegri faced the media at Camp Nou. The Argentine was in confident mood despite the opening game beong against Barça claiming:
“It is certainly not easy to face a team like Barcelona who are always a difficult opponent, in a stadium like this where they attack you so much. We are aware that we will have our chances, because even Barcelona give away opportunities to the opponent and we will have to take advantage of these.
“It’s true that Barça have lost an important player like Neymar, but they are replacing him with other great players. At the end of the day, this is Barcelona we are talking about and they must be respected for their history, name and fame.
Barcelona vs Juventus live stream online: potential line-ups
FCB XI: Ter Stegen, Alba, Umitti, Pique, Semedo, Busquets, Iniesta, Rakitic, Dembele, Suarez, Messi.
Head coach: Valverde
Juve XI: Buffon, Barzagli, Benatia, Rugani, Alex sandro, Matudi, Pjanic, Douglas Costa, Dybala, Sturano, Higuain.
Head coach: Allegri
Barcelona vs Juventus live stream online: betting odds
Betfair are offering a spectacular price of 25/1 for a win for the Catalan side at Camp Nou tonight:
Place your bet on Barça v Juve here.
