Why Juventus Will Win the Champions League

Juventus are poised to become Champions League winners for the first time since 1996. Image: Getty

Juventus will be victorious in Cardiff. Mark my words. Here’s why.

Defense Wins Championships

Simply put, Juventus have the best defense in the world. Alex Sandro, Dani Alves, and the BBC (Barzagli, Bonucci, and Chiellini) make up an almost impenetrable backline, and if opponents are fortunate enough to get past it, they’ll have to face Gianluigi Buffon, arguably the greatest goalkeeper of all time. Juventus’ defensive fortitude is unmatched.

Juventus’ defensive fortitude is unmatched. They’ve conceded three goals in the Champions League. Three. And they’ve gone up against the high-powered attacks of Barcelona, Monaco, and Lyon to do so. What they’ve managed to accomplish is nothing short of remarkable. Combined with one of the best attacks in the world with Dybala, Higuain, and Cuadrado, they’re practically unbeatable. Of course, Real Madrid isn’t simply going to hand over the trophy, and if Ronaldo has any say in it, Juventus’ goal is not going to remain empty. Regardless, Juventus is simply too good; they have proven that the Italian style of football can still work in European competition, and they’ll be hungry for the trophy.

History’s On Their Side (Sort Of)

A club hasn’t won the Champions League twice in a row since AC Milan did it in 1989 and 1990. Real Madrid is the defending champion. What does that mean? Probably nothing. But that simple fact can make a difference, especially in as tight a matchup as this one.

Juventus has history on their side for what should be a thrilling encounter, but they’ll need more than that to get past Real Madrid. The Bianconeri brushed past Barcelona, but Real Madrid are an entirely different story, and Juventus won’t have the advantage of playing at home this time. Also, Juventus have the poorest record in Champions League finals, losing six of them while winning only two. They need to turn that around in Cardiff.

Do It For Italy

Juventus desperately needs a win. They were denied two years ago against Barcelona, and they don’t want the same thing to happen this time around. Juventus haven’t won the Champions League since 1996, and despite reaching the finals four times since then, they were never quite able to get the job done. A win would cement their position as one of the top clubs, if not the top club in the world, and it would provide a much-needed boost of morale and spirits to the team and the club’s supporters.

A win would be bigger than that, however. A win would show the rest of Europe that the Serie A is not a dead league, that good, old-fashioned defensive football can still work in a sport dominated by the emergence of new tactics and fast-paced attacking play. Juventus deserve to win, and the Serie A deserves a win. Italian football should not be ranked fourth in the world, and while other Italian clubs may have failed to get the results they wanted in European competition, Juventus embody what Italian football should and can look like when it is executed well.

Of course, my opinion doesn’t matter. When those two teams take the field in Cardiff, they’ll be fighting for more than just the trophy. They’ll be fighting for pride, for recognition, for glory, for fame, for reputation. And whoever wants that trophy more, whoever is willing to sacrifice more to get it, will end up victorious.