Juventus vs Barcelona Predictions

• Both teams scored in three of Juventus’ last five matches.
• Juventus drew 1-1 in two of their last three fixtures.
• Both teams scored in three of Barcelona’s last four games.
• Barca won just one of their last four assignments.

Pirlo’s Champions League test

Ex-Juve and Italy star Andrea Pirlo has enjoyed an unbeaten start as the Old Lady’s new manager, though fixture number seven of his fledgling career in the dugout sees the mighty Barcelona visit Turin for a high-profile Champions League tussle.

The Italian champions showed a clinical edge on match day one when they beat Dynamo Kiev 2-0 in the Ukraine thanks to a brace of well-taken efforts from Alvaro Morata, though their overall attacking play lacked the dynamism usually delivered by the absent Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese megastar will also sit out Juve’s Champions League clash with Barcelona this week following a second positive COVID-19 diagnosis.

Barca searching for consistency

Barcelona are still adjusting to life under new boss Ronald Koemen, and Los Cules’ performances since the Dutchman’s appointment continue to be very hit and miss.

Having dropped points in successive La Liga matches against Sevilla and Getafe, Barcelona let their hair down with a 5-1 over Ferencvaros in the Champions League last week, though spirits were dampened again by a subsequent 3-1 reverse at home to bitter rivals Real Madrid just a couple of days later.

Koeman will demand an instant response from his players this week, as well as an improvement on Barca’s run of four games without a clean sheet.

Goals likely at both ends in Turin

Both Juventus and Barcelona have shown enough defensive lapses in recent weeks to suggest we should expect goals to be scored at either end in Turin on Wednesday.

With just two clean sheets in their last five matches, and goals conceded against Roma, Crotone and Verona, Juve have been uncharacteristically sloppy in their own third over the past month, and Barcelona have the pedigree and class to take advantage of any holes they identify.

Los Cules’ standards at the back have also slipped of late however, as evidenced by their sequence of four matches without a shutout, and Juventus – who have scored in every game so far this term – should prove difficult to keep out.

As a result, backing both teams to score on Wednesday is favoured at the prices quoted, while our correct score prediction settles on a 1-1 draw.

Ordinarily, Juventus would be favourites to capitalise on Barcelona’s inconsistencies, however, shorn of the match-winning power of Cristiano Ronaldo, it seems likelier they will have to settle for their third 1-1 draw in four fixtures.