Juventus vs Barcelona - Champions League final combined XI

Juventus take on Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League final in Berlin on Saturday in a game that will be filled with some of the finest players in Europe. But the question is, who would make it into a combined XI featuring the very best from both sides? While there are certain players, like Andrea Pirlo and Lionel Messi who pick themselves, who would make up the rest of the combined XI?

NOTE: Only players who are available for the final have been considered. So unfortunately Giorgio Chiellini, who would have been a certain starter otherwise misses out. Formation: 4-3-3.

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon

Gianluigi Buffon will look to recreate history when he plays another final in Berlin

Despite his brilliant performance at the Allianz Arena to secure Barcelona's place in the final, Marc-Andre ter Stegen loses out to Gianluigi Buffon. The German shot stopper, 14 years younger to Buffon, has been outstanding in the Champions League. But the Italian keeper's experience in major finals and his ability to command his box even at the age of 37 gets him the nod.

Almost a decade ago, the Italian's heroics in Berlin, in the final of a major tournament that saw his side clinch the trophy. That was the World Cup with Italy and Juventus will be counting on Buffon to repeat his heroics and stop Barcelona's attacking trio from increasing their incredible goal tally this season. In a glittering career that has been littered with silverware, the Champions League is still missing and that is one thing he will be desperate to change when he steps out on Saturday.

Right Back: Dani Alves

This defence has the perfect blend of experience and youthful energy. If Chiellini had been fit, it would have been two defenders apiece from both sides, but his injury means that three Barca players make it into the defence.

Brazilian full back Dani Alves has more assists than anyone bar Messi among both sides and is having a fantastic season for the Catalans. Unfortunately, it looks as though the game against Juve might be his last with plenty of rumours linking him with a move away from the club. If the 32-year-old is to move away from the club, it will be their loss as the Brazilian continues to provide a unique blend of attack and defence. While he isn't as quick as he used to be, his ability to consistently make overlapping runs and provide width on the right flank means that he takes his place at right back, ahead of Stephan Lichtsteiner.

Centre Backs: Leonardo Bonucci – Javier Mascherano

In the heart of the defence is Leonardo Bonucci and Javier Mascherano. While the former is a typical old-school Italian defender, the latter has been converted into one, thanks to a combination of injury problems and lack of alternatives at the back.

Aside from perhaps his teammate Chiellini, Bonucci has been one of the outstanding centre backs in the Champions League this season. The 28-year-old has been flawless throughout the campaign. One of the reasons why Juventus are so difficult to break down is because of Bonucci’s ability to not just anticipate the threat but also eliminate it at the source.

Tenacious in the tackle, brilliant in the air and exceptional at reading the game and making timely interceptions, the he is one of the best defenders in the world at the moment and there is no doubt that he deserves his place in this line-up.

Leonardo Bonucci will be the only player to play every minute in the Champions League if he lasts 90 minutes in the final

While there were many who ridiculed Roy Hodgson when he picked Javier Mascherano as his choice for the Ballon d'Or ahead of Messi and Ronaldo, there was plenty of uproar from the British media. But the last 12 months have shown just why Hodgson was well within his right to pick the Argentine. Although a defensive midfielder by trade, Mascherano has played large parts of this season as a central defender.

The Argentine has managed the switch to being a defender with such ease that you would be forgiven for thinking whether that should have been his place all along. Despite being neither the quickest nor the biggest player, two important qualities for a centre back, the 30-year-old's ability to sense danger and dig his side out of trouble means that he joins Bonucci in central defence.

Left Back: Jordi Alba

Arguably the most difficult decision so far, Jordi Alba gets the nod over Patrice Evra. While the Frenchman has enjoyed an Indian summer ever since moving to Turin, when most thought that he was finished, his lack of pace means that Alba, the younger man, who has more than a striking resemblance to Evra in the way he plays, takes the left back slot.

Ever since moving from Valencia, Alba has made the utmost of the one quality he possesses that all defenders hate – pace. Whether it is going forward, being an outlet for the midfielders in the attacking third, or recovering brilliantly to close down any space the opposing attacker has, the Spaniard has made the most of his pace and used it to his advantage. That isn't to take anything away from his all-round capabilities, which is another reason why he is in this side ahead of the Frenchman.

Midfielders: Andrea Pirlo – Paul Pogba – Arturo Vidal

If the defence is dominated by the Catalans, the midfield is dominated by the Bianconeri. Taking their place in midfield is the triumvirate of Juventus midfielders in Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal. Of the three, only Vidal wasn't an automatic choice and makes it into this side because of Andres Iniesta's injury worries ahead of the final.

At the base of the midfield is Pirlo, conducting the orchestra and pulling the strings like only he can. The 36-year-old is looking for his third Champions League title in over a decade and is the most experienced of the midfield trio, both in terms of experience in big games and the number of trophies won.

If the Old Lady are to have a chance of winning the Champions League on Saturday, they will need Pirlo to be on song. If Barcelona's players provide him with the space that Real Madrid did in the semi-final, they will be made to pay for it as he is one of the best in the world at picking the right opportunity to make the precise pass.

If Pirlo is all about precision, then the two ahead of him are all about pace and power. Although nobody really plays with a two-man central midfield anymore, if you wanted two players to play that system, it would be Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal.

Arturo Vidal Paul Pogba — Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba – Juventus’ midfield lynchpins

Pogba has recovered from his long-term injury layoff and will be looking to prove to Manchester United that he made the right choice by winning the competition that the Red Devils weren't even competing in this season. The 22-year-old is the ultimate midfielder as he has everything a central midfielder needs to succeed. Pace? Check. Ability to find his team-mate with a delicate through ball? Check. Power to bulldoze his way through any opponent? Check. Ability to shoot from distance? Check.

With all the tools in his arsenal, the Frenchman looks set to dominate Europe for the forthcoming decade. Now all he needs to do is transform that talent into trophies and he can start by helping Juventus win the Champions League.

When Arturo Vidal missed a large chunk of last season with a serious knee injury, many predicted that the Chilean might not be able to come out of as the player he once was. But the 28-year-old has defied all critics and enjoyed another fantastic year at Juventus, helping them to their fourth successive Serie A title. The Chilean midfielder has also enjoyed the switch to a more advanced role, which has seen him at times play as the side's attacking midfielder.

Irrespective of where he plays, Vidal's ability to always put the opponents under pressure and force them into mistakes means that he has become a midfielder that every side dreams of having. Whether he remains a Juventus midfielder beyond this season or not, Saturday will be a defining moment in his career, as he looks to win his first Champions League.

Forwards: Lionel Messi – Neymar

Barcelona's front three, who have scored over 100 goals this season, might be the popular choice up front. But I have gone with two of the three and one Juventus attacker sandwiched between them.

Ever since Lionel Messi was moved to the right-side of the attack, the Argentine has had a much better impact on the game. With his ability to go either inside or out, pass or shoot, full backs are left with an impossible question, one which at times looks as though even Messi does not have the answer to. Such has been his goal scoring record over the past few seasons that the fact that he has scored over 50 goals this season has been brushed aside almost as though it is expected.

With the ability to take the game away from the opposition in the blink of an eye, there is no doubt that the 27-year-old is one of the best players in the world and the argument now is simply how long can he keep that going and if Juventus have what it takes to stop the little magician who plays a game of his own at times.

On the left of the attacking trio is Neymar. If the Brazilian was in any team other than Barcelona, he would undeniably be the best player of the side. He has doubled his goal tally from last season and is two shy of finishing the season with 40 goals. But while he has scored plenty of goals and provided plenty of assists, his real value to the side is his understanding with Messi.

While there have been quite a few players who have struggled to flourish in the company of the Argentine, Neymar looks to be getting better and better. Not only does he try and find him at most opportunities, the fact Messi returns the favour as well, means that the pair has developed a strike partnership of sorts from both flanks.

Striker – Carlos Tevez

Carlos Tevez ucl — Carlos Tevez has scored a major chink of Juventus’ goals in the Champions League

The final spot in the team goes to Carlos Tevez. While it would be easy to pick Luis Suarez and go with an all Catalan front three, the truth is that the Uruguayan didn't enjoy the greatest of starts to his Barcelona career. In fact, it wasn't until the start of this year that he started to score and assist in equal measure.

With that in mind, Tevez takes the central striker's slot in the side thanks to not only his goals, of which he has scored plenty, but also due to his pace and ability to press and defend from the front - a tactic that has been hugely successful for not just the Spanish side, but the Italians.

Manager: Massimiliano Allegri

By taking Juventus to the Champions League final, Max Allegri was able to do what Antonio Conte never could, convert domestic dominance into European progress. While Luis Enrique has managed to win over the hearts of fans and players alike after a difficult start, he has had some of the best attackers in the world to help him. But Allegri has brought the Old Lady to a Champions League final with almost the same bunch of players Conte had.

Whether it is proving to be tactically astute in key games or making the best out of players in positions they hadn't previously played in, the fact that the Italian side are near the European elite once again is thanks in no small part to Allegri. That coupled with the side's fourth successive league title means that it is the Italian who is the manager for this combined XI.

Substitutes: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Patrice Evra, Gerard Pique, Ivan Rakitic, Andres Iniesta, Luis Suarez, Alvaro Morata

Edited by Staff Editor