La Liga expert Guillem Balague gives his thoughts on Messi, Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid

Lionel Messi is the greatest of all time according to Balague

What GuillemBalague doesn’t know about Spanish football can be written on the back of an old peseta. So when the Sky pundit and best-selling author insists that Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time the claim carries credence from a man who has seen the little magician dance through untold defences.

“For me Messi is unique and has shown us new limits of our capacity to play football. No other player – and this is not opinion it is, as Rafa would say, a fact – has been so influential in the big games and finals.

“No other player could move twenty metres from his normal position – as he has done this season - play a lot deeper and still score as many as a striker.”

As much as statistics are necessary when gauging a bona fide phenomenon the Argentinean’s 58 goals in a season where he has adapted his game to accommodate Luis Suarez in a fearsome attacking triumvirate is certainly astonishing. Then there’s the small matter of his first goal against Athletic Bilbao in last weekend’s Copa Del Rey final, a mazy goal of such brilliance it left all who saw it awestruck and questioning whether Messi is made of blood and bones like the rest of us.

So surely then the expected narrative for this year’s Champion’s League final is to be Messi, Suarez and Neymar wrecking havoc upon Juventus’ resolute rearguard? Not so.

Juventus are dangerous on the counter-attack

“The thing about Juventus is they are much more versatile, much more dangerous on the counter, and much more offensive than people are saying. This is a team that can have three or five at the back and when attacking with the ball they can have seven involved including full-backs and a very clever midfield. So it’s not all to do with the defending of Juventus.”

The central battleground will be a key factor in determining who wins Europe’s ultimate prize and it is here that, perhaps surprisingly, Balague believes the Old Lady holds an advantage. “The midfielders of Juventus have adapted more to what they have to do than the midfielders of Barcelona.

“For long periods they won’t have the ball but they’re happy to control the game without the ball and even have Tevez dropping deep and joining the defensive duties. It seems to me Juventus’ midfield is more in control of what it’s doing.”

Juventus will look to counter-attack with Tevez dropping deep

A more direct style to capitalise on three attackers who have collectively bagged 120 goals in 2014/15 has arguably resulted in Barcelona’s midfield struggling for balance this campaign but if they require control, precision, and influence they have a man to call upon whose virtues in these areas are unparalleled.

Though he is unlikely to start on Saturday legendary schemer Xavi will undoubtedly be pitched into proceedings and those lucky enough to have tickets for Berlin’s Olympiastadion will witness the emotional swansong of one of the modern greats. Balague doesn’t hesitate in declaring Xavi to be the best Spanish player in history and points out his part in shaping football into a “game of midfielders” with defining conversations with Louis Van Gaal, Luis Aragones (“an encounter of minds”), and Pep Guardiola.

“He was so crucial in everything that has happened because his understanding of the game is superb. He will be a great Barcelona coach soon.”

Real Madrid will keep sacking coaches while Perez is in charge

The future instalment of Xavi in the Barcelona dug-out would be as a further concern for their fierce rivals Real Madrid who have reluctantly played the part of bridesmaids in La Liga this term and reacted in typical fashion with managerial sackings and talk of start-overs. Balague is scathing on their methods.

“It’s going to happen for as long as Florentino (Perez) is in charge because his priority is to make sure every year a new star of the team continues the model,” he says, unable to hide the disapproval in his voice.

“Building a team or continuity is not in his mind. There it is only two things, winning or failure. They haven’t won so it is failure. As such they have to mask that by bringing in new people at the helm.”

Yet Real came close this year with only a toiling exit to Juventus denying a much-anticipated El Clasico final and preventing us Brits seeing Gareth Bale potentially play a pivotal role.

English players don’t move abroad because of higher wages

On the subject of Bale and the abuse he has received from supporters that has led to rumours of a move back home Balague reserves his criticism for England’s island mentality that has too seldom seen us export our talents to the continent. It is hard to disagree and is especially pertinent at a time when two of our finest – Gerrard and Lampard – have been widely lauded for remaining true to their roots.

Gareth Bale is one of a select few players from the UK who dared to move abroad

“Players should leave their comfort zone and go abroad for at least a year in their life but players in England earn a lot of money and that stops them moving on,” he states.

“Gareth Bale is being punished for the education he has received in football. He’s learning I’m sure, but he has not been given enough weapons to go abroad which is a shame.”

Yet while English players have a reluctance to fly the nest, the Premier League is certainly content to import a large number of Europe’s great, good, and bang average and this summer is expected to be no different with several Spanish stars heading to Blighty.

It is a transfer saga that presumably has many twists and turns still to play out through the summer months. Before then and bright on the horizon lies the Champion’s League final. A game where one great seeks to embellish his legend further while another departs after 15 years of outstanding service. A game that remains too close to call even for a seasoned reader of the game such as GuillemBalague.

“I favour Barcelona but it’s going to be a lot harder than what people think. If it’s a 3-1 or something like that it will be because the goals come at the end.”

Read Guillem Balague’s thoughts on Saturday’s Champions League final and how he feels Juventus can hurt Barcelona http://bit.ly/1AKKQUE. Join now and treble your odds with @888sport's exclusive promotion. Back Lionel Messi to score first at 3/1 and receive 9/1 with our price boost (Odds subject to change)