class=”article_teaser__2t5do”>With Ronaldo leading the attack for the Bianconeri against Koeman's Messi-less team, Al Hain-Cole expects an entertaining Joan Gamper Trophy clash
Barcelona will be desperate for a much-needed morale boost when they take on Juventus in Sunday’s Joan Gamper Trophy clash.
The Blaugrana have been rocked by the news that Lionel Messi will not be able to renew his contract for the upcoming season, leaving Camp Nou after over 20 years at the club.
Barcelona vs Juventus latest odds
However, Barcelona can be backed at 5/4 (2.25) with bet365 to raise the spirits ahead of next weekend’s La Liga kick-off by coming out on top against their high-profile opponents.
Having returned to the club where he won 11 trophies between 2014 and 2019, Massimiliano Allegri is available at 13/8 (2.63) to oversee an impressive victory for Juventus in Catalunya or 16/5 (4.20) to secure a creditable draw.
TV channel, live stream & how to watch
Premier Sports 1 Premier Player
The game is being shown live on Premier Sports 1 in the United Kingdom (UK). The Premier Player will be streaming the game live online.
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Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Ansu Fati and Ousmane Dembele are all absent due to injury, while Pedri is unavailable after picking up a silver medal in Saturday’s Olympic games final against Brazil.
Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to make his first appearance of the pre-season campaign, although Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, Alex Sandro and Danilo are unlikely to feature after only joining up with the squad earlier this week.
Barcelona vs Juventus preview
Ronaldo’s presence is likely to be even more significant given Messi’s bombshell departure, with the former Real Madrid man bound to be determined to rub salt in the wounds of his old rivals.
He will certainly fancy his chances against a defence that was beaten twice in a 2-1 defeat to Salzburg in midweek, with his side in free-scoring form so far this summer.
However, Ronald Koeman’s team are more than capable of packing a punch of their own even without Messi, and have the advantage of being much further along in their pre-season preparations than their guests.
Barcelona vs Juventus predictions
With Juventus missing a number of key defensive players, odds of 11/10 (2.10) are well worth backing on over 3.5 goals being scored in an exciting game versus Barcelona at the Johan Cruyff Stadium.
All odds correct at time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.