Champions League Final: Can Juventus Stop Messi?

Taking place this Saturday night is the intriguing Champions League final between Barcelona and Juventus (Berlin, Olympiastadion, 18:45 GMT). A match that not many would imagine in the beginning of the season, this game pits two teams that are looking to secure a treble - winning their domestic league's title and cup and finishing off with a Champions League title.

Juventus an Unlikely Underdog

It's hard not to be an underdog when going up against the great Barcelona, but nobody can dismiss Juventus' odds. The Old Lady has been frequenting the gym, it seems, as it is looking at a possible treble and top players Arturo Vidal, Carlos Tevez, Paul Pogba and Andrea Pirlo all looking in great shape.

Juve won its fourth successive Serie A championship by 17 points and they beat Lazio in extra time to lift the cup. One of the biggest challenges for the Italians will be the task of dealing with Lionel Messi, and that's before mentioning his friends on the offense, Neymar and Suarez.

Messi to Make History?

Stopping Messi might prove an even more difficult task this time around, because the Argentinian can make history in this final. Messi has lifted the Champions League cup three times with Barcelona, having scored in the 2009 and 2011 finals.

If he scores in Berlin this Saturday, he'll write his name in the competition's history as the first player to score in three Champions League finals. Considering his performance in Barca's Copa Del Rey victory against Athletic Bilbao, Messi is more than ready to net – as well as his buddy Neymar. This by itself presents a very interesting betting market at online bookies.

Online Betting Markets Heating Up

The Champions League final is a huge online gambling event that attracts millions of online punters, even those that don't watch football regularly. The game will be streamed live at leading bookies like bet365 Sports, William Hill Sports and Winner Sports, with in-play markets taking the central stage, presenting punters with betting markets relating to the events of the game as they unfold on the pitch.