Max will be battling against Barca for the first time as Juve coach, but the Blaugrana put the Bianconeri tactician through some torrid times when he sat on the Rossoneri bench.
Massimiliano Allegri’s former AC Milan sides were never able to eliminate Barcelona from Europe’s elite competition, but the now Juventus coach might have a better chance of success in Saturday night’s Champions League Final in Berlin, Germany.
Allegri’s first experience in the Champions League was in 2011-12 with the Rossoneri, after winning the Serie A title in the previous season and playing against the Blaugrana in two stages of the competition.
After drawing 2-2 with Barcelona at the Camp Nou in the opening Group H match, AC Milan lost 3-2 at home on the fifth matchday; but the Rossoneri were unlucky as Mark van Bommel scored an own goal and Barca superstar Lionel Messi scored from the penalty spot.
Both teams faced each other again in the quarter-finals and after a scoreless first leg in Spain, Barcelona emerged triumphant in Italy with a 3-1 win in the return fixture.
In the following 2012-13 season, AC Milan played against Barcelona in the Round of 16 and Allegri’s side sprung a surprise in the first leg, winning 2-0 thanks to goals by Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari. The win proved nothing more than false hope though, as Barca humiliated the Milanese side 4-0 in the second leg.
For the third season in a row, AC Milan once more met Barcelona; but the Catalan team did not eliminate the Milanese giants from the Champions League.
Milan drew 1-1 with in their third Group H game and then lost 3-1 on matchday four, but the Rossoneri still managed to progress through to the Round of 16.
They would however still be ousted by a Spanish side, on this occasion Atletico Madrid eliminating AC Milan 5-1 on aggregate; but Allegri had already been sacked by then.
Despite his struggle to obtain results against Barca with the Rossoneri, Allegri should have the belief that his Juve team can beat the Blaugrana.
Having a united dressing room is important and Allegri does not have to deal with any big egos or temperamental players like he did at AC Milan. Juventus don’t have feisty or mercurial players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho, Antonio Cassano or Mario Balotelli to keep under control.
When Allegri started coaching AC Milan, there was an abundance of players who were over 30 years old such as Alessandro Nesta, Gennaro Gattuso, Massimo Ambrosini and Clarence Seedorf.
This Juventus side does not have a plethora of veterans like the Rossoneri did. Although 37-year-old Gianluigi Buffon has played frequently this season, the Bianconeri haven’t been dependant on 36-year-old Andrea Pirlo dictating the play in midfield, and 34-year-old Andrea Barzagli wasn’t hugely missed in defence.
Allegri has also had a more reliable core of youngsters with Juventus than he did at AC Milan, more specifically 22-year-olds like with Stefano Sturaro bringing energy and stamina in midfield, Paul Pogba providing some flair and Alvaro Morata scoring key goals up front for the Bianconeri.
AC Milan were slow and ageing under Allegri but his Juventus team doesn’t have this issue because of midfielders like Arturo Vidal, Claudio Marchisio and Roberto Pereyra and Argentine striker Carlo Tevez who all provide tireless running as well.
Barcelona have a star-studded attack with Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, and although they are not reliant on playmaker Xavi these days, Andres Iniesta brings valuable experience in midfield and Ivan Rakitic has been a top addition.
Allegri does not need to be as preoccupied with Barcelona today as it was the case with AC Milan though. He is going into battle with a stronger army this time around.
