Chiellini Injured, Can’t Play in the Champions League Final

Barca were already strong favourites before the news broke, but Chiellini’s injury didn’t hurt their odds either.

Italy international defender Giorgio Chiellini is out from the Juve squad preparing for the Champions League final, gambling news report. The 30-year-old back suffered a calf injury, which means, he cannot play in the biggest game of club football against Barcelona on Saturday. Andrea Barzagli will fill in for him probably, who has recently returned after injury.

Barcelona, strong favourites to win the title at any online sportsbook, are preparing with a full squad, and the news of one of their key player injuring could be an additional boost for them. Replacing Chiellini won’t be an impossible task for head coach Massimiliano Allegri, though this will limit his options significantly.

Less tactical variations

Chiellini’s absence will hurt Juve, because it will be much difficult for them to switch to a three-man defence if needed. The Old Lady’s default formation this season has been a 4-4-2 with a midfield diamond. However, they demonstrated many times that they also effective in a 3-5-2 system, that requires all three of Chiellini, Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci.

This formation was frequently used by Allegri, also as a plan B against strong teams, like Real Madrid. In the semis the Italians switched to a three-man defence during the game to kill the unstopping attacks of La Blancos, and they carried that out with great success, as many of those who bet on sports in the EU easily recall. It is still a question that Allegri would forget the concept at all, or will he use another defender in the backline, if he needed a change to 3-5-2.