Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon sees Barcelona as Champions League favourites but “a lot can change in 11 months”.
The Blaugrana beat the Bianconeri in the final last year, and have laid down a marker in this year’s competition by thrashing Roma 6-1 at Camp Nou.
“Who is favourite to win the Champions League?” Buffon considered in the Press conference ahead of the clash with Sevilla.
Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon sees Barcelona as Champions League favourites but “a lot can change in 11 months”.
The Blaugrana beat the Bianconeri in the final last year, and have laid down a marker in this year’s competition by thrashing Roma 6-1 at Camp Nou.
“Who is favourite to win the Champions League?” Buffon considered in the Press conference ahead of the clash with Sevilla.
“It’s very hard to say, in the sense that in a year of 11 months there will be moments of great excitement, great play and great enthusiasm, and for others maybe things will become a little tarnished.
“So I think at this moment in time no team is ahead of Barcelona in terms of the trophy, but if you think back to last year, until December Barcelona were a very strong team, a squad to be feared, but they didn’t shine.
“Maybe at that point Bayern Munich or Real Madrid were seen as favourites ahead of Barcelona. That means that over 11 months a lot can change in terms of the odds and your chances of winning.
“Right now Barcelona are absolutely the strongest, both in regard to the Spanish teams and the European teams.”
Buffon declared earlier this season that people “wanted a funeral for us”, after five Serie A wins in a row, does he think the other teams are worried?
“I have no idea, because I’m not in the other dressing rooms, and as I said after the Lazio game when you look at the table we’re still fifth.
“That’s a clear signal that there is still ground to make up. To do that we have to continue down the path we started on a month or so ago.
“As for the thoughts of others, I don’t know.”
Tomorrow will see a reunion with Fernando Llorente, and the goalkeeper is looking forward to seeing the big striker again.
“Fernando is a lad who we we all have fond memories of,” Buffon admitted.
“Over these two years he was really appreciated by everyone from all points of view. He’s left us at Juve with of a decent man and a really good lad.
“But other than that there’s his sacrifice and desire to help the team, and his goals meant that we were able to achieve important results.
"“It will be great to see him again.”