While it may not be apparent at first glance, the Champions League match between Juventus and Benfica will be a showdown between two storied European giants with several things in common.
For example, both teams have lifted Europe’s most prestigious trophy twice. However, the striking resemblance does not end there. In fact, Wednesday’s opponents are better known for their shortcomings in European finals than their exploits.
With seven failed attempts at Champions League finals, the Bianconeri are the undisputed holders of an unwanted record. For their part, the Iberians are the runners-up (along with Bayern Munich) on this unceremonious list with five disappointments of their own.
But while Juventus fans might suggest their club may be cursed on the European stage, in fact it is Benfica that is the victim of an alleged spell cast by their legendary manager Bela Guttman.
Football has always had its controversial figures, and the Ausrto-Hungarian manager was the author of many a stir during his heyday. However, Guttman’s ability to continue his controversial act long after his death must be considered a unique phenomenon.
After Benfica’s consecutive wins in 1961 and 1962, the coach asked for a well-deserved raise in salary, but the hierarchy abruptly rejected him. In response, he immediately opted to resign from his job and reportedly claimed that the club will not win a European trophy for 100 years.
And so the most infamous curse in football was born.
Sixty years after Guttman’s statement, his words still ring true. the Eagles came close to breaking the spell, but fell short EIGHT times. We are talking about five defeats in Champions League finals and another three in the European League.
Coincidentally, his last anguish occurred at the Allianz stadium in Turin. During that season, Juventus were controversially eliminated from the Champions League group stage on a frozen ground in Istanbul.
However, the Bianconeri had a consolation prize in mind, lifting the Europa League trophy on home turf. After all, what team doesn’t dream of playing a European final in their own stadium.
But in a fashionable Juve calamity, Antonio Conte’s men were eliminated in the Semi-Finals by none other than Benfica, denied the chance to fulfill their destiny as it was perceived at the time.
Unfortunately for Benfica, breaking the hosts’ dreams in a semi-final is one thing, while breaking their own curse is another. As Guttman anticipated, the Iberians lost their eighth European final at the hands of the expert EL Sevilla.
The 2014 Europa League result perfectly describes the continental history of the two clubs. These are two perennial contenders who, for one reason or another, fall short when the stakes are higher.
In this group, surely one of them will accompany heavy favorites PSG to the knockout stages (unless Maccabi Haifa takes the curse theme to another level), and while neither club has a real shot at lifting the trophy, it remains being interesting to see which side will emerge victorious from their double encounters.
At the end of the day, a fan base will be furious with the result. But will it be Benfica fans who will blame Guttman’s curse, or Juventus fans who will curse Allegri’s name?
