Goaltending is a huge factor in soccer, especially in the final game of a tournament.

Here is exhibit A -- a recent World Cup final. A goaltender comes out to meet a speedy forward in a one-on-one battle. The forward gets his shot off but the goalie gets just enough with his foot to deflect the ball away from harm.

Exhibit B. That same keeper in a recent Champions League final. The ball is in the area near the goal. Instead of staying on his line and waiting for the ball to come to him, he tries to volley the aerial away and winds up seeing the ball loop over his head and into the goal.

The goalie in question is Iker Casillas. While he won both games, he nearly cost his team the victory as much as he earned it for Spain in 2010.

So on to the Champions League final, where two goaltenders will get similar chances to put their mark on the big game. Which team holds the edge? Youth or experience? Physical prowess or mental strength?

Juventus – Gianluigi Buffon

The Juventus keeper is 37 and unlikely to get many more chances to claim a Champions League trophy. This is probably it for him.

Fortunately for Buffon, he is a proven winner with a World Cup championship on his belt. He also played in the Euro 2012 final where his Italian side was completely annihilated by a Spanish side in peak form.

Let us return to that 2006 World Cup win, however. Buffon did not stop a single penalty when it came down to a shootout, but throughout the game he made a host of prominent saves to keep his team alive. Ultimately, Italy outlasted France and Buffon was a major reason why.

He is no longer as agile as he was nine years ago (shocking right?), but he can certainly draw on experience to get his side through this game. Juventus is not a side that gives away too much space and it is likely that if Buffon gets shot at, he will be able to see the shot and have a good chance at making the block. At 6’3”, he is an imposing figure that knows how to clear out the front of his goal when necessary.

Barcelona – Marc-Andre ter Stegen

From a 37-year-old to one who just turned 23. The German keeper is the future number at Barcelona, but there is little doubt that he gets the call in the Champions League final.

How he does in his first major final is another question altogether. He has been decent for Barcelona on its way to the UCL final, but the reality is that the team in front of him has played exceedingly well, making his life a lot easier.

He was not great against Bayern Munich in the second leg, but one would wonder whether he was fully committed with the tie essentially dead after Neymar’s second goal of the match.

He is sound from a position standpoint, but does make the occasional mistake of overcommitting to a cross and missing completely.

Edge: It is tough to say, considering that one keeper is fresh and the other is far older. But Buffon has been in these kinds of situations before and has the experience to draw from. Moreover, no keeper can sustain the level of play he has at the age of 37, a stark reminder of just how elite he truly is.

Juventus has the edge in goal.

The Entire Series Thus Far

Comparing Midfielders

Comparing Goalies

Comparing Defenders

5 Reasons Why Juventus Wins

5 Reasons Why Barcelona Wins