Juventus vs Tottenham Champions League - 13-02-2018

Juventus vs Tottenham - Competition: UEFA Champions League
Date: 13 February 2018 - Kick-off Time: 19:45 GMT - 20:45 CET
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Torino

Juventus team enter this clash in impressive form. Following their success at Fiorentina last Friday (0-2), they have won 11 consecutive matches across all competitions and have conceded just one goal in the last 16 outings. Anyway, Max Allegri's men are still one point shy of Serie A leaders Napoli. The Bianconeri finished runenr up to Barcelona in UCL Group D with 11 points, after beating Olympiacos twice, taking four points from the double match against Sporting Lisbon, and drawing 0-0 at home to Barcelona. Juventus and Tottenham have never met on International stage but played two firendlies in recent years - the Italians won 2-1 in Melbourne back in 2016 and lost to Spurs 2-0 in a final pre-season warm-up in August 2017.
Argentine talisman Paulo Dybala is a doubt for the game, along with Blaise Matuidi, Andrea Barzagli, Benedikt Howedes and Juan Cuadrado who are alle expected to miss the match. Max Allegri is expected to play with a 4-3-3 formation in which Gonzalo Higuain will be the central forward. Mario Mandzukic also look sure to start up front, while Douglas Costa is favourite over Federico Bernardeschi to earn the last available berth. The likes of Claudio Marchisio, Sami Khedira and Miralem Pjanic will continue in midfield while Alex Sandro and Mattia De Sciglio are expected to start as full backs, with Giorgio Chiellini partnered by Mehdi Benatia at the heart of the back.

Tottenham team defeated bitter rivals Arsenal on Saturday, thanks to a Harry Kane header in the North London derby. Spurs also recorded a 2-0 win over Man Utd and a 2-2 draw with Liverpool team at Anfield in recent weeks. They sit 4th in the Premier League standings, a whopping 20 points behind league leaders Man City. Spurs comfortably won their Champions League Group, picking up 16 points to finish ahead of Real Madrid, Dortmund and APOEL. They beat Dortmund and APOEL on their travels, and earned a hard-fought 1-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu. Anyway, their recent away form leaves little to the imagination. Spurs failed to win in three on the road and have won only two of their last 8 outings away from Wembley.
Spurs have no notable injuries. Toby Alderweireld and Harry Winks have only recently come back so it is likely they will be rested for the tie. Mauricio Pochettino should play with a more defensive 4-3-2-1 formation with Victor Wanyama replacing Son Heung Min in order to strenghten the midfield, alongside Mousa Dembelè and Eric Dier. The Spurs boss may bring Serge Aurier in for Kieran Trippier at right-back while Davinson Sanchez, Jan Vertonghen and Ben Davies will retain their starting berth. Up front, Harry Kane will be supported by Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen as usual, with Son and Fernando Llorente providing alternatives.

Probable lineups:

Juventus: Buffon – de Sciglio, Benatia, Chiellini, Alex Sandro – Khedira, Pjanic, Marchisio – Douglas Costa, Higuain, Mandzukic.

Tottenham: Lloris – Aurier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies – Wanyama, Dier, Dembele – Alli, Eriksen – Kane.

Juventus last 5 matches:

22/01/18 Juventus 1 – 0 Genoa
27/01/18 Chievo 0 – 2 Juventus
30/01/18 Atalanta 0 – 1 Juventus
04/02/18 Juventus 7 – 0 Sassuolo
09/02/18 Fiorentina 0 – 2 Juventus

Tottenham last 5 matches:

27/01/18 Newport County 1 – 1 Tottenham
31/01/18 Tottenham 2 – 0 Manchester United
04/02/18 Liverpool 2 – 2 Tottenham
07/02/18 Tottenham 2 – 0 Newport County
10/02/18 Tottenham 1 – 0 Arsenal

 

Categories: UEFA Champions League