Juventus are set to travel to face Monaco on Wednesday at the Stade Louis II in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie.
The Bianconeri have the advantage heading into the return fixture having overcome the Monegasque club 1-0 in Turin courtesy of a penalty from midfielder Arturo Vidal.
Both sides are eyeing a first semi-final qualification for over a decade. The last time Monaco were in the semi-final was in the 2003/2004 season when they finished as runners-up, whilst the last time Juve reached the last four was a season before in 2002/2003 when they also finished second.
Monaco reached the quarter-finals by causing an upset, as they defeated English giants Arsenal on away goals. Leonardo Jardim’s men beat the North London outfit 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium in London before going on to lose 2-0 in Monaco, thus progressing on away goals.
On the other hand, the Bianconeri reached the last eight by dispatching German giants Borussia Dortmund 5-1 on aggregate, having decided the tie in the away fixture when they won 3-0.
The only meeting between both sides at this level dates back to the 1997/1998 season in the semi-final of the Champions League when Juve overcame the principality outfit 6-4 on aggregate, a tie that saw former Juve captain Alessandro Del Piero net a hat-trick in La Vecchia Signora’s 4-1 win in the first leg.
Recent form also suggests that it’s going to be anything but an easy game for either side. In their past 10 games, the hosts – who sit third in Ligue 1 – have lost only thrice; on the other hand, Juve have only succumbed to defeat twice in their past 10 games.
Bianconeri coach Massimiliano Allegri is set to miss the services of Paul Pogba, Kwadawo Asamoah, Romulo, and Martin Caceres due to injury, whilst reports also indicate that Andrea Barzagli might be dropped as La Vecchia Signora will play with four at the back.
Jardim on the other hand will only miss Lacina Traoure for Wednesday. The trio of Geoffrey Kondogbia, Jeremy Toulalan, and Nabil Dirar were reportedly going to miss the game after picking up knocks, but all three featured in training on Monday.
Form Guide: Monaco (L-L-W-W-W-L) Juventus (W-W-W-D-W-W)
Expected Starting XIs
Monaco: Subasic; Raggi, Carvalho, Abdennour, Kurzawa; Kondogbia, Fabinho, Moutinho; Carrasco, Berbatov, Martial.
Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Pereya, Pirlo, Marchisio; Vidal; Tevez, Morata.
