Juventus v Real Madrid – Champions League Preview: Bianconeri eyeing first leg victory against the defending champions

Date: 4th May 2015 at 10:00am
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Juventus

Juventus are set to host Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final on Tuesday night at the Juventus Stadium.

This is the Bianconeri’s first semi-final in 12 years, with the last time dating back to the 2002/2003 season when they ousted Tuesday’s opponents Real Madrid by an aggregate score of 4-3, taking revenge for the 1998 Champions League final which saw the Spanish giants defeat Juve courtesy of a goal from Predrag Mijatovic.

On the other hand, the Spanish giants are the defending champions having defeated city rivals Atletico Madrid in last year’s final 4-1. The 10-time Champions League holders have been one of the most prominent sides in terms of semi-final ties in recent years too, reaching the last four in the past five attempts.

Both sides are no strangers when it comes to facing one another in the Champions League though, having come face to face on 16 occasions, the last of which coming in the group stages of last season’s edition. The first game at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium ended 2-1 in favour of Carlo Ancelotti’s men, whilst the return fixture saw both sides play out a 2-2 draw at the Juventus Stadium.

Even though both sides seem to be on opposite sides of the spectrum in terms of Champions League achievements in recent seasons, the duo arduously qualified to the last four. Juventus edged Ligue 1 outfit Monaco by a score of 1-0 on aggregate thanks to a penalty from Arturo Vidal; on the other hand, Real Madrid also qualified by a 1-0 scoreline, leaving it late against Atletico Madrid in a replay of last season’s final.

Massimiliano Allegri’s men finalised their 31st Serie A title on Saturday with a 1-0 win against Sampdoria, but the Bianconeri’s recent run of form in all competitions is not as good as the Spanish giants. Ancelotti’s men have won their past five games, whilst Juve have drawn one and lost one, with the defeat coming in the Derby della Mole against Torino, which was Juventus’ first defeat against their city rivals since 1995.

Both sides however enter the game missing an important cog in midfield. In-demand French midfielder Paul Pogba will not feature for the Turin side in the first-leg, whilst the Spanish club will miss the services of Luka Modric.

Other notable absentees include Martin Caceres for La Vecchia Signora, while French striker Karim Benzema is a doubt for the Madrid-based outfit.

Form Guide: Juventus (D-W-W-W-D-W) Real Madrid (W-D-L-W-W-W)

Expected Starting XIs

Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Pirlo, Marchisio, Vidal; Pereyra; Tevez, Morata.

Real Madrid: Casillas; Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo; James Rodriguez, Kroos, Ramos, Isco; Bale, Ronaldo.

 

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