If Real play like the machines they were last year when they were winning every match, Juve will have a very slim chance of progressing. For that matter, Real will beat anyone in that form. The question is which Real will show up. Will it be the 2017 CL winners that overpowered Juve in the 2nd half or the team that has only won 60% of their matches this year? That is the key.
Gotta take advantage of their midfield with Pjanic out in Turin. A score draw won't be bad. Hope we can nick a win.
Thanks, I didn’t remember him featuring much at all but you reminded me of the Chelsea game when Del Horno took him out. I guess he played a certain number of games/minutes to qualify for a medal?
The absences are important but shouldn't be decisive. Marchisio has been in better form as the CDM/regista lately over Pjanic and in a sense deserves to start a big match over him. He just can't play every three days. Allegri rotates so heavily every week that the players should be accustomed to it vs Real. This tie will come down to which Real show up. If it's beast mode, a full strength Juve would suffer. If it's the one that has been super inconsistent and totally reliant on Ronaldo for goals, Juve will have their say even with players missing.
Juve will have pressure not to lose or concede. A 0-0 or 1-1 leaves this tie totally open in the away leg especially with away goals in play. I think losing on the road to start puts far more pressure on the home team in the 2nd leg since it obligated them to win. Look at PSG, United, Tottenham, and Barca last year etc. Having the home leg 2nd is an advantage but it doesn't feel like a big one anymore.
Rivalry aside, Buffon is such a class act. It's too bad we're going to have knock them out in the quarters.
He’s massively overrated right now though. They guy was rated higher than Modrić in the Ballon D’or list last season, and even though most of me doesn’t care about that list it still peeves me a bit. Buffon was class and looks like a cool guy though no doubt.
It's a popularity contest, Modric let's his football do the talking. Buffon is a very classy guy, he could make a good spokesperson for FIFA after he hangs up his boots.
Yeah that's true, but I still to prefer to play the second leg at home from a Real Madrid perspective just because I'm very confident that we can get a favourable result in an away ground.
A win and Turin and it ends there. Anything else, 1-1 or 0-0, means it it's a one-off final in your building. That's the advantage. The away goals in the return leg is what makes a close tie very tricky.
You dont want a 0-0 in Turin . If they get a fast goal or lucky goal or penalty at Bernabeu , they ll park the bus and it could be over . We just have to score away .
Last time Juve went to Madrid, Real were the ones given a soft pk! It should be another classic tie. Unless Real win in Turin, the tie should be open and tight in Spain. UEFA have given Real and Juve tough groups and draws this tournament.
If Juve gives Madrid the ball as much as they gave it to Tottenham, it's dificult to imagine them progressing on this kind of gamble twice.
Ugh, I really hope we knock them out. One of my worst RM memories is a Juve Round of 16 tie. First leg at the Bernabeu, Zidane plays one of the most magical games I have ever seen. Zizou wins a free kick - Beckham cross - Helguera goal. Return leg in Turin was going fine, until Trezeguet scored for them around the 70th minute and we looked pretty toothless. Game goes into extra time and at that time it was golden goal which gave the home team a massive advantage. I think Salgado was injured or suspended, so left footed Raul Bravo (!!) was our right back, and he flubbed a clearance and Zalayeta hit a perfect half volley to win it for them Time to exorcise those demons this year
Dafuq......that shit didn't get exorcised back in Cardiff mah dude? It did for me. I litereally have no demons left. We settled ALL accounts over the last few years. Liverpool. Juventus. Bayern. Everyone's our bitch.
We got Atletico sandwiched between Juve games. I'd rest some key players against the thugs. They are not in CL and fighting for 2nd now so will be well prepared to play dirty.
Chiellini injuries and possibly out for the first leg. Pjanic and Benatia out suspended and Chiellini possibly injured. It is also unlikely that Cuadrado and Bernardeschi will be back for the first leg. Juve could recover everyone for the 2nd leg with Bernardeschi being the least likely to return.