Juventus vs. Borussia Dortmund: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV

This week is undoubtedly the biggest of the season so far for Juventus, facing stiff competition in the Champions League and then squaring off against their closest domestic rivals. Before travelling to the Stadio Olimpico to battle AS Roma, the Bianconeri welcome a resurgent Borussia Dortmund to Turin.

Having slumped to the foot of the Bundesliga before the winter break, Jurgen Klopp’s side have now won each of their last three outings and climbed into a slightly more respectable 12th place. In those games their attack looks to be in devastating form, outscoring opponents by 10 goals to four.

While the reigning Italian champions will hope to exploit their defensive weaknesses, Dortmund will enter the match with renewed confidence, having already displayed much more impressive form in Europe this term. Massimiliano Allegri is well aware of the importance of this tie, telling Sky Italia on Friday (h/t Football Italia):

"

We are in very good shape. Borussia are back on track and on Tuesday it’s the first of two games, so we have to play with balance and I am absolutely not worried by this match.

I think they are going to be two great games and I expect qualification to be decided only in the final minutes of the second leg.

"

It is arguably the most difficult tie to pick a winner from, with the two sides both capable of securing passage to the quarter-finals. The visitors certainly possess a far greater pedigree in Europe over the past few seasons, but the Bianconeri can lean on a vastly improved approach under Allegri.

The coach has installed a system which is far better suited to Champions League football compared to the previous 3-5-2 framework, and supporters of Italy’s grand Old Lady will be hoping that is enough to help them emerge from this tough matchup.

Date: Tuesday, February 24

Time: 20.45 CET (19:45 GMT/12:45 EST)

Venue: Juventus Stadium, Turin

TV Info: beINSports (US), Sky Sports (UK)

Live Stream: beIN Sports CONNECT (US)

Michael Probst/Associated Press

Form Lines

Last five domestic results:

Juventus 2-0 Chievo

Udinese 0-0 Juventus

Juventus 3-1 Milan

Cesena 2-2 Juventus

Juventus 2-1 Atalanta

Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund 0-1 Augsburg

Freiburg 0-3 Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund 4-2 Mainz 05

VfB Stuttgart 2-3 Borussia Dortmund

Predicted Line-ups

Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

Player to Watch

Perhaps no player is more central to this tie than Andrea Pirlo, with the midfielder arguably the one man who could decide the result either way. His match-winning performance on Friday—discussed at length here—was excellent, but those games have been all too infrequent this term.

Indeed, in their previous Serie A outing, Pirlo was responsible for handing the initiative to Cesena, losing the ball in midfield and allowing the relegation-threatened minnows to take a surprise lead. That game ended in a draw, but committing such an error against Borussia Dortmund is likely to be far more costly.

More than ever, the immediate future of Juventus may be decided by which Pirlo is on show over the two legs. If the 35-year-old can handle the constant pressing of the ball from this difficult opponent, he may write another chapter in the story of his truly great career.

Key Battle

While Pirlo’s influence could be the deciding factor, the key battle in this encounter could well be between his team-mate Arturo Vidal and Dortmund’s Marco Reus. The two will clash in midfield, and the Chilean must get the better of his direct opponent if the Bianconeri are to overcome Jurgen Klopp’s men.

Bleacher Report Formation Builder

Like Vidal, many were surprised that Reus remained with his current club this past summer, with German newspaper Bild (h/t Yahoo Sport) reporting this week that he refused to take phone calls from potential suitors, including Manchester United.

He has netted two goals and added one assist in the Champions League this term, also netting in each of his side’s last three domestic victories. In contrast, Vidal missed Friday’s clash with Atalanta and also failed to net a penalty which could have sealed a win against Cesena a week earlier.

Odds (via OddsShark)

Home win: 11/10

Away win: 12/5

Draw: 12/5