Juventus vs. Monaco: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream and TV Info
Over the last three seasons, Juventus have undeniably re-established their position as the premier side in Italian football, lifting the Serie A title in each of those campaigns. Doing so by an ever-increasing margin, the Bianconeri seem set to add a fourth consecutive crown this term, currently sitting some 12 points clear of their closest rivals.
As they welcome AS Monaco to Juventus Stadium on Tuesday, however, it is impossible to underline the importance of this Champions League quarter-final, a tie which is arguably La Madama’s most significant fixture since reaching the final of the same competition back in 2003.
Marcello Lippi was unable to overcome Milan at Old Trafford then, and major disappointments against Liverpool and Arsenal followed under the guidance of Fabio Capello. Since their demotion to Serie B almost nine years ago, Juve have failed to make any real impact in Europe, something they will be looking to change against Leonardo Jardim’s men.
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Finalists themselves in 2004, AS Monaco will be no pushovers, as their 3-2 aggregate victory over Arsenal in the previous round clearly shows. Always resolute in defence, they produced a masterclass of counter-attacking football against the Premier League side in the opening fixture, one perhaps only bettered by the Bianconeri in their own 3-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund.
It will be an interesting clash of styles, with both hoping to gain an advantage before heading to the Stade Louis II for the second leg in two weeks' time.
Date: Tuesday April 14, 2015
Time: 8:45 p.m. CET (7:45 p.m. BST / 2:45 p.m. EDT)
Venue: Juventus Stadium, Turin
TV Info: Sky Sports 1 (U.K.) Fox Sports (U.S.)
Live Stream: SkyGo (U.K.)
Form Lines
Last five domestic results:
Predicted Lineups
Juventus (4-3-2-1): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio; Pereyra, Tevez; Morata
AS Monaco (4-3-3): Subasic; Raggi, Wallace, Abdennour, Kurzawa; Fabinho, Kondogbia, Moutinho; Carrasco, Berbatov, Martial
Key Battle
Perhaps the key clash over this opening 90 minutes will be between AS Monaco’s Dimitar Berbatov and the Juventus defence. The former Manchester United striker is the undoubted star of Jardim’s side, leading the line and always capable of deciding any encounter with his nonchalant brilliance.
The task of shackling him will likely fall to Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, with the Italy duo forming an impressive partnership at the heart of Massimiliano Allegri’s four-man defence. Both are intelligent defenders, with the former also capable of stepping forward into midfield and making some incisive passes.
Likely to impact the game on both sides of the ball, this head-to-head battle could prove crucial, with Gigi Buffon no doubt keen to add to his ever-increasing tally of clean sheets in 2014-15.
Player to Watch
Carlos Tevez is undoubtedly the man to watch in this match, the striker is crucial to Juve’s hopes of emerging victorious against AS Monaco’s stout back line. His record of 25 goals and eight assists in 35 appearances this term underlines his importance, while his display against Borussia Dortmund showed just what he is capable of on the biggest stage.
Scoring twice and creating a third for Alvaro Morata, the Argentinian was in the same devastating form he has shown all year, and the Bianconeri will need him to replicate that against the side from the Principality.
More than just his contribution to the scoresheet, Tevez sets the tone for Juventus. His effort and determination in closing down opponents is seized upon by his team-mates, and when Roberto Pereyra and Morata equal his intensity, the Old Lady is a match for anyone.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Home win: 100/227
Away win: 7/1
Draw: 16/5
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