Monaco vs. Juventus: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream and TV Info

Juventus travel to Monte Carlo on Wednesday evening, visiting the Stade Louis II for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash with AS Monaco. The Bianconeri hold a slender 1-0 advantage over their opponents and come into the encounter in arguably better form than Leonardo Jardim’s side.

Held 1-1 by Rennes on Saturday—a major blow to their Ligue 1 title hopes—the Portuguese coach made no fewer than six changes to his lineup, although he did retain the 4-2-3-1 formation seen at Juventus Stadium just a week ago.

Meanwhile, this past weekend saw the Italian champions take a huge step toward securing a fourth-consecutive league title, easing past second-placed Lazio by a 2-0 margin. Massimiliano Allegri also made changes, switching to a 3-5-2 framework which allowed him to rest Stephan Lichtsteiner, Roberto Pereyra and Alvaro Morata from the outset.

The coach also withdrew Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo during the second half, with the former putting in yet another superb display as he slowly returns to his best form. Juventus will need just that as they seek a first semi-final berth in over a decade, 2003 marking the last time they reached that stage in Europe’s elite competition.

AS Monaco were Champions League runners-up 12 months later, but their record against Italian sides does not make good reading. Indeed, they have emerged victorious in just one of their six previous knockout ties against clubs from the peninsula, beating AS Roma back in the 1991-92 campaign.

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

Date: Wednesday April 22, 2015

Time: 8:45 p.m. CET (7:45 p.m. BST/2:45 p.m. EDT)

Venue: Stade Louis II, Turin

TV Info: Sky Sports 5 (UK) Fox Sports (U.S.)

Live Stream: SkyGo (UK)

Form Lines

Last five domestic results:

Reims 1-3 AS Monaco	Palermo 0-1 Juventus
AS Monaco 1-1 Saint Etienne	Juventus 1-0 Genoa
AS Monaco 0-0 Montpellier	Juventus 2-0 Empoli
Caen 0-3 AS Monaco	Parma 1-0 Juventus
AS Monaco 1-1 Rennes	Juventus 2-0 Parma

Predicted Lineups

AS Monaco (4-3-3): Subasic, Raggi, Carvalho, Abdennour, Kurzawa; Kondogbia, Fabinho, Moutinho; Carrasco, Berbatov, Martial

Juventus (4-3-2-1): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio; Pereyra, Tevez; Morata

Key Battle

Perhaps the key clash over this opening 90 minutes will be between AS Monaco’s Aymen Abdennour and Juventus striker Carlos Tevez. The Tunisian defender has been in superb form this season, undoubtedly the rock upon which Jardim’s strong back line is built and has turned in some truly impressive Champions League performances.

Antonio Calanni/Associated Press

According to WhoScored.com statistics, the 25-year-old has averaged two tackles, 3.2 interceptions and 6.2 clearances across five appearances in the elite European competition. Yet he can expect to be given a torrid time by Argentinian star Tevez, arguably one of the continent’s most in-form stars.

As discussed in this previous column, the 31-year-old has been simply sensational for the Bianconeri this term, weighing in with 26 goals and eight assists in all competitions. Those tallies include six goals in eight Champions League outings, and he was undoubtedly the star as Juve eliminated Borussia Dortmund in the previous round.

Player to Watch

If Tevez has taken on the starring role, Arturo Vidal is perhaps the man to watch on Wednesday evening, the Chilean slowly returning to the form which saw him become widely recognised as one of the best midfielders in the world over recent seasons.

Massimo Pinca/Associated Press

Knee surgery and a hurried return to feature in the World Cup have undoubtedly restricted his impact this term, but his well-struck penalty was the difference between the two sides last week, and the 27-year-old believes he is now back to somewhere near his best.

“I feel good, I’m 100 per cent fit and hope to end the season in the right way,” he told Sky Italia (h/t Football Italia) shortly after helping his side to that win over Lazio at the weekend. Securing their passage to the next round would certainly do just that, and Vidal could be the key to eliminating AS Monaco.

His availability came into doubt on Monday, however, skipping training due to "a light bout of tonsillitis," per the club's official website. Juventus will hope he recovers in time, as he is hugely important to the side, particularly in Paul Pogba's continued absence.

Odds (via Odds Shark)

Home win: 23-10

Away win: 13-10

Draw: 21-10