Juventus Must Top Group After Kind Champions League Draw

Dreaming of finally winning the trophy again, Juventus took their place in the draw for the UEFA Champions League group stage on Thursday.

Among those drawing the balls were Ian Rush and Thierry Henry, the two men combining to hand the Bianconeri some favourable opponents when the competition begins in earnest in September.

If the fact the two men's stints in Turin were both relatively poor was somewhat ironic, then so too were the names of the teams they drew against the Old Lady. New signings Marko Pjaca (Dinamo Zagreb), Dani Alves (Sevilla) and Miralem Pjanic (Olympique Lyonnais) will all face trips to their former clubs in Group H.

While qualification for the knockout rounds is imperative, last season showed Juventus the pitfalls that await sides who finish second, as Bayern Munich dispatched them in the last 16.

They will certainly be looking to avoid a repeat of that in 2016/17, with director general Beppe Marotta in little doubt as to what he expects from the Italian champions in Europe this time around. He told Premium Sport (h/t Football Italia) shortly after the draw:

"

We know what our role is, namely to win qualification regardless of our opponents. We have an obligation to win. The opponents might be less tough on paper, but Sevilla often win the Europa League and Dinamo and Lyon are dangerous.

Are Juventus among the favourites? We feel ready for a challenging journey that could give us satisfaction, we want to do our best to get to the end. We've strengthened for that, to improve upon what we've done in recent years.

"

While Paul Pogba's return to Manchester United this summer was undoubtedly a blow, La Madama has—as the club official noted—clearly taken a step forward. Gonzalo Higuain guarantees a regular supply of goals, while Alves, Pjanic and Medhi Benatia bring experience, depth and tactical options to the squad.

Those matters were discussed in detail throughout a previous post, but what about the three teams they are set to face in the Champions League?

Miguel Angel Morenatti/Associated Press/Associated Press

Sevilla

The Spanish side were in Juve's group last year, their 1-0 win at home securing a place in the UEFA Europa League, which they went on to win, but it also denied the Turin giants top spot on the final day.

That led to the ill-fated meeting with Bayern, something coach Massimiliano Allegri's men will be hoping to avoid repeating. Yet it is a different Sevilla side that awaits them this term, the club having lost a number of key men since their victory over the Bianconeri back in December 2015.

Coach Unai Emery moved to Paris Saint-Germain after over three years in charge, replaced by Jorge Sampaoli after his highly successful spell with Chile. No fewer than 12 players also departed this summer, with some huge losses in terms of both quality and influence at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.

Fernando Llorente, Coke, Kevin Gameiro, Ciro Immobile, Jose Antonio Reyes, Ever Banega and Grzegorz Krychowiak are among those to have moved on, leaving huge uncertainty around the club, as Spanish football expert David Cartlidge explained to Bleacher Report:

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What to expect from Sevilla is certainly going to be the million-dollar question this season. It's wholly unpredictable. A guarantee, however, is goals. And at both ends too. How Sampaoli translates his style, so open and expansive, to European competition will be fascinating.

This isn't a guy with any European experience whatsoever, and he's finding his feet with each day that passes. Don't expect a locked-up Sevilla, looking to pounce on the break. They will come out to play, whether it be in Seville or Turin.

"

One new face at the club is Franco Vazquez, longtime friend and former Palermo team-mate of Juve star Paulo Dybala. The Rojiblancos are always tough opponents, but perhaps playing them in the opening match will help Juventus to enjoy better results against them this season.

Laurent Cipriani/Associated Press/Associated Press

Olympique Lyonnais

There is little doubt as to Lyon’s rich Champions League pedigree, with last season marking the first time in 10 attempts they failed to progress beyond the group stage. Finishing second to PSG in Ligue 1, they have qualified for Europe’s elite club competition on more occasions (14) than any other French side.

They have met Juventus once before, losing both legs of a Europa League quarter-final clash in 2013/14, and Les Gones boast an impressive-looking team coached by former player Bruno Genesio.

Alexandre Lacazette needs no introduction, the France international quickly establishing himself as one of the continent’s deadliest strikers. He has already netted five times in Lyon’s opening two league games this term.

With Mathieu Valbuena starring in attacking midfield and the likes of Christophe Jallet, Rafael da Silva and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa featuring in defence, Lyon boast plenty of experienced players. Here are Bleacher Report’s Andrew Gibney’s thoughts on what the Bianconeri can expect from the French side:

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Lyon, although weakened by the departure of Samuel Umtiti to Barcelona, are still one of the strongest teams in France. Boosted by the return of Nabil Fekir from injury, the mouthwatering attack of he and Alexandre Lacazette will be on a mission to impress in this season's Champions League.

Last year, they had a horrible time, but their performances after Bruno Genesio took over in January were much improved. There are still doubts over whether the 4-3-3 suits the attacking talent they have, but the quality they possess should not be taken lightly.

"

Michel Spingler/Associated Press/Associated Press

Dinamo Zagreb

Both Pjaca and Mario Mandzukic will return to face their old club here, with the former getting his wish of a trip back to the Stadion Maksimir much sooner than he had anticipated.

"I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who gave me a standing ovation when I was substituted," Pjaca wrote on his Facebook page in July after his final game for Dinamo (h/t ESPN FC). "I'm a Zagreb boy who loves Dinamo and I have to admit this applause is one of the most beautiful moments of my career."

The Bianconeri have faced the Croatian champions twice before, losing in the quarter-final of the 1966/67 Coppa delle Fiere but winning a Mitropa Cup clash five years earlier.

This year, Zagreb have defeated Macedonian side Vardar, Dinamo Tbilisi of Georgia and Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg in order to qualify for the group stage for only the fourth time in their history.

Zlatko Kranjcar is in his third spell as coach but will face a difficult task after losing Pjaca. That could be compounded, as leading scorer Marko Rog and the impressive Ante Coric could also be picked off before the transfer window closes.

Summary

In short, nothing other than first place will suffice for the Italian champions. Their opponents should not be able to keep pace and, as Juventus fan Nate told Bleacher Report, there are plenty of reasons for hope after this kind draw.

“My view would be that this group is by no means a pushover, as such a thing doesn't exist at this level,” he said. “However, it is definitely a group that Juventus should be confident of winning. It could have been much worse. This group is also very favourable from a travel perspective.”

It seems Old Lady flops Rush and Henry gave her a helping hand, and the team must ensure they have clinched top spot after the six matches have been played.