adminTHREE consecutive wins and as many clean sheets in Serie A have given Juventus renewed confidence ahead of a must-win Champions League clash at home to Real Madrid today. However Juve coach Antonio Conte has called on fans to give the Serie A champions an extra boost by offering Carlo Ancelotti’s Spanish giants a red-hot welcome to Turin.
Given their lack of wins so far, Juve could certainly do with a boost. Ousted from last year’s quarterfinals by eventual winners Bayern Munich, the Italians appeared down and out of this season’s competition following a 2-1 defeat to nine-time European champions Real three weeks ago.
That defeat, courtesy of a double from Portuguese striker Ronaldo, came in the wake of a confidence-sapping league reverse away to Fiorentina, who scored four second-half goals to stun the champions 4-2.
Undoubtedly helped by the fact defender Giorgio Chiellini was sent off in somewhat harsh fashion shortly after the restart, the fact remains Juventus, with only two points from three games and trailing Galatasaray by two ahead of their visit to FC Copenhagen, are in dire need of a win.
Conte admitted after the defeat, and having taken stock of Galatasaray’s home win against Copenhagen, it would now “be difficult” to finish among the top two.
Nothing has changed in that respect.
But three consecutive Serie A wins against Genoa, Catania and Parma – during which goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has kept a clean sheet – has boosted Juve’s resolve.
Midfielder Claudio Marchisio believes Juve, given Chiellini’s expulsion, gave a good account of themselves at the Santiago Bernabeu.
And while he underlined the threat of Real Madrid’s Angel Di Maria, Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, he believes improvements to Juve’s defensive play could be decisive.
“Chiellini’s sending off changed the game, but even when down to ten (men) we played an excellent game in terms of our attention and chances created,” said Marchisio. We have to do the same again on Tuesday but also look out for their threat on the counter-attack through the likes of Di Maria, Ronaldo and (Gareth) Bale, who all break with extreme pace.
“Real have plenty of strong players up front who sometimes help out less in defensive areas, so that puts their backline under pressure.
“We defended well in Spain, enjoyed possession and caused them problems. Plus, in Turin, we’ll be able to count on the support of our fans, who will create a red-hot atmosphere.”
Real, who were scolded by Ancelotti on Saturday for allowing Rayo Vallecano to score two second-half goals after Ronaldo (two) and Karim Benzema had given his side a 3-0 lead, need only a point in Turin to secure their place in the last 16.
The Spaniards will almost certainly have to do without left-back Fabio Coentrao after he limped off with an ankle injury before halftime.
Xabi Alonso is also a doubt after he came off at the break on his first start of the season after groin and foot injuries.
Meanwhile, Manchester United are waiting to see if a host of injured players will be fit to face Real Sociedad in today’s Champions League game.
Manager David Moyes was forced to make a half-time triple substitution in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Fulham and then revealed a fourth player, Patrice Evra, also sustained a problem in the first 45 minutes at Craven Cottage.
The Scot told MUTV on Saturday: “Jonny Evans’ back seized up, Rafael [da Silva] has gone over on his ankle and Tom Cleverley had double vision. It’s the first time I’ve ever had to make three [substitutions] at half-time.”
Evra, who took a knock, played the full 90 minutes in London as United recorded a fourth successive victory.
However, Michael Carrick missed the Fulham game with an Achilles injury and Moyes said on Friday that he was “not sure” if the England international would return in time for the trip to Spain.
Danny Welbeck, who was not involved at Craven Cottage because of a knee problem, is another who could return soon. United, who have taken seven points from their first three Champions League games, could close in on a place in the last 16 at the San Mames.
United’s hopes of silverware this season will likely rest on the shoulders of Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney and Moyes believes the attacking pair are starting to move into top gear.
The Dutchman and the Englishman scored in Saturday’s 3-1 victory at Fulham as the champions put a slow start to their domestic campaign behind them.
It was the fourth time that they have netted in the same game under Moyes, who is in his first season in charge after taking over from decorated Scottish compatriot Alex Ferguson, and Van Persie now has six for the season in the Premier League, with Rooney on five.
Uefa Champions League Fixtures
Today: Real Sociedad v Manchester United, Shakhtar Donetsk v Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Manchester City v CSKA Moscow, Juventus v Real Madrid, Olympiakos v Benfica, Paris Saint Germain v RSC Anderlecht, FC Kbenhavn v Galatasaray, Viktoria Plzen v FC Bayern Mnchen,
Tomorrow: Zenit St Petersburg v FC Porto, 19:00*, Ajax v Celtic, Barcelona v Milan, , Napoli v Marseille, Borussia Dortmund v Arsenal, Basel v Steaua Bucharest, Chelsea v FC Schalke 04, Atltico de Madrid v FK Austria Wien, Vicente Caldern (All matches start at 21:45 except*)
– Supersport.
Online Reporter