The Champions League football returns back once again this midweek for its gameweek two after the successful completion of the first round of group stage fixtures two weeks earlier. Football fans all around the world would be eagerly waiting to see their respective teams compete against each other in the European Circuit. In one such fascinating match, we are bracing up to watch the ensuing battle between two of the biggest clubs in the continent. Reigning European Champions Chelsea lock horns with Italian giants Juventus at the Allianz stadium in Turin on Wednesday night. They are placed in the same group and are well on the way to play the first-leg of this mega clash tomorrow.
Chelsea, the 2012 and the 2021 champions would be looking to pursue their third European trophy this year. They have a great squad that has excellent players at each and every position and is aptly managed by coach Tuchel. Anyone at this moment may take Chelsea as the favorites to win this game given the awful form that Juventus is in. It remains to be seen whether they can bring the best out of themselves to come on top in this clash.
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Juventus, the 1985 and the 1995 champions haven’t won this elusive time for a long time. They brought Cristiano Ronaldo to win the UCL but their dream remained unfulfilled. After his departure from Juve, the Turin-giants are now on their way to find the perfect winning combo for them. If they bring up some exceptional performances, it is quite a possibility that they go further in the European competition. Let’s see if they can replicate the same in this huge game tomorrow.
Much is at stake as the two teams go neck-to-neck in Allianz Stadium tonight.
Why to watch out for
There is absolutely no reason in the world that can provide to be a valid point why you shouldn’t watch the game. Two of the best teams in Europe will be playing and certainly, no football fan can resist themselves from witnessing it. Juventus will seek redemption from their awful form in the domestic league and will definitely try to start things fresh here. They will be aiming for another perfect win after their 3-0 drubbing of Malmo in the first round. Chelsea would also certainly be in search of a win after their 0-1 loss to ManCity on the weekend. They’ve set their sights on achieving big this season and for that, they need to win this kind of big match.
Can Tuchel once again with his sharp tactics return with all the three points or can Allegri provide a stern test for his counterpart? Tune into the match from 00:30 IST to know this.
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Juventus
The Bianconeris are coming onto this match after securing a clinical 3-2 win away against Sampdoria. Paulo Dybala gave the lead to the Old ladies early in the first half before limping off with an injury. Leonardo Bonucci’s penalty and a strike from new recruit Locatelli turned the match in Juve’s favor. They controlled the match right from the start with almost 55% of the possession of the ball. They also unleashed 15 shots towards the opposition goal out of which 6 of them were o target. In the opening UCL match against Malmö, they cruised to a 3-0win and have now remained unbeaten on four consecutive matches. The home side knows they will be at the pinnacle of their form if they are to beat Chelsea. Allegri will definitely have a big task cut out against Tuchel’s high-flying Chelsea.
Chelsea
The Blues are traveling to Turin after suffering a narrow defeat at the hands of reigning two-time PL Champions ManCity. Tuchel’s side just came short at the Stamford Bridge courtesy of a Gabriel Jesus strike at the hour mark. They were completely dominated by the Citizens and it was evident from their gameplay that they failed to flourish. The Londoners failed to register even a single shot on target and it was the biggest shortcoming from the match. They could also manage only a meager 40% possession of the ball.
No wonder that they have to uplift their game by leaps and bounds to win against Juve. But their advantage will be that they have a clever manager in Tuchel who knows how to win these big games. Chelsea is a team to be feared for across the continent now certainly. Can Tuchel’s side live up to the expectations and hand a defeat to Juve at their home ground? We will find the answer tomorrow assuredly.
Team News
Chelsea
Going into Wednesday’s game against the Italian champions, Chelsea has a few headaches regarding the injury of few key players. Christian Pulisic remains sidelined on account of his long-term injury. Both Masom Mount remains doubtful as he suffered a knock a few days ago. Reece James is out due to an ankle injury sustained against City. Recently, N’golo Kante also tested positive for COVID-19 and will be sitting out of the game. Other than these, there are no injury concerns for Tuchel as he prepares his tactics to beat the Old Ladies.
Juventus
The home side also has a number of players who’ll not be able to play against the Londoners. Paulo Dybala had picked up a muscle injury the previous day and will not feature against Chelsea. Alvaro Morata is also likely to be out with a hamstring problem. Arthur and Kaio Jorge haven’t recovered from their injuries till now and will sit out of the game as expected. Other than these, Allegri has a fully fit squad to choose his starting XI from.
Head to Head
The Londoners and the Italian giants have only met each other four times on the European circuit to date. The result is evenly matched as both have won a game apiece. The other two failed to produce any result. In the last meeting between the two sides, Juventus sealed a comfortable 3-0 win back in 2012. Let’s see if Chelsea can get the lead this time around.
Players to watch out for
Juventus
Rodrigo Bentancur
The versatile Uruguayan is one of the brightest prospects in the Juventus team presently. He is a consistent performer with the ball and controls the midfield wholly whenever he plays. With already 2 assists in his kitty, he has shown that he can bring out his best game when needed. His duel with Jorginho could well decide the outcome of the match. Allegri would hope that his midfield general remains in good shape today.
Juan Cuadrado
The Colombian man is a vital cog in the lineup for the Italian side. He maintains a swift balance in both attack and defense and gives a remarkable contribution to both. His presence makes the Juve attack look so creative with his inch-perfect crosses flying into the box. He will look forward to replicating his last season’s performance and give his team the edge. Against Chelsea, he might prove to be quite instrumental for his side.
Chelsea
Romelu Lukaku
The big man from Belgium has joined the London Based side from Inter this season only. Since then he has been to live up to all the hypes and anticipations regarding him with some excellent performances. He has racked up four goals in six starts for them. No wonder he is a bodily presence in the opposition box with his heading and shooting skills proving quite handy. He is a perfect no.9 for any team and always remains hungry in the box to score. He is Tuchel’s go-to man and will have his task cut out against the likes of Delight and Bonucci tonight.
Jorginho
The undisputed king and the fulcrum of the whole Chelsea side is none other than UEFA’s player of the year Jorginho. With some dominating shows in the midfield, he has turned out to be one of the best in his positions. He maintains a swift balance attack and defense for his side. His passing skills and tackling abilities are an invaluable asset for Chelsea. As he remains in control of the midfield, he’ll be eager to dish out more awesome performances in that position. Once again against Juventus, he will be Chelsea’s Mr.Dependable in the absence of Kante.
Conclusion
In all respects, this match is going out to be quite an enticing and entertaining one for the football fans. You really expect to see such high-quality football in the UCL from the top teams. Undoubtedly, both Chelsea and Juventus would be in search of a win. Expect a fierce and enthralling encounter to take place at the incredible Allianz stadium tonight. Will Chelsea come and hunt down Juventus in their own backyard or will Juventus find a way to snatch a tricky win out of them? Chelsea Vs Juventus, and here we go preparing for this mega high-voltage clash.
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