Re: - | UEFA Champions League Thread | - 2015 -

[DeviAngel]

‘Juventus strong, not unbeatable’


Borussia Dortmund Coach Jurgen Klopp says Juventus are ‘not unbeatable’ ahead of their Champions League show-down.

The Bianconeri take on Klopp’s men in Germany tomorrow night, holding a 2-1 advantage from the first leg, but the opposition Coach is confident.

“It’s a challenge to beat an Italian team for whom a draw is enough,” Klopp admitted in his pre-match Press conference.

“We’re ready for anything, but we must remain calm, as we conceded a goal on the break in the first leg.

“Juve are not unbeatable, [but] we’ll have to make sure we don’t repeat the mistakes we made two weeks ago.

“We’ll have to do special things in a special atmosphere.

“Are Juve tough in tackles? I don’t remember that from the first leg, apart from a foul on [Lukas] Piszczek.

“They’re a team that plays football, ok they might be tough too, but in that situation the referee will intervene.

“I don’t have any particular desires tomorrow. Many remember May 28, 1997 [when Dortmund beat Juventus 3-1 in the Champions League final], it was a beautiful moment, but it won’t help tomorrow.

“We have to create a beautiful harmony, we know how to be dangerous and we’ll have to do it right.

“We don’t want to concede goals.”

[DeviAngel]

No Barzagli for Dortmund


Juventus will reportedly start with a back four in tomorrow’s Champions League match with Borussia Dortmund.

There had been speculation that Andrea Barzagli’s return to action would see Coach Massimiliano Allegri opt for a 3-5-2 at Westfalenstadion, as the Bianconeri aim for the Quarter Finals.

However, Sky reports that after today’s training session at Vinovo, Allegri has decided to stick with his 4-3-1-2 shape, with Barzagli starting on the bench.

Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci are likely to partner each other in defence, with Patrice Evra and Stephan Lichtsteiner on either side.

At the other end of the pitch, Fernando Llorente is expected to be left out in favour of Alvaro Morata, with the latter supported by Carlos Tevez.

Andrea Pirlo has lost his battle to be fit for the match, so Roberto Pereyra will join Arturo Vidal, Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba in midfield.

Probable Juventus line-up to face Borussia Dortmund: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Pereyra, Marchisio, Pogba; Vidal; Tevez, Morata

[DeviAngel]

Buffon: ‘Pleasure to face Dortmund’


Gianluigi Buffon describes playing at Westfalenstadion as ‘a pleasure’ and says it can inspire Juventus.

The Bianconeri are in Germany to contest the second leg of their Champions League Last 16 tie with Borussia Dortmund, and the club captain says he’s looking forward to playing in one of Europe’s most passionate stadiums.

“It’s always a pleasure, it’s never a trivial game when you play here,” Buffon told reporters in the pre-match Press conference.

“To play in a such a temple of football where you’ve been a protagonist with other teammates at club and international level is always exciting.

“The passion of their support is undeniable, but their are different ways to play a game.

“If the fans at this stadium start to get nervous at 90 minutes or 120 minutes, that’s something that the home team will feel, but also something that can inspire a team which comes to play here, especially if you have already experienced certain situations and have a little experience.”

[DeviAngel]

‘Juventus formation not decided’


Juventus Coach Max Allegri admits he still hasn’t decided whether to field a back three or a back four tomorrow night.

The Bianconeri take on Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League tomorrow night looking to hold onto a 2-1 advantage from the first leg and qualify for the Quarter Finals.

Despite reports today that the Coach had decided to field a four-man defence for the tie, Allegri says he still hasn’t made his mind up.

“I don’t know,” the former Milan Coach responded when asked about his formation during his pre-match Press conference.

“I don’t know how the game will go, and it depends on how the game goes. As far as the formation tomorrow goes, I still have doubts, I have to decide whether to play three or four [in defence].

“I’ll have to decide tomorrow, because we play tomorrow night.”

Allegri also echoed President Andrea Agnelli’s sentiments that tomorrow’s match should not be the only reflection on his first year on the Juve bench.

“As for the game tomorrow, what counts is the year. I’d say first that I’m grateful for the President’s words yesterday, that a game doesn’t define an entire season.

“So far we’ve all worked together well, now we’re on the home straight.

“We’re here, and we want to get to the next round of the Champions League, get to the Quarter Finals and then see what happens.

“We still have the League too, which is still to be secured, despite a 14-point lead, which is a lot when you’re 11 games from the end, but we still need to win six games [to guarantee the Scudetto].

“We’ve got the Coppa Italia too, where we have the chance to overturn the result [a 2-1 defeat to Fiorentina] and reach the final.

“The goal was to reach this stage of the season and still be competing in all three competitions and… here we are.

“We have to be good to finish the season, but especially tomorrow night to progress in the Champions League.”

[DeviAngel]

Allegri: ‘We have to score’

By Football Italia staff

Coach Massimiliano Allegri says Juventus have to score in Dortmund as 'it's unlikely to end 0-0'.

The Bianconeri hold a 2-1 lead from the first leg of the Champions League Last 16 tie, so a goalless game would see them advance, but the former Milan tactician says that’s unlikely.

“We start with a 2-1 advantage from the first leg,” Allegri reminded journalists in his pre-match Press conference.

“We know how difficult the game will be, but so do Borussia. We must do everything right, from every point of view. I hope it’ll be a good game.

“It’s unlikely to end 0-0, so we need two goals to go through.

“In the first leg we didn’t allow them a shot on goal, and Borussia scored because [Giorgio] Chiellini slipped, while we had several chances to score.

“We have to know what Borussia’s qualities are, they have great pace and pressing, we’ll have to make very few mistakes tomorrow and hit them where they have weaknesses.”
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I love what he is saying

[salmano9]

Allegri: ‘We have to score’

By Football Italia staff

Coach Massimiliano Allegri says Juventus have to score in Dortmund as 'it's unlikely to end 0-0'.

The Bianconeri hold a 2-1 lead from the first leg of the Champions League Last 16 tie, so a goalless game would see them advance, but the former Milan tactician says that’s unlikely.

“We start with a 2-1 advantage from the first leg,” Allegri reminded journalists in his pre-match Press conference.

“We know how difficult the game will be, but so do Borussia. We must do everything right, from every point of view. I hope it’ll be a good game.

“It’s unlikely to end 0-0, so we need two goals to go through.

“In the first leg we didn’t allow them a shot on goal, and Borussia scored because [Giorgio] Chiellini slipped, while we had several chances to score.

“We have to know what Borussia’s qualities are, they have great pace and pressing, we’ll have to make very few mistakes tomorrow and hit them where they have weaknesses.”
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I love what he is saying

that means that we won't just sit back. Great words.

[salmano9]

Vidal as CAM? Pereyra plays much better there...

[DeviAngel]

Hummels: ‘Wary of counter-attacks'


Mats Hummels admits Borussia Dortmund will be wary of Juventus' counter-attacks when the two meet tomorrow.

The Champions League Last 16 tie is finely poised at 2-1 in the Bianconeri’s favour, and Hummels says he and his teammates must be wary of being hit on the break.

“We can’t play this as if it were a League game,” Hummels said in the pre-match Press conference.

“That would be the wrong approach, we can’t focus too much on attack. 1-0 could be enough, we’ll try to avoid counter-attacks.

“We’ll try to impose our own game.

“First of all we have to make the most of our chances, we didn't create much [in the first leg], so when we get into the last third we have to shoot at the goal.

“We have a lot of attacking players, so we’ll definitely have more chances.

“Juventus proved in the first leg that they have the ability to get their attacking players into good positions.

“[Carlos] Tevez and [Alvaro] Morata, are a dangerous pair, the latter has improved since he was at Real Madrid.

“They also have quality in midfield, I’ve watched 25 videos of Pogba shooting!

“We know what their strengths are, but we’ll try to limit them as best we can.

[DeviAngel]

‘Juventus not defensive’



Borussia Dortmund Coach Jurgen Klopp laughs off suggestions Juventus are defensive and calls them ‘a great team’.

The Old Lady are in Germany to take on Klopp’s men in the Champions League Last 16, but the Dortmund Coach doesn’t think the Bianconeri will sit on their 2-1 first leg lead.

“Juventus, defensive maestros? At the level of an average German team?” Klopp considered with a raised eyebrow.

“We don’t consider Italian football and Juventus as a team to be so mediocre, on the contrary!

“They’re 14 points clear of second [in Serie A], they’re consistent in their play. Maybe they don’t rack up huge goal differences when they win, but they’re a great team.

“We’ve had problems in attack in recent games, but we know how to create problems for Juventus. We have to make the right choices, because Juventus will not give us a lot of space.

“Juventus will try to keep us out and hit us with the weapons the possess.

“This will be a great game.”

[DeviAngel]

Buffon: ‘Allegri brave to take over’
By Football Italia staff

Gigi Buffon admits Juventus’ 14 point Serie A lead is ‘a lot’, and says Max Allegri was ‘brave’ to take over from Antonio Conte.

The Bianconeri stretched their lead at the top of the table this weekend, beating Palermo in Sicily before seeing Roma go down 2-0 at home to Sampdoria.

“Is the Scudetto won? Well, a lead of 14 points is a lot,” Buffon admitted in an interview with Sky.

“Few thought we could do this, repeat this feat for a fourth time in a row.

“I’m happy for myself, for the players and for the fans, but also for Allegri.

“Only a brave man would take over Juventus after three Scudetti in a row, because probably no-one - including ourselves - thought we could do it again.”

The Italian international was speaking in Germany as Juventus prepare to face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, and the goalkeeper believes the Old Lady have progressed on the European stage.

“The first game told us that we’re a good team who can play good football against anyone, and at times impose our game too.

“I think Borussia are one of the five or six best teams in Europe, so the fact that we played an even game with them, and in some instances were even better is a good sign.

“That said, we must do it again and confirm these things tomorrow.”

[salmano9]

Buffon: 'We won Serie A already.'

[salmano9]

13:18 - JUVE TO LUNCH - Juventus is having lunch in the race against Borussia. Then the team will rest and during the afternoon there will be a technical meeting. Massimiliano Allegri should revive the 4-3-1-2: in door play Buffon. In defense from right to left will act Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini and Evra. In midfield, it's up to Vidal, Marchisio and Pogba, with Pereyra that will move slightly ahead of fellow. In tandem Tevez to attack space-Morata.

12:03 - MANY FANS BIANCONERI A DORTMUND - Juventus tonight at Westfalenstadion can count on the support of his many fans who are already in Dortmund. In town there is a bright sun and not cold.

11:20 - CHEERFUL SHOULD POINT ON 4-3-1-2 - Juventus, this morning, should play the usual pre-race work by making a muscle toning or finishing. Massimiliano Allegri still has some doubts related to the form, but at the moment seems willing to rely on the 4-3-1-2: in port there will be Buffon. In defense on the wings it's up to Lichtsteiner and Evra, amid space Bonucci and Chiellini. In midfield act Vidal, Marchisio and Pogba. While Pereyra will move on the frontline. Tevez in attack is fine and will play with his side Morata. In Dortmund there are already many white fans, others will come in the day.


Juventus (4-3-1-2): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Vidal, Marchisio, Pogba; Pereyra; Tevez, Morata.
===
You guys ready?

[djfawnz]

FORZA JUVE TONIGHT! DO OR DIE!!!!!!

[salmano9]

WE CAN DO THIS! #FINOALLAFINE!!!

won't post during the match, so good luck!!!!

[salmano9]

TEVEZ!!!!!!!

[inderbaby]

Brilliant performance first half. Corker by Tevez! Morata looks dangerous on the break!

[salmano9]

@inder:

They closed us well on the counter this game. But the thing is: they had 0 shots in target and 1 off target.

[Juveman17]

Great first half!

[inderbaby]

Dortmund ain't shown shit bro! If Pogba was still on we would have had more chances!

[Juveman17]

EURO MAN MAX HAS DONE ITTTTTT

[juvealbanian]

Apache 2 goals 1 assist tonight

I didn't expected to be so easy lol but I think that the first goal scored in just 130 seconds was shocking for them (B.D)

[DeviAngel]

Pereyra what a player, what a menace, potential to be WC player. Player who ran most in this tie.


Allegri
Tevez

[inderbaby]

Great performance! Tevez and Morata up front are becoming Lethal!

[inderbaby]

Great performance! Tevez and Morata up front are becoming Lethal!

[GIGItheBest]

What a game. Great game by every player, but Tevez was probably man of the match. Morata also played a great game, and all of our midfielders played well, especially Vidal and Marchisio. Defence was great throughout, and we even played well using the 3-5-2. Vidal played like he used to, except he didn't score today.

[inderbaby]

Agreed Vidal was his old self today!

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