UCL QF: Juventus vs Real Madrid

Our next 5 signings better have a golden injury free history behind them, and if it still goes tits up (Barring obvious horror tackles and the likes) then our medical department needs to be gutted.

Khedira was subbed off yesterday with Germany due to injury

Not sure on severity but another one

Could potentially have the most banterific line up against Real in the first leg

So I am hearing that Jjuve will be without Chiellini, Alex Sandro, Khedira, Pjanic and Benatia for the first leg. Jjuve fans please confirm

Chiellini and Khedira will play.

Alex Sandro left the Brazil team with a muscular problem, haven’t seen an update. I’m thinking he’s 50-50 to play.

Pjanic and Benatia are both suspended for the first leg

Had a feeling the Marca sensational headline was too good to be true.

i'm not buying that all those guys are out for the first leg. not buying it at all, and frankly i don't like all those guys being out....don't get me wrong, i'm not one of those "honorable" folks who wants to play every opposition at full strength because its the "right" thing to do; injuries and suspensions happen, we at madrid know that very well

i don't want all those guys out cos they're all defensive players, except pjanic- so any replacements will most likely look to play with more effort than their skills will allow on the defensive end, which could pose problems for us. it would have been different if it was attacking players, cos no matter the effort you just can't easily replace attacking flair or technique

if chiellini khedira and sandro are actually out i have a feeling their replacements will defend as if they're on steroids against us, and limit our chances of good counters. (maybe i won't mind chiellini out, the guy is too stubborn lol)

lol @ hala, i told you to always take marca's reports with a grain of salt. until i see the actual match line up, i never buy into what marca or AS for that matter are selling.....i don't even bother reading sports or don balon for obvious reasons, i'd rather eat burnt toast

halamadrid2 wrote:Had a feeling the Marca sensational headline was too good to be true.

Well, Chiellini left our last match injured and didn’t travel with the national team. He’s said that he’ll be ready.

Khedira was subbed off in Germany’s match but said it was just precautionary and that he’s fine.

Alex Sandro is the biggest question mark

So you are arguing that if 3/4th of our defense and 2 starting mids are out, we will be better?

rincon wrote:So you are arguing that if 3/4th of our defense and 2 starting mids are out, we will be better?

A very compelling argument, to be fair

We can't replace Pjanic, Chiellini and Alex Sandro in our team. While Alex Sandro has this defensive frailty to his game, him going forward is always a positive part of our play. Without Pjanic, our midfield just won't create that much or be comfortable in possession- unless Marchisio plays and plays in 2015 form.

Anyways, we could potentially field one of the most banterific starting 11s of our season for this match... compounded by the players already unavailable like Cuadrado and Bernardeschi, granted they wouldn't help our midfield or defensive woes but have notable quality.

We still got this even is Sturaro plays

On the bright side, it probably can't be worse than last year's CL final no matter who plays...

sportsczy wrote:On the bright side, it probably can't be worse than last year's CL final no matter who plays...

But it may be much worse for Madrid

Thanks sports, great optimism

With Ronaldo back in full form, Madrid is back at its top level...  our only problem was pathetic forward play to start the season.  The had a combined 8% efficiency rate through December or something ridiculous like that.  

The other thing is that Marcelo, Ramos, Kroos and Modric don't give a rat's arse about games until they count.  They weren't necessarily terrible (other than Marcelo and Ramos at times; but that's been going on for years)... but the intensity wasn't there.

No way we could win the league this way.  But looks promising for CL.

When i read that we face Real Madrid 2 weeks ago, at first i thought it was 50-50

Now the more i think of it, the more i realize we'll need a miracle to go through... on paper there is a clear advantage for Real. They are built for Champions League and they need to save their season.

At the end of the day, football is 11 men vs 11 men, so i don't scratch Juventus off already. But for us to advance we need A LOT of favorable circumstances, especially for the 1st leg at home.

1st leg
Key players (for Juventus) will be Dybala and De Sciglio

Dybala: our midfield is so depleted and we cannot rely on Matuidi/Khedira to create scoring chances. Most probably we will build our attacks from the wings and not from the center of the field. Dybala must cover the absence of Pjanic in the 1st leg and find the passing lines for Sandro/Douglas on the wings + support Higuain. Please be clinical when shooting and score on free kicks.

De Sciglio: must play the best match of his career. He has done well this season but now we need him to be world-class for 90 minutes. Defensive monster, precise passing and intelligence in positioning. Sucks to be thrown on the grill like that against CR7, many would say he is not ready for it. But in life we cannot decide when our moment of truth will come... just have to be flawless once it happens. The bells of war are ringing in the background, it's his time to shine. FORZA JUVE

Warrior wrote:When i read that we face Real Madrid 2 weeks ago, at first i thought it was 50-50

Now the more i think of it, the more i realize we'll need a miracle to go through... on paper there is a clear advantage for Real. They are built for Champions League and they need to save their season.

At the end of the day, football is 11 men vs 11 men, so i don't scratch Juventus off already. But for us to advance we need A LOT of favorable circumstances, especially for the 1st leg at home.

same

I voted Juve but now I think there's too much going for Madrid for them to go out. Main reason being Kommander who lives to score in CL games. He'll put a few past Gigi.

Madrid ain't consistent but they sure know how to win a tournament

Robespierre wrote:Anyway Juve stadium is the greatest blockhouse in Europe. Impossible to win there. I'd be glad if we tie it

Don’t do this robes. Real heavy favourites. 80-20 to advance

Juve will win. Spurs beat Madrid and Juventus beat Spurs

They can't disappoint me again

CBarca wrote:Juve will win. Spurs beat Madrid and Juventus beat Spurs

They can't disappoint me again

A depleted Jjuve midfield, a Madrid side that only has UCL to play for to consider the season a success of any sort and The Kommander in Unicorn mode. Yeah, you might wanna hold off on the "can't disappoint me again".

Much better than the cringe stuff we put forward last season

I'm now convinced we'll win best promo video of the season the tie

#TOGETHER #nedved #finoallafine #Time2BeProud #JJ

i present you Juve's communications manager

I predict Madrid comfortably coasting to a 2-0 lead in the first half and then us making a comeback in the 2nd and possibly draw the game.

Anything other than a loss and I'd be satisfied.

Chiellini "Sergio Ramos is a much better defender than me"

That mentality the juve players have they are failing psychology class every one of them