JUVNTUS
Juventus will be hoping to bounce back from a disappointing run of form in Serie A when they take on Sporting CP in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final tie. After losing two successive matches in the league, Juventus’ hopes of securing a top-four spot look increasingly slim. Therefore, winning the Europa League seems like the only viable route for the Turin-based club to secure a place in the Champions League next season.
Sporting CP, on the other hand, will be looking to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg and progress to the semi-finals. While the Portuguese outfit have had a mixed season so far, they will be motivated by their recent victories against Premier League leaders Arsenal and Denmark’s Midtjylland. Moreover, their coach, Ruben Amorim, will be hoping for a positive response from his players after their 1-1 draw against Arouca on Sunday.
In terms of team news, Juventus are likely to be without several key players for this fixture. Star forward Cristiano Ronaldo is still recovering from a thigh injury and is unlikely to feature. Similarly, midfielder Arthur and defenders Merih Demiral and Leonardo Bonucci are all expected to miss out due to injury. However, the likes of Paulo Dybala, Federico Chiesa, and Weston McKennie should be available for selection.
For Sporting CP, they will be without their captain, Sebastian Coates, who is suspended for this fixture. Moreover, Pedro Porro, Joao Palhinha, and Nuno Santos are all doubtful due to injuries.
In terms of tactics, Juventus are likely to set up in their usual 4-4-2 formation, with Alvaro Morata and either Paulo Dybala or Dejan Kulusevski leading the line. They will look to dominate possession and control the tempo of the game. Defensively, they will be relying on the likes of Matthijs de Ligt and Giorgio Chiellini to keep Sporting’s attack at bay.
Sporting CP, on the other hand, are expected to play in a 3-4-3 formation, with Pedro Goncalves, Nuno Santos, and Tiago Tomas leading the attack. They will look to press high up the pitch and disrupt Juventus’ passing game. Defensively, they will be relying on the likes of Zouhair Feddal, Goncalo Inacio, and Luis Neto to keep Juventus’ attack at bay.
Overall, this promises to be an intriguing match between two evenly matched teams. While Juventus will be hoping to progress to the semi-finals and keep their Champions League hopes alive, Sporting CP will be looking to cause an upset and continue their impressive European campaign. The match kicks off at 8 pm CET on Thursday, April 21st, at the Allianz Stadium in Turin.
1. Juventus aims to secure a place in the Champions League through Europa League victory.
2. Sporting CP seeks to overturn a 1-0 deficit in the second leg of their quarter-final tie.
3. Juventus likely to miss several key players, while Sporting CP will be without their captain.
4. Juventus expected to play in their usual 4-4-2 formation, while Sporting CP likely to play in a 3-4-3 formation.
5. An intriguing match between two evenly matched teams with both eyeing a place in the Europa League semi-finals