SEVILLA
v
JUVENTUS
RamA?n SA?nchez PizjuA?n Stadium, Seville
Tuesday 8th Oct, 2015, 20:45 GMT
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Juventus travel to Seville on Tuesday night knowing that a draw will be enough to see them ensure top spot in Group D of the Champions League. The Bianconeri are slowly coming back to their top form after a shaky start to the season although they are unbeaten in Europe so far.
They are on a run of five straight wins in Italy and have the momentum going into this tough trip to Spain. Last season’s finalists are already assured of a place in the knockout stages and clinically dispatched Lazio on Friday to move up to fifth place.
Europa League winners Sevilla are already out of the competition. They sit bottom of the group having lost their last four games which happens to be their worst sequence of results in continental tournaments. However, domestically they have won five of their last six games including victories over Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Sanchez Pizjuan.
Team news and tactical brief
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Sevilla FC
Sevilla are playing for pride more than anything else but a win here could help them grab the Europa League place, a competition they have won in the last two seasons. If Borussia Monchengladbach fail to beat City in the other game, then Unai Emery’s men could seal their spot with a win against Juventus.
This will be a special match for Fernando Llorente, who moved from Juventus to Sevilla in the last transfer window. He will be looking to make an impact against his former side after spending two successful years in Turin. The Basque man has netted three goals in La Liga so far but has not scored in the Champions League yet.
Another crucial player for the hosts could be midfielder Ever Banega, who is set to make his return to the first team following a calf injury. Sevilla will definitely miss Italian defender Marco Andreolli who is out with an ankle injury and Beto (knee), along with Daniel Carrico and Gael Kakuta (both hamstring).
Probable Starting Line-up (4-2-3-1): Rico(Gk); Coke, Rami, Kolodziejczak, Tremoulinas; N’Zonzi, Krychowiak; Reyes, Banega , Konoplyanka; Llorente
Juventus
Juventus will be making a mistake if they are taking Sevilla lightly as they have shown their strength at home by securing wins against Real Madrid and Barcelona. Max Allegri has insisted his side are determined to get the point which will cement their position at the top.
A loss here would hand City a chance to overtake them as they host a resurgent Monchengladbach side in Manchester. They are coming off a positive period of form and Allegri knows how important it is to keep the momentum going.
Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala are the first choice at this moment but Alvaro Morata who scored in the corresponding fixture might get a start here as the Croatian is not present in the squad for this game. Juan Cuadrado who came off the bench against Lazio is a candidate on the right wing. Hernanes will miss out for the visitors as he serves the second game of a two-match suspension, with Roberto Pereyra and Sami Khedira (both thigh) also absent.
Probable Starting Lineup (3-5-2):Buffon(Gk); Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Cuadrado, Sturaro, Pogba, Marchisio, Sandro; Dybala, Morata
Key Facts
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Sevilla have lost 7 of their last 8 matches in the Champions League.
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Juventus are undefeated in 14 of their last 15 matches in the Champions League.
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Juventus have lost just one of their last 13 matches in all competition.
Players to Watch Out For
Fernando Llorente (Sevilla)
Fernando Llorente has three goals and three assists for the Andalucian club even though he has made just four starts this season after his move from Juventus this summer. The 30-year-old did not feature in the previous meeting and will be hoping to see some action in Seville against his former club.
Paulo Dybala (Juventus)
Juventus had to rely on Dybalaa s attacking prowess to get the three points against Lazio. He recently revealed how he has been working with Max Allegri to change his movements on the pitch and that has seen him develop a strong partnership with Mario Mandzukic. The sublime goal against Lazio took his season tally to eight goals and he looks very likely to open his account in Europe tonight.
Prediction
Sevilla 1a 1 Juventus
Juventus are in pole position to finish the group as winners and are slowly returning to the level that got them to the Champions League final last season. Sevilla head into this match unbeaten in their last three competitive matches, but before that they had lost six of their eight matches in all competitions. The Spanish club haven’t picked up any points since the opening matchday in this group and despite the fact they’ve beaten Real Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia at home in recent times, Juventus should maintain their unbeaten run here.
Blast From the Past
When these sides met in Turin back in September, Sevilla were comfortably despatched 2-0 at Juventus Stadium.