Champions League semi final: Juventus v Real Madrid

Pinturicchio

Tuesday, 7.45. TV3 and UTV coverage at 7.30.

Pogba is out for Juve. Madrid are missing Modric and Benzema. Bale is expected to come into the team in place of Hernandez despite the Mexican's impressive recent form. Sergio Ramos is expected to continue in midfield.

The Bianconeri are coming off the back of wrapping up their fourth consecutive scudetto with a 1-0 win away to Sampdoria at the weekend. It's a toss up whether Allegri will play 4-3-1-2 or 3-5-2. If Pogba was fit, I'd definitely favour the 4-3-1-2. With him ruled out though, I'd be tempted to go with 3-5-2 just so Pirlo doesn't have to start. I think he's a disaster waiting to happen in front of the back four these days against a team that can counter attack with the speed that Madrid have. Andrea Barzagli has been in imperial form at the back lately and I'd definitely favour him over the clumsy Chiellini, who never seems to have full control over what his limbs are doing. Allegri will 100% go with Chiellini though. I can see him giving away a penalty against the likes of Ronaldo or Bale. Alvaro Morata was in great form a couple of months ago but hasn't scored in a while now. Fernando Llorente has gotten a chance in the team recently and has done well, scoring against Fiorentina last week. Morata will probably start tomorrow though and should be out to prove a point against his former club.

Expected line ups as per Sky Italia:
Juve (4-3-1-2):

Buffon
Lichtsteiner Bonucci Chiellini Evra
Vidal Pirlo Marchisio
Pereyra
Tevez Morata

Real Madrid (4-4-2):

Casillas
Carvajal Pepe Varane Marcelo
Rodriguez Ramos Kroos Isco
Bale Ronaldo

Forza Juve!

NIMAN

1 - 0 to Madrid.

(Or will Morata come back to haunt them?)

I think it is hard for Juventus to win this. I think maybe Chiellini might get a red card again. I hope if he does it is deserved this time.

Predicting Real Madrid 1 - 0 by penalty, Chiellini off.

keeponhurling

Pogba is a huge loss for Juve, even with him it would have been a difficult task.

Presumably Ronaldo will score one or two, do I'll go for 2-1 to Madrid

Shanotheslayer

Going out on a limp here, but have a gut feeling 0-3 Madrid. No idea why.

Turtwig

Madrid are in imo the best team in the world when they have Modric. Juventus are missing Pogba. What a fascinating injury list for both teams to have.

Juve's goal here should be to deny Madrid the away goal. Strangle the game if they must. Maybe they'll sneak one themselves but if they can keep a cleansheet here then all they need is a scored draw next week in front of very impatient fans.

WoollyRedHat

It'll certainly be an interesting match-up. I'm backing Juve.... 2-1.

Liam O

Going for the usual 1-1 when both teams play conservative in a first leg CL game.

glued

keeponhurling wrote: »

Pogba is a huge loss for Juve, even with him it would have been a difficult task.

Presumably Ronaldo will score one or two, do I'll go for 2-1 to Madrid

He's still very inconsistent. I think Juventus will fare slightly better without him against Madrid.

Nalz

1-1 for me too, or a 1-2

GreNoLi

The old lady to show her age, methinks.

Pinturicchio

Marca claim to have got hold of a notepad that one of the Juventus coaches left behind at the stadium. It says Juve will play with a back four, they plan to attack down Real's left and it looks like they think Madrid will play 4-3-3.

GLaDOS

Or else they left it there on purpose to throw them off *strokes chin*

Lukker-

Pinturicchio wrote: »

Marca claim to have got hold of a notepad that one of the Juventus coaches left behind at the stadium. It says Juve will play with a back four, they plan to attack down Real's left and it looks like they think Madrid will play 4-3-3.

The left is their obvious weakness, it's what BVB did a few seasons ago when they hammered them home and away.

snowblind

As a Juve fan I'm worried about two things:

Playing Pirlo as a regista. I know, that's his spot. But recently he's been struggling to keep the ball under pressure, also making a lot of missed passes. And us the deepest midfielder these situations almost always result in a scoring chance. I would bench him but it ain't happening. Needs Marchisio to cover him or one of those mythical performances for a change.

Defense lacks pace. Juve has an excellent defense but they are slow. And Chiellini can indeed be a liability occasionally when caught out. Like Pirlo, maybe he shouldn't be started but he will.

I'm withholding judgement on Vidal - he's been miles behind the form he was in the last couple of seasons, but doesn't exactly worry me. Just that he probably won't single handedly help us out of whatever situation we're in at the 90+th minute like he's used to be known for.

It'd be a surprise for Juve to pull this off, but they definitely have a better chance than a lot of people give them credit for. Game on!

Harry Palmr

Its odd that this feel like the warm up act.

Pinturicchio

There's a lot of rumours going around that this will be Juve's team:

Buffon
Lichtsteiner Bonucci Chiellini Evra
Sturaro Pirlo Marchisio
Vidal
Tevez Morata

Slightly strange. Apparently Pereyra may not be 100% fit. It's a huge call to throw Sturaro into this game. He started the season as a squad player for Genoa.

Hoki

I think Juve will win 1 nil or else a 0-0 draw . Juve wont want to concede an away goal and will strangle the life out of the game .

Ulysses Gaze

Always remember this game.

Same again from Juve would suffice

Pinturicchio

Teams are in.

Buffon, Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra, Marchisio, Pirlo, Sturaro, Vidal, Tevez, Morata.
Subs: Storari, Barzagli, Padoin, Pepe, Pereyra, Llorente, Matri.

Casillas, Carvajal, Varane, Pepe, Marcelo, Kroos, Sergio Ramos, Isco, James Rodriguez, Bale, Ronaldo.
Subs:
Navas, Coentrao, Chicharito, Lucas Silva, Arbeloa, Jese, Illara.

Lukker-

Ramos in midfield again. Ronaldo and Bale up top?

Real's bench not the strongest.

Pinturicchio

Lukker- wrote: »

Ramos in midfield again. Ronaldo and Bale up top?

Real's bench not the strongest.

Yeah looks like it.

Hernandez has been good for a goal recently. I'd love if one of their midfielders got injured early though. They really wouldn't want to bring on the likes of Illara tonight.

Lukker-

Lukker- wrote: »

Ramos in midfield again. Ronaldo and Bale up top?

Real's bench not the strongest.

Is Modric injured or something?

Shanotheslayer

M!Ck^ wrote: »

Is Modric injured or something?

Yeh been suffering with some Injury can't remember what tho.

Harry Palmr

Morata to beat his old club.

Knex*

Roy Keane on ITV

"Listen, if you give me time on the ball, I'd still be playing now"

:pac:

Mr.Crinklewood

I'll be your hero.

LuckyGent88

Hit it first time Vidal

Casillas. :rolleyes:

That was a great chance missed.

Peist2007

Even without Pogba this is a hugely difficult tie to predict. Juve have knowhow which is worth a lot at this stage of a competition. I fear Madrid rely on the other side's lack of composure sometimes. They wont be afforded that luxury tonight or next week.

adox

Townsend. :mad:

corny

Did Keane say he'd prefer Casillas over Buffon in the build up?

LuckyGent88

Nice open start anyway. Hope this pace is kept up.

Ulysses Gaze

Does Ronaldo even come close to scoring free kicks these days?

Ulysses Gaze

Ulysses Gaze wrote: »

Does Ronaldo even come close to scoring free kicks these days?

They changed the valves on the balls.

DVDM93

Ulysses Gaze wrote: »

Does Ronaldo even come close to scoring free kicks these days?

He's scored one all year.

LuckyLloyd

Offside imo!!

EDIT: Nope

****in delighted. Push on now while they're on the ropes!

Knex*

Great game so far

DVDM93

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Morata to beat his old club.

Your call.

GreNoLi

Pirlo keeping the ball moving, peerless.

Ulysses Gaze

Real's defence is dreadful.

corny

YES

Knex*

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Offside imo!!

Just on. Great decision from linesman, as in real time that did look off

LuckyLloyd

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Offside imo!!

F*ck your o! :P

LuckyGent88

Absolutely cut wide open. All the space for tevez.

The Moldy Gowl

[Deleted User] wrote: »

****in delighted. Push on now while they're on the ropes!

On the ropes? Only 9 minutes have gone

Will I Amnt

Casillas has to be doing better there, it was a weak shot from Tevez.

Turtyturd

Well worked team goal.

Mushy

Have had a feeling a few since 2nd round that Juventus will at worst get to the final. Not many giving them chance tonight which is a bit odd.

klose

Great start for juve