At the Allianz Stadium on Wednesday night, Juventus will play host to Group H’s top team, PSG, to wrap up a futile Champions League season.
For Massimiliano Allegri’s eliminated team in Europe, the final whistle cannot come soon enough while the guests are still vying with Benfica for first place.
Juventus faced Benfica needing all three points to maintain their Champions League knockout hopes, and their bags were about to be packed when the Portuguese powerhouses roared into a 4-1 lead at the Estadio da Luz. The unlikely almost happened.
Weston McKennie and Arkadiusz Milik scored two quick goals just before the 80-minute mark to set up a thrilling finish, but the Old Lady lacked the stamina to score the two additional goals they so desperately needed, and their run in the top division of Europe came to an end.
Juventus hasn’t failed to advance past the group stage of the Champions League since the 2013–14 campaign, but under-fire Allegri continues to enjoy the support of the establishment as his third-place team attempts to fend off Maccabi Haifa’s threat to advance to the Europa League.
With Nicolo Fagioli scoring the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory at Leece at the weekend and the Turin headquarters being kind to Juventus recently, a three-game winning streak in Serie A with three clean sheets has at least helped to quiet some of the rumblings of unhappiness.
In fact, Allegri’s team welcomes PSG to their base after winning each of their last three home games and scoring at least twice in five of their last six games on home soil. However, they also run the risk of becoming just the second Italian team to lose five group matches in a single Champions League campaign, joining 2004-05 Roma.
In recent weeks, PSG’s defensive coaches have had their work cut out for them. Fortunately for Christophe Galtier, however, his celebrated attacking trio has chosen to ignore the commotion surrounding all of their off-field efforts in order to continue their impressive run in front of goal.
The ongoing PSG soap opera has seen new episodes involving Lionel Messi’s contract, Kylian Mbappe’s future, and Neymar’s current legal issues. However, all three players performed admirably in last week’s 7-2 thrashing of Maccabi Haifa, which solidified Les Parisiens’ place in the knockout stages.
All three had to save PSG at the weekend after they were threatened by Troyes but ultimately prevailed 4-3 at the Parc des Princes. This was their fourth straight victory across all competitions and keeps them clear atop Ligue 1.
PSG and Benfica have been evenly matched throughout the group stage, but Galtier’s team only needs to finish higher than their rivals on matchday six to win the group. Their current unbeaten streak in all competitions is 28 games.
The French champions have never defeated the Old Lady on the road in Europe, despite winning each of their most recent four final group stage matches in the Champions League with at least four goals scored in each game. They also defeated Juve 2-1 earlier this season.
Juventus Team News
Paul Pogba’s chances of playing for France at the World Cup have taken yet another hit, according to reports that the midfielder has experienced another setback in his recovery from a thigh injury and is not likely to play again before Didier Deschamps names his squad.
Due to an adductor injury, Dusan Vlahovic, a crucial striker for the Old Lady, will also be out for some time. McKennie also sustained a muscular injury in the victory over Lecce, adding to the Old Lady’s mounting problems. Matias Soule, a 19-year-old attacker, further complicated matters by appearing to develop a problem over the weekend in the dying embers.
Despite the absences of Marley Ake, Leandro Paredes, Angel Di Maria, Gleison Bremer, Mattia De Sciglio, Federico Chiesa, Samuel Iling-Junior, and Kaio Jorge, Allegri should receive a much-needed boost from Manuel Locatelli’s expected return from personal issues. Danilo, on the other hand, has been suspended due to a buildup of bookings.
Juventus possible starting lineup:
Szczesny; Bonucci, Gatti, Alex Sandro; Cuadrado, Rabiot, Locatelli, Miretti, Kostic; Kean, Milik
PSG Team News
Danilo Pereira recently returned to training from a hamstring injury, but PSG’s medical facility is now empty. It is difficult to imagine the Portugal international being risked right away for this match.
Neymar received his third caution of the competition last week and will be absent from this match, but Marco Verratti is back after serving his suspension in the 7-2 victory over Maccabi Haifa. Carlos Soler, who has two goals in his last two games for PSG, should keep his spot while the Brazilian is out.
As Galtier rotates his resources, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, Achraf Hakimi, and Fabian Ruiz are also ready to return to the starting lineup. The Frenchman will undoubtedly now probably switch back into the three- man defending after a handful of shaky rearguard performances.
PSG possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Marquinhos, Ramos, Kimpembe; Hakimi, Soler, Verratti, Ruiz, Nuno Mendes; Messi, Mbappe
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