Juventus

Manchester City V Juventus

Thursday, 30th September – 20:05 GMT
UEFA Europa League
LIVE on Channel 5

Manchester City

Group A Position: 1st
Group A Form: W (2-0 RB Salzburg – A)

Despite having little European pedigree, City will be involved in a titanic European encounter on Thursday aiming to bring a sleeping giant down to its knees in Italy’s Juventus. And there will be no shortage of confidence as Roberto Mancini’s lavished stars take to the field at the City of Manchester Stadium, where the Blues from Manchester are unbeaten in their last seven home European ties, after City’s tactical affair with Chelsea at the weekend saw them clinch their third win in a row over the reigning champions of England.

Man City are finally beginning to build up ahead of steam after opening up a three-match unbeaten run in the league, although defeat and exit from the Carling Cup (League Cup) has reduced Mancini’s chances of bringing home some silverware this season as the Italian tactician looks to repay the club’s wealthy owner for blessing his palms with gold in the summer.

Their League Cup demise may not be such a bad thing after all, with the club still as determined and convicted to land a trophy this season that they may well pinpoint this exact competition as to where their priorities lye now even though they sit prominently in the English Premier League table: 4th after grounding out a 1-0 victory at home to Chelsea at the weekend, with Mancini’s tactical nous really paying dividends as City didn’t just halt the Blues winning momentum but also tamed a side which had been scoring goals both for fun and at will in the early stages of the season.

After opening their Europa League account with a comfortable win in Austria against champions RB Salzburg, Manchester City will be eager to continue where they left off, and in the process further cement their claims for a berth into the knock-out stage of the tournament, as City won’t have to face Juventus, who are their closest rivals in the group, until the final day of fixtures. So, ideally, Roberto Mancini would like his team to register as many points as possible in order to avoid a final day showdown with Juventus in Turin which, judging by his strong team selection on Match Day 1, seems a realistic and achievable goal.

Juventus

Group A Position: 3rd
Group A Form: D (3-3 Lech Poznan – H)

After an indifferent start back home in Serie A, as well as a couple barren campaigns without a trophy, Italian giants Juventus will earmark the UEFA Europa League as a competition they genuinely believe they can win if playing to the best of their ability throughout the tournament. And if coach Luigi Delneri wanted an early insight into how his charges will fare against the best this competition has to offer then he will get no bigger opponent nor test than that of mega-rich Manchester City.

You could argue that Juventus have already failed their test of European credentials by failing to beat Polish contingents Lech Poznan on Match Day 1. Despite being overwhelming favourites for that clash with an opponent deemed ‘inferior’ Juventus could only conjure a 3-3 draw and even needed to claw back a two goal deficit at one stage. However, shortly after they routed Udinese in the league before furthermore rubber stamping their inconsistency with another defeat next time out at home to Palermo. And that has been the biggest obstacle Delneri has had to face so far in his tenure with the ‘Old Lady’.

The former three-time winners of the UEFA Cup, the older format of this very competition, do at least arrive at Eastlands with a result worth shouting about, after they cantered to victory at the weekend at home to a then unbeaten Cagliari. However, even then Juventus still managed to turn a confident and impressive attacking display into one of debate, with their two goals conceding over the weekend the ninth goals they had conceded in Seria A this season, twelve if you include the three they shipped at home to Lech on Match Day 1. So it really is a case of how and which way you wish to look at this Juventus side, one which clearly has plenty of scoring prowess but at the same time lacks stability and consistency at the back.

While the omens may be positive for Juventus as they travel to Manchester to take on Man City for the second ever time in UEFA competition, with their last venture to clash with Man City resulting in defeat but later lifting the trophy regardless, their record in England is abysmal. A 1-0 victory at Old Trafford against Manchester United back in 1996 remains their one and only win on English soil in nine visits. However, those looking for some positive inspiration needn’t look any further than summer signing Milos Krasic, whom scored a hat-trick at the weekend and has been the focal point for the majority of Juventus’ cutting edge forward plays.

Match Prediction: Manchester City to WIN – 1.80 totesport

There are so many factors as to why Man City appear the bet on paper, none more so than Juventus’ vulnerabilities at the back. If Roberto Mancini, who will know a fair bit about his opponents after his successful spell with Inter Milan, can outwit Chelsea’s Carlo Ancelotti then he should have no problem whatsoever plotting Juventus’ downfall at Eastlands, where City are unbeaten in eight European encounters.

Roberto Mancini has treated this competition with respect so far, fielding strong XI’s for their play-off with Timi Poli and their Group A opener in Austria against Salzburg, so we expect no let up on that front. However, City are facing problems at the back with injuries meaning Juventus could prosper with some sustained pressure, but we just don’t see Juventus’ defence holding out for long against the forward gusto of Carlos Tevez, Adam Johnson, David Silva and James Milner, and they are just a few of the names we could mention who just might start proceedings on Thursday. The fact of the matter is, City have too much class and fire-power within their ranks not be punishing a very inconsistent Juventus side, as Roberto Mancini and his City troops aim to grab Group A by the scruff of the neck.

Soccer-Betting Value Bet: Milos Krasic to Score Anytime – 6.00 SportingBet

Those desperate to oppose the hosts are perhaps best restraining themselves with certain markets, although there could be a side of value with Juventus’ newest icon; Milos Krasic. Fresh off the back of scoring a hat-trick at the weekend, Krasic is your typical attacking midfielder, always looking to make those darting runs in behind defenders looking for that long ball over the top or simply just sniffing out the scraps. The Russian schemer will certainly give you a run for your money.

Match Odds:

Manchester City – 1.80 totesport
Draw – 3.80 VCBet
Juventus – 5.00 Bet365

Juventus V Bayern Munich

Tuesday 8^th December – 19:45 GMT

Group A

When the draw for the groups was made, Bayern Munich and Juventus shaped up as the possible frontrunners in Group A with perhaps Bordeuax a dangerous outsider. Well, the outsider certainly prevailed, on more than one occasion, and it is the French outfit who are the only team in the group to have secured their spot in the last sixteen, in their wake leaving both Juventus and Bayern to fight it out for the one remaining qualifying spot. Also, Bordeaux were so dominant over the pair that they didn’t fall to a single defeat along the way and will end the group stages at Group A winners, regardless of what happens elsewhere in Turin.

As far as these two former giants of European football go, both require a result over one another to progress into the next stage of the competition, although it’s Bayern Munich who have their work cut out. Juventus will not only have the advantage of playing on home soil but they’ll also be confident of progressing simply because they only need a solitary point to be sure of a last sixteen berth. Bayern, however, must win in Turin to earn themselves an undeserved place in the knock-out phase of the competition.

Juventus

Group A Position: 2^nd

Group A Form: DDWWL

Predicament: Only need 1 point to progress

After making a bright start in the competition, winning two of their opening four fixtures, as well as maintaining an unbeaten run along the way, Juve’s fortunes soon turned slightly sour after suffering defeat at the hands of Bordeaux, a team they could only manage a 1-1 draw with on Match Day 1, a result which, in heince sight, has cost them early progression. However, the show must go on as they say and Juventus don’t even need to put on a fabulous display for the home fans as a draw is all they need to bypass what has been a very tricky group.

In the Champions League thus far, Juventus’ only win came in a narrow 1-0 victory over rock-bottom, Maccabi Haifa. The fact that it was only 1-0 is a big negative in itself as many pundits, including ourselves, would have expected a much bigger margin of victory. Nevertheless, it was three points and they could make it two wins from two at home in the competition with a win over Bayern Munich, a team whose only away success came against the same outfit, Maccabi Haifa (0-3), but lost on their previous away outing in Bordeaux, losing 2-1. Also, the morale within the Juventus camp should have gone up a few notches after their 2-1 victory over the reigning Italian champions – Inter Milan, on Saturday.

On Saturday, Juventus put an end to an unbeaten run of seven games for Juventus and closed the gap on them to just five points. The players will now be very confident that they can now compete on every quarter, and pleased that their league campaign is well and truly back on track. However, the cherry on what has been a very good week for them would be progression from Group A. All Juventus need is a point and what all Italian sides are good at is producing dull, low-scoring games when it really matters. However, Juventus have only kept two home clean sheets back home in eight home outings in Serie A, which does leave them exposed to what is still a dangerous Bayern offensive.

Bayern Munich

Group A Position: 3^rd

Group A Form: WDLLW

Predicament: Must WIN to progress

Bayern Munich have been a model for consistency in recent Champions League’s but this hasn’t been the case this season, and the German powerhouse could find themselves dumped into the Europa League if they don’t obtain all three points in Turin. Bayern were held to a goalless draw when the pair met in Munich on Match Day and whereas that result would see their match day rivals sail through, on the same token it would also see Bayern exit the competition.

The omens ahead of their trip to Turn aren’t great. On their previous two visits to Turin, Bayern Munich have lost on both occasions, while, somewhat ironically, the under-fire Bayern manager, Louis Van Gaal, lost to Juventus in a final back in his playing days. However, losing in the final then may have been one of the worst moments in his career but an early exit from the competition could leave him begging for his job. Bayern have not only been well below par in this competition but they’ve also been under-performing back in domestic action, leaving the Bayern Munich disgruntled at yet another manager.

The two defeats home and away to Bordeaux is what has cost Bayern dearly and what could be the death of them in this competition. However, after battling hard on Match Day 5 to record a nervy 1-0 victory over Maccabi Haifa, Bayern do still their own fate in their hands but know only a win will do if they want to remain with Europe’s elite.

However, Bayern’s league form is looking far more rosier now after a run of eight games without defeating, four wins and four draws, while Bayern are unbeaten in three away outings in the Bundesliga, albeit against pretty poor opposition. However, a big negative is that Bayern away record while in league action is ordinary (3-2-2), and with Bayern only managing to win just under half of their away games this season, that average won’t do if they want to progress on Tuesday night. They did, however, win on their very last away outing, a 3-0 win in Hannover, whilst they won again over the weekend, a 2-1 victory at home to Borussia Monchengladbach, so perhaps matters are taking a turn for the better.

Match Verdict:- Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

A tight, nervy game is on the cards here and we fancy this it to pitier out into a draw. It’s down to Bayern Munich, the side that desperately have to win, to make this an entertaining affair. Juventus will probably play in a cautious manner, not throwing a large number of bodies forward unless absolutely necessary, while the pressure is firmly on Bayern to ask all the questions. Gut instinct mixed with Bayern’s dreadful performance in the Champions League thus far says an early opener for Bayern Munich which will then later be cancelled out at the other end with a Juventus equaliser. A 1-1 draw tickles our fancy.

Match Odds:

Juventus – 2.30 VCbet

Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

Bayern Munich – 3.40 SkyBet

SoccerBetting Value Tip: 1-1 Correct Score – 6.50 Bet365