Juventus fight for the Europe League as the only piece of silverware available to them this season against record holders Sevilla in the semifinals with the first leg at home.
JUV vs SEV Match Details
Date: Thursday, 11 May 2023 / Friday, 12 May 2023
Time: 20:00 (BST) / 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Turin
JUV vs SEV Match Preview
With their position on the Serie A table still not clear despite the suspension of their 15-point deduction penalty in the ongoing case against the club, Juventus are forced to treat winning the Europa League as a serious option that will get them back to the Champions League irrespective of their domestic finish. The Bianconeri are currently on 66 points in second and are five points better in a Champions League spot with fifth-placed Milan. Juventus’s place is not mathematically secured even in on-field terms although they are the favourites considering an easier schedule than the rest of the teams in top-four contention. Back-to-back wins in the league after going five-game winless in all competition has steadied some momentum ahead of this crucial battle against Sevilla. The opening leg of the semifinal being at Turin could pursue them to kill off the tie early but the six times winner are masters of the contest and had already eliminated a top side like Manchester United in the previous round. Maximiliano Allegri’s side dropped from the Champions League to participate in the knockouts of the Europa League, breezing past Nantes and Freiburg but then having a close fight with Sporting CP in the quarterfinals eventually advancing 2-1 on aggregate. Stiff competition is expected again as they look to keep their unbeaten streak in the last 12 games at home intact. Juventus have also conceded just once in five games so far in this competition and none from open play, that solidity is increasingly significant in the tie.
Sevilla have gained some unreal cohesion among the players recently that lacked for the greater part of the season with only one game lost since Jose Luis Mendilibar stepped in last month. Their chance to stay in Europe for the next season is not only down to winning the competition they love so dearly anymore. The 3-2 thrilling win over Espanyol last weekend in La Liga has now put them on the charge to secure a Conference League spot at the minimum which seemed fantasy considering the team was flirting with relegation earlier in the campaign. However, their aim will be to enter Europe’s premier competition through the Europa League again. The 3-0 win over the Red Devils in the quarterfinal after a 2-2 comeback draw in the first leg showed their testament to their prestige in the competition again. Youssef En-Neysri scored twice on either side of Loic Bade’s header from a corner to seal a record fifth semifinal appearance. They have gone on to lift the trophy in each of those occasions making them the team to beat. In the previous rounds, Sevilla also showed the capability of managing games under difficult circumstances which will be useful against Juventus as well. With a hundred per cent success rate against Italian opposition as well in the last six Europa League meetings, their hold on things is pretty strong. That being said, the Spanish side has won only once in the four overall meetings against Juventus all coming in the Champions League.
Recent Form (all competitions)
JUV: WWDLL
SEV: WLWWW
Recent Form (Europa League)
JUV: DWWWW
SEV: WDLWL
JUV vs SEV Team News
Mattia De Sciglio is the only player missing out for Juventus after the full-back underwent reconstructive surgery on his knee after picking up an injury in the win against Leece a week ago, ending his season. Federico Chiesa and Paul Pogba have recovered from their injury woes. Leonardo Parades is also back from his Serie A suspension while Dusan Vlahovic is expected to lead the line after starting from the bench at the weekend.
The visitors, Sevilla are without Tanguy Nianzou, Marcao, Joan Jordan and Suso for this clash all due to injuries but are able to include Lucas Ocampos, Fernando and Erik Lamela in their travelling squad following fitness concerns. Goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic is a mainstay in La Liga so Yassine Bounou continues his duties as the number one in Europe.
JUV vs SEV Predicted Lineups
JUV: Wojciech Szczesny; Danilo, Gleison Bremer, Alex Sandro; Juan Cuadrado, Fagioli, Manuel Locatelli, Adrien Rabiot, Filip Kostic; Di Maria; Dusan Vlahovic
SEV: Yassine Bounou; Jesus Navas, Loic Bade, Nemanja Gudelj, Marcos Acuna; Fernando Ivan Rakitic; Lucas Ocampos, Oliver Torres, Erik Lamela; Youssef En-Nesyri
JUV vs SEV Head to Head
JUV won - 2
Draw - 1
SEV won - 1
JUV vs SEV Dream11 Team prediction
GK: Szczesny (8)
DEF: Danilo (9), Bremer (8), Acuna (8.5)
MID: Cuadrado (8.5), Rakitic (8), Rabiot (8.5), Ocampos (8)
FW: Di Maria (8.5), Vlahovic (8.5), En-Nesyri (8.5)
Vice-captain: Adrien Rabiot or Dusan Vlahovic
Captain: Angel Di Maria
