Juventus travel to Portugal carrying a 1-0 aggregate lead to face Sporting CP for the second leg of the Europa League quarterfinals.
SCP vs JUV Match Details
Date: Thursday 20 April 2023 / Friday, 21 April 2023
Time: 20:00 (BST / 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon
SCP vs JUV Match Preview
Sporting CP have a huge task in hand to eliminate another European powerhouse to pave their way into the semifinals of the Europa League. Having beaten Premier League leaders Arsenal in the last 16 stages, Ruben Amorin’s side went for another upset in Italy against Juventus but were thwarted by some excellent goalkeeping by Wojciech Szczesny and later by his replacement Mattia Perin. In the end, they had to concede a 1-0 defeat with more of the chances falling to them than the home side. The loss was hard to take as Sporting maintained an 11-game unbeaten streak in all competitions leading up to the clash. Without a win against the Turin giants in the three meetings so far, the side wants to take their home advantage of the second leg to overturn the single-goal deficit in the tie. Even that will be a lot to ask for them as the Green and Whites have failed to win at Lisbon in European competition since beating Tottenham in the Champions League in September last year.
Federico Gatti’s finish from close range after Dusan Vlahovic nodded a cross to his path allowed Juventus to take the lead in the tie from the first meaningful chance of the game. It did not arrive until the 73rd minute. They had to thank their goalkeepers for not letting the opposition take anything from the game with Perin’s jaw-dropping double save in the second half added time proving crucial. All Juventus need is a draw in the second leg and they will set up a semi-final clash with Sevilla or Manchester United. For that, they need to improve their unconvincing form of late. The 1-0 loss to Sassuolo in the league at the weekend means the first-leg quarterfinal victory is the only win registered in the last four games in all competitions. Winning the Europa League is the only possible option Juventus have to retain European football next season and go back to the Champions League.
However, they could spring back to second in Serie A from seventh if their 15 points deduction for false accounting is overturned. The decision will be made on Thursday and it will be a double celebration for the side should they advance to the semifinals.
Recent Form (all competitions)
SCP: WLWDW
JUV: LWLDW
Recent Form (Europa League)
SCP: LDDWD
JUV: WWWWD
SCP vs JUV Team News
Jeremiah St. Juste was replaced by Ousmane Diomande at the end of the first half in Turin last week with a thigh problem which will keep him out for the second leg. Marcus Edwards missed the draw against Arouca in the league last weekend with an illness but should be back for this one. Goncalo Inacio and Hidemasa Morita will also return to the starting eleven having benched in the last game.
Szczesny complained about chest pain during the first leg to be replaced by Perin who stayed as the number one in the Serie A defeat to Sassuolo on Sunday. The Pol expected to be back between the sticks on the trip to Portugal. Paul Pogba and Federico Chiesa are available for selection as well having recovered from their latest injury setback.
SCP vs JUV Predicted Lineups
SCP: Adan; Goncalo Inacio, Sebastian Coates, Ousmane Diomande; Tiago Esgaio, Pedro Goncalves, Hidemasa Morita, Matheus Reis; Francisco Trincao, Marcus Edwards, Nuno Santos
JUV: Wojciech Szczesny; Federico Gatti, Gleison Bremer, Danilo; Juan Cuadrado, Fagioli, Manuel Locatelli, Adrien Rabiot, Filip Kostic; Di Maria; Dusan Vlahovic
SCP vs JUV Head to Head
SCP won - 0
Drawn - 1
JUV won - 2
SCP vs JUV Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Szczesny (8)
DEF: Danilo (8.5), Bremer (8), Inacio (8.5)
MID: Cudrado (8), Di Maria (8.5), Rabiot (9), P Goncalves (9)
FW: Edwards (9), Vlahovic (8.5), Trincao (8)
Vice-captain: Pedro Goncalves
Captain: Di Maria
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