UEFA Champions League: Juventus vs Villarreal live
Preview
After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Juventus and Villarreal will meet again at the Juventus Stadium tonight at 20:00 GMT for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 encounter.
Juventus were eliminated in the last 16 of the Champions League in both the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons, and have not advanced past the quarter-finals since losing at the final hurdle to Real Madrid in 2017, although they have a chance to enter the last eight with a win tonight. Although the elimination of the away goal rule means that both teams will enter the match on an equal footing, Juventus are yet to lose at home in 2022 and have only conceded four goals in their last ten games at the Allianz Stadium, which has become something of an European fortress for them in recent months.
Unai Emery’s bread and butter is going all the way in the Europa League, but Villarreal will go to Turin as outsiders to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League after failing to take full advantage of Juventus’ injury issues in the first leg. Villarreal have only made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League twice previously, most recently in 2008/09 before being eliminated by Emery’s former club Arsenal, and a long injury list does not auger well for the Yellow Submarine here.
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Villarreal know how to beat Italian teams at home, having won in a 3-2 thriller against Atalanta BC in December. Villarreal have only kept one clean sheet in their previous 15 away Champions League matches, putting them in a difficult position ahead of a trip to Turin.
Head-to-head
The 1-1 draw in the first leg was the first competitive encounter between Villarreal and Juventus in any continental tournament, and the struggle for dominance in Turin will undoubtedly pit the European veterans Juventus against Champions League newcomers, Villarreal.
Prediction
The scenario is set for the Bianconeri’s European experience to shine, with a much more established feel to the Juventus defense as Allegri prepares to welcome many major stars back to the fold. Villarreal now have to work around a plethora of absentees, and with Juve enjoying a well-rested Vlahovic and proving to be a difficult nut to crack on home soil, we can only expect Allegri’s men to complete the job and advance to the final eight.
