Juventus vs Lyon preview

April 9, 2014
By: Nemanja Lazarevic

Juventus vs LyonJuventus are well in the driving seat following the last-gasp victory in the first leg, with the Bianconeri looking to finish the job in Turin.

Lyon may have lost the first leg, but having shown a great deal of potential at their Stade Gerland, they have reason for optimism ahead of the second leg.

Disappointing exits from the Champions League and Coppa Italia only made Juventus more determined to finish the season on a high after all.

The Bianconeri have so far managed to hold off challenge from AS Roma in Serie A, where they remain eight points clear at the top with just six games to go.

Meanwhile, Antonio Conte’s side have impressed in Europa League, winning four of five fixtures to come on the verge of reaching the semi-finals.

Having eliminated Trabzonspor and Fiorentina, Juventus went into the Lyon game high on confidence and even if they failed to produce a very good showing in the first leg, team’s superior quality eventually prevailed as Leonardo Bonucci scored a late winner.

And with the Bianconeri also winning their weekend’s fixture against Livorno, they have been made 1.36 (4/11) to win the return match against les Gones.

Carlos Tevez is likely to be denied a chance to end a five-year wait for a European goal as Antonio Conte plans to rest him as well as few other first team regulars, with Simone Pepe and Andrea Barzagli the only unavailable players at the moment.

Probable starting line-up (3-5-2): Buffon – Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini – Isla, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah – Osvaldo, Giovinco.

This season hasn’t been too successful for the French giants, who are still struggling to return to old glory days.

Les Gones did well to qualify for the Coupe de la Ligue final, where they will be facing Ligue 1 leaders PSG, but they look set to miss out on Champions League qualification.

And having lost three of previous four matches, Lyon entered the Juventus game low on spirits and missing a number of regular starters.

However, just as everybody was writing them off, youthful les Gones produced a very good performance against one of Europe’s strongest sides and were very unfortunate not to get anything from the game.

But, having defeated Valenciennes at the weekend, Lyon can be backed at 2.15 (23/20) with Coral to score at Juventus Arena.

Remi Garde is still without Grenier, Gourcuff, Dabo, Fofana and M. Lopes, but at least Henri Bedimo is back from a knee problem.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-1-2): A. Lopes – Tolisso, Bisevac, Umtiti, Bedimo – Ferri, Gonalons, Mvuemba – Malbranque – Gomis, Lacazette.

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