Juventus vs Atletico preview

December 8, 2014
By: Nemanja Lazarevic

Juventus vs AtleticoItalian champions Juventus need one more point to secure their progress into the next stage, while a win could see them qualify as group winners.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid aim to avoid defeat in Turin and thus make it to the first knockout stage from the first position in the group.

Juventus have done really well to once again climb to the top of the Serie A standings and they clearly remain the team to beat on domestic stage.

However, for the second season running the team have experienced all sorts of problems in Europe, and at one point in time it looked as though the Bianconeri could again crash out in the Champions League group stage.

Nevertheless, back to back wins over Olympiakos and Malmo FF saw Juventus climb to second in the standings, although they still need another point to qualify.

And with the Bianconeri winning six straight games before the weekend’s goalless draw with Fiorentina, they can be backed at 2.20 (6/5) to defeat Atletico as well.

Max Allegri looks set to revert to a four-man defence and the latest reports suggest Simone Padoin will be preferred to Patrice Evra on the left flank.

Stephan Lichtsteiner returns from domestic suspension, but Andrea Barzagli, Kwadwo Asamoah, Romulo, Martin Caceres and Luca Marrone all miss out.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-1-2): Buffon – Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Padoin – Marchisio, Pirlo, Pogba – Vidal – Tevez, Morata.

This season is proving that last season’s success was no fluke as Atletico remain very competitive on both domestic and European stage.

Los Colchoneros managed to quickly rebuild the squad following some huge changes to the playing squad in the summer and they are already playing to their potential.

Atletico recorded three straight wins in the league to remain just four points behind leaders Real Madrid, while they have been even more impressive in the Champions League.

Diego Simeone’s charges may have lost their opening fixture to Olympiakos, but have since won all four matches to secure their place in the next stage.

And with just one point needed to qualify from the top position, bear in mind that draw is available at 3.25 (9/4) with Stan James.

Diego Simeone will be tempted to make some changes to his starting line-up, but Joao Miranda and Cristian Ansaldi are definitely out.

Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): Moya – Juanfran, Gimenez, Godin, Siqueira – Koke, Mario, Gabi, Turan – Mandzukic, Griezmann.

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