{"id":2180,"date":"2025-08-29T14:23:49","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T14:23:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/?p=2180"},"modified":"2025-08-29T14:23:49","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T14:23:49","slug":"asessing-juventus-ucl-league-phase-opponents-after-thursdays-draw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/?p=2180","title":{"rendered":"Asessing Juventus\u2019 UCL league phase opponents after Thursday\u2019s draw"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"zephr-anchor\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">The draw for the Champions League league phase was held on Thursday at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, and Juventus now know who they\u2019ll be playing over the next five months as they fight for the knockout rounds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Having been placed in Pot 2, there were a lot of ways that the draw could have gone that would\u2019ve made the first half of the season a good deal harder. Fortunately, the draw gods smiled upon the club, and gave them a slate that, while by no means pushovers, should also be one they can compete against.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Here\u2019s a quick rundown of all eight opponents the team will be squaring up against.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement jgpyd51 jgpyd50 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div style=\"position:relative\">\n<div class=\"_1nfb3k4j\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<div style=\"background-image:none\" class=\"duet--media--content-warning _1i91r6b0\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--image-gallery-image _1eezmj00 _1nfb3k4x\" id=\"c2IzMzppbWFnZTozMTgwNw==\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"_1eezmj01\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2223115500.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0.0064127228421214,100,99.987174554316\" data-pswp-height=\"2598.6666666666665\" data-pswp-width=\"3898\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl52\">MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA &#8211; JULY 01: Gonzalo Garcia #30 of Real Madrid C.F. celebrates scoring his team\u2019s first goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 match between Real Madrid CF and Juventus FC at Hard Rock Stadium on July 01, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><cite class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl51\">Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Head to head record (W-D-L) : 9-2-11<br \/>Last played: 2025 Club World Cup Round of 16, lost 1-0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">It feels like we see Real Madrid every other year, and indeed, Juve\/Real is one of the most-played rivalries in the Champions League will revive once again, and at the Bernabeu to boot. But despite having been knocked out by Los Blancos in the Club World Cup round of 16 this past summer, this will actually be the first time the clubs have locked horns in the Champions League since the Michael Oliver Affair in 2018.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Madrid are still one of the most powerful teams in the world, but they aren\u2019t the unstoppable force they have been in the recent past. Observe the way they were eliminated from their most recent international club competitions: they were ragdolled by Arsenal 5-1 on aggregate in the Champions League quarterfinals and blown away 4-0 by PSG in the Club World Cup semis. All this despite having the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior to call on in attack and other glittering superstars sprinkled throughout.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">This is the only fixture Juve will have against a true giant, and it will be at the Bernabeu. Real Madrid are the better team of the two at this point, so it\u2019s fair to say this is one of the few times you go in less than confident you can get something out of it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement jgpyd51 jgpyd50 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div style=\"position:relative\">\n<div class=\"_1nfb3k4j\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<div style=\"background-image:none\" class=\"duet--media--content-warning _1i91r6b0\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--image-gallery-image _1eezmj00 _1nfb3k4x\" id=\"c2IzMzppbWFnZTozMTgwOA==\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"_1eezmj01\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-464319600.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100\" data-pswp-height=\"2400\" data-pswp-width=\"3600\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><img alt=\"Juventus\u2019 forward from Argentina Carlos Tevez (C) reacts after scoring during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match Juventus vs Borussia Dortmund at the Juventus stadium in Turin on February 24, 2015. AFP PHOTO \/ GIUSEPPE CACACE (Photo credit should read GIUSEPPE CACACE\/AFP via Getty Images)\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"w91vxg0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url(&quot;data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'\/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'\/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'\/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'\/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'\/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'\/%3E%3C\/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mN8+R8AAtcB6oaHtZcAAAAASUVORK5CYII='\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E&quot;)\" sizes=\"(max-width: 639px) 100vw, (max-width: 1023px) 50vw, 700px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-464319600.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=256 256w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-464319600.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=376 376w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-464319600.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=384 384w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-464319600.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=415 415w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-464319600.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=480 480w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-464319600.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=540 540w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-464319600.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=640 640w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-464319600.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=750 750w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-464319600.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=828 828w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-464319600.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=1080 1080w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-464319600.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=1200 1200w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-464319600.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=1440 1440w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-464319600.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=1920 1920w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-464319600.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2048 2048w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-464319600.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400 2400w\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-464319600.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl52\">Juventus\u2019 forward from Argentina Carlos Tevez (C) reacts after scoring during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match Juventus vs Borussia Dortmund at the Juventus stadium in Turin on February 24, 2015. AFP PHOTO \/ GIUSEPPE CACACE (Photo credit should read GIUSEPPE CACACE\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><cite class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl51\">AFP via Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Head to head record: 5-0-2<br \/>Last played: 2014-15 Champions League Round of 16, won 5-1 on aggregate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">One of the first true masterpieces of Max Allegri\u2019s first tenure at Juventus (before he turned into a tactical dinosaur who played scared) was Juve\u2019s 3-0 demolition of Jurgen Klopp\u2019s last Borussia Dortmund team in the second leg of the \u201814-15 round of 16. Going in up 2-1 on aggregate, they went ahead on Carlos Tevez\u2019s third-minute goal and never looked back, completely neutralizing Dortmund\u2019s vaunted press and sending them out of the competition with a thumping.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Last season was something of a struggle for the Westphalian side. They were eliminated from the DFB Pokal in the second round, and a trio of losses in January saw Nuri \u015eahin lose his job, replaced by Nico Kova\u010d. The Croatian manager stumbled at first before righting the ship, winning all but one of his games from March 30 to the end of the year (the one being a 2-2 draw away to Bayern Munich) and pipping Freiberg to the Bundesliga\u2019s final UCL spot. amid the turmoil, they advanced to the quarterfinal of both the Champions League and Club World Cup, going out to Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Juve took a rather convincing 2-1 victory against Dortmund in a preseason friendly earlier this month. While it was a friendly, it was also played in Signal Iduna Park and jam-packed with 81,000-plus Dortmund fans going crazy for club legend Mats Hummels\u2019 testimonial. They\u2019ll get the real game at home, and despite Dortmund\u2019s Pot 1 status they\u2019ll likely be a good matchup the Bianconeri when they visit Turin.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement jgpyd51 jgpyd50 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div style=\"position:relative\">\n<div class=\"_1nfb3k4j\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<div style=\"background-image:none\" class=\"duet--media--content-warning _1i91r6b0\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--image-gallery-image _1eezmj00 _1nfb3k4x\" id=\"c2IzMzppbWFnZTozMTgwOQ==\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"_1eezmj01\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2196626444.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100\" data-pswp-height=\"3458\" data-pswp-width=\"5187\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><img alt=\"TURIN, ITALY - JANUARY 29: Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus is challenged by Alexander Bah and Florentino Luis of SL Benfica during the UEFA Champions League 2024\/25 League Phase MD8 match between Juventus and SL Benfica at Juventus Stadium on January 29, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Tullio Puglia - UEFA\/UEFA via Getty Images)\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"w91vxg0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url(&quot;data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'\/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'\/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'\/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'\/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'\/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'\/%3E%3C\/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mN8+R8AAtcB6oaHtZcAAAAASUVORK5CYII='\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E&quot;)\" sizes=\"(max-width: 639px) 100vw, (max-width: 1023px) 50vw, 700px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2196626444.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=256 256w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2196626444.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=376 376w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2196626444.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=384 384w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2196626444.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=415 415w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2196626444.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=480 480w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2196626444.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=540 540w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2196626444.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=640 640w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2196626444.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=750 750w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2196626444.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=828 828w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2196626444.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=1080 1080w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2196626444.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=1200 1200w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2196626444.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=1440 1440w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2196626444.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=1920 1920w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2196626444.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2048 2048w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2196626444.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400 2400w\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2196626444.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl52\">TURIN, ITALY &#8211; JANUARY 29: Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus is challenged by Alexander Bah and Florentino Luis of SL Benfica during the UEFA Champions League 2024\/25 League Phase MD8 match between Juventus and SL Benfica at Juventus Stadium on January 29, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Tullio Puglia &#8211; UEFA\/UEFA via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><cite class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl51\">UEFA via Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Head to head record: 0-1-6<br \/>Last played: 2024-25 Champions League League Phase, lost 2-0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Apart from Madrid, this is probably the team that no Juventino wanted to see on the schedule.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">You read that right up at the top of the section: Juventus have never beaten Benfica in a competitive match. Even the draw was upsetting, a goalless draw in the second leg of the 2013-14 Europa League semifinal that knocked Juve out of the competition.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">This will be the third straight time Juventus have played Benfica in the Champions League, and despite the scorelines looking ok-ish, the three games Juve have played in their last two go-rounds were pretty much dominated by the Portuguese. Juve will have comfort of being at home for this match, but then again, they\u2019ve lost their last two home matches against Benfica by a combined score of 4-1. This is a hold-your-breath type fixture that for Juve. The big hope is that Benfica will be engaged in the early phases of another Premeira Liga title dogfight and will perhaps be a little sapped of energy here. Other than that, it\u2019s up to Igor Tudor and his charges to turn history around a little bit. Maybe bring in Roy Kent to break some benches?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Head to head record: 0-1-1<br \/>Last played: 2021-22 Champions League Round of 16, lost 4-1 on aggregate<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Another team Juve fans have rotten memories of recently, the Yellow Submarine\u2019s only competitive matches against Juventus came in the round of 16 in 2021-22, when Juve completely flopped to a 3-0 home defeat in the second leg to crash out.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">This Villarreal group isn\u2019t the same as the ones that humiliated Juve three years ago, but Gerard Moreno is still a threat up top, and Juve\u2019s front line will be in for a reunion with Renato Veiga, who Chelsea just sold to Villarreal despite Juve\u2019s interest in keeping him around after last year (better not to try to figure out what the heck Chelsea\u2019s thinking in the market though). They\u2019re a dangerous side, but are also a beatable one if Juve are on their A-game.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement jgpyd51 jgpyd50 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div style=\"position:relative\">\n<div class=\"_1nfb3k4j\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<div style=\"background-image:none\" class=\"duet--media--content-warning _1i91r6b0\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--image-gallery-image _1eezmj00 _1nfb3k4x\" id=\"c2IzMzppbWFnZTozMTgxMA==\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"_1eezmj01\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-1239255559.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,6.5777777777778,100,86.844444444444\" data-pswp-height=\"2605.3333333333335\" data-pswp-width=\"3908\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><img alt=\"Mattia De Sciglio of Juventus Fc during the UEFA Champions League, Round of 16, 2nd leg football match between Juventus FC and Villarreal CF on March 16, 2022 at Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy (Photo by Nderim Kaceli\/LiveMedia\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"w91vxg0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url(&quot;data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'\/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'\/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'\/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'\/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'\/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'\/%3E%3C\/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mN8+R8AAtcB6oaHtZcAAAAASUVORK5CYII='\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E&quot;)\" sizes=\"(max-width: 639px) 100vw, (max-width: 1023px) 50vw, 700px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-1239255559.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C6.5777777777778%2C100%2C86.844444444444&amp;w=256 256w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-1239255559.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C6.5777777777778%2C100%2C86.844444444444&amp;w=376 376w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-1239255559.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C6.5777777777778%2C100%2C86.844444444444&amp;w=384 384w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-1239255559.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C6.5777777777778%2C100%2C86.844444444444&amp;w=415 415w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-1239255559.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C6.5777777777778%2C100%2C86.844444444444&amp;w=480 480w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-1239255559.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C6.5777777777778%2C100%2C86.844444444444&amp;w=540 540w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-1239255559.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C6.5777777777778%2C100%2C86.844444444444&amp;w=640 640w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-1239255559.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C6.5777777777778%2C100%2C86.844444444444&amp;w=750 750w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-1239255559.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C6.5777777777778%2C100%2C86.844444444444&amp;w=828 828w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-1239255559.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C6.5777777777778%2C100%2C86.844444444444&amp;w=1080 1080w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-1239255559.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C6.5777777777778%2C100%2C86.844444444444&amp;w=1200 1200w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-1239255559.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C6.5777777777778%2C100%2C86.844444444444&amp;w=1440 1440w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-1239255559.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C6.5777777777778%2C100%2C86.844444444444&amp;w=1920 1920w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-1239255559.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C6.5777777777778%2C100%2C86.844444444444&amp;w=2048 2048w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-1239255559.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C6.5777777777778%2C100%2C86.844444444444&amp;w=2400 2400w\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-1239255559.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C6.5777777777778%2C100%2C86.844444444444&amp;w=2400\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl52\">Mattia De Sciglio of Juventus Fc during the UEFA Champions League, Round of 16, 2nd leg football match between Juventus FC and Villarreal CF on March 16, 2022 at Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy (Photo by Nderim Kaceli\/LiveMedia\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><cite class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl51\">NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Head to head record: 2-2-0<br \/>Last played: 2022-23 Europa League Quarterfinal, won 2-1 on aggregate<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Juve get both Portuguese teams in the competition, including defending Premeira Liga champs Sporting, who they have had a much better record against than their Lisbon rivals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">That includes their quarterfinal win in the Europa League two seasons ago, when they won the first leg late and held on to maintain a 1-1 draw in the second at the Est\u00e1dio Jos\u00e9 Alvalade.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Like Benfica, the Sporting game will be at home, which is probably for the best, seeing as how both of Juve\u2019s head-to-head wins against them have come at the Allianz. The big question will be whether they\u2019ll have striker Conrad Harder, who has been linked with a move to AC Milan, and was considered as an alternative to Randal Kolo Muani earlier this summer as well. Far stronger connections were made between Juve and midfielder Morten Hjulmand, who Juve were quite keen on at one point before it became clear Sporting would hold out for an unreasonable fee.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">One of the keys to this game will be how Juve\u2019s midfield matches up against Hjulmand, who can control the middle of the park and even has an eye for goal. If they can keep up with the Dane, they\u2019ll have a good shot and getting all three points here.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement jgpyd51 jgpyd50 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div style=\"position:relative\">\n<div class=\"_1nfb3k4j\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<div style=\"background-image:none\" class=\"duet--media--content-warning _1i91r6b0\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--image-gallery-image _1eezmj00 _1nfb3k4x\" id=\"c2IzMzppbWFnZTozMTgxMQ==\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"_1eezmj01\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2210121557.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0.62902141553827,100,98.741957168923\" data-pswp-height=\"3427.3333333333335\" data-pswp-width=\"5141\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><img alt=\"Bodo\/Glimt\u2019s players celebrate after winning the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals 2nd leg match between Lazio and Bodo\/Glimt in Rome, Italy, April 17, 2025. (Photo by Augusto Casasoli\/Xinhua via Getty Images)\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"w91vxg0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url(&quot;data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'\/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'\/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'\/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'\/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'\/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'\/%3E%3C\/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mN8+R8AAtcB6oaHtZcAAAAASUVORK5CYII='\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E&quot;)\" sizes=\"(max-width: 639px) 100vw, (max-width: 1023px) 50vw, 700px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2210121557.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.62902141553827%2C100%2C98.741957168923&amp;w=256 256w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2210121557.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.62902141553827%2C100%2C98.741957168923&amp;w=376 376w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2210121557.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.62902141553827%2C100%2C98.741957168923&amp;w=384 384w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2210121557.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.62902141553827%2C100%2C98.741957168923&amp;w=415 415w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2210121557.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.62902141553827%2C100%2C98.741957168923&amp;w=480 480w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2210121557.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.62902141553827%2C100%2C98.741957168923&amp;w=540 540w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2210121557.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.62902141553827%2C100%2C98.741957168923&amp;w=640 640w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2210121557.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.62902141553827%2C100%2C98.741957168923&amp;w=750 750w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2210121557.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.62902141553827%2C100%2C98.741957168923&amp;w=828 828w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2210121557.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.62902141553827%2C100%2C98.741957168923&amp;w=1080 1080w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2210121557.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.62902141553827%2C100%2C98.741957168923&amp;w=1200 1200w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2210121557.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.62902141553827%2C100%2C98.741957168923&amp;w=1440 1440w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2210121557.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.62902141553827%2C100%2C98.741957168923&amp;w=1920 1920w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2210121557.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.62902141553827%2C100%2C98.741957168923&amp;w=2048 2048w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2210121557.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.62902141553827%2C100%2C98.741957168923&amp;w=2400 2400w\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2210121557.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.62902141553827%2C100%2C98.741957168923&amp;w=2400\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl52\">Bodo\/Glimt\u2019s players celebrate after winning the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals 2nd leg match between Lazio and Bodo\/Glimt in Rome, Italy, April 17, 2025. (Photo by Augusto Casasoli\/Xinhua via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Never played in a competitive match<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">One hopes that the trip to face Bod\u00f8\/Glimt will be earlier in the season, because a wintertime trip to Norway is about the last thing Juve is going to want.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Juve have never faced the Norwegian side before, but they have a lot of history with Italian teams in this decade. In the 2020-21 season\u2014their first in European competition since 2004-05\u2014they barely missed making the Europa League proper, losing to AC Milan 3-2 at the final hurdle. In the 2021-22 Conference League, they humiliated Roma 6-1 in the group stage before drawing them 2-2 at the Olimpico in the return. Pitted against the Giallorossi again in the quarterfinal, they won <em>again<\/em> in the first leg, 2-1, before Roma finally brought down the hammer with a 4-0 win in the second. Last year they came a whisker from the Champions League league phase, losing 3-2 on aggregate to Red Star Belgrade in the playoff round before advancing to the semifinals of the Europa League. On their way, they knocked Lazio out of the competition in the quarterfinal on penalties in the Olimpico.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">All but seven of Glimt\u2019s players are domestic (there are also five Danes, a Russian and a Swede), and the talent gap between them and Juve is significant. Juve <em>should<\/em> win this game\u2014but a lot of Italian teams have said that about this club in the past. They\u2019ll have to be taken seriously.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement jgpyd51 jgpyd50 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div style=\"position:relative\">\n<div class=\"_1nfb3k4j\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<div style=\"background-image:none\" class=\"duet--media--content-warning _1i91r6b0\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--image-gallery-image _1eezmj00 _1nfb3k4x\" id=\"c2IzMzppbWFnZTozMTgxMg==\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"_1eezmj01\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2231554244.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,3.821092804617,100,92.357814390766\" data-pswp-height=\"3307.3333333333335\" data-pswp-width=\"4961\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><img alt=\"LIMASSOL, CYPRUS - AUGUST 26: Bruno Duarte Da Silva (R) of Crvena Zvezda in action against David Goldar (L) of Pafos during the UEFA Champions League Play-offs Round Second Leg match between Pafos and Crvena Zvezda at Limassol Stadium on August 26, 2025 in Limassol, Cyprus. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic\/Getty Images)\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"w91vxg0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url(&quot;data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'\/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'\/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'\/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'\/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'\/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'\/%3E%3C\/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mN8+R8AAtcB6oaHtZcAAAAASUVORK5CYII='\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E&quot;)\" sizes=\"(max-width: 639px) 100vw, (max-width: 1023px) 50vw, 700px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2231554244.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C3.821092804617%2C100%2C92.357814390766&amp;w=256 256w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2231554244.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C3.821092804617%2C100%2C92.357814390766&amp;w=376 376w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2231554244.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C3.821092804617%2C100%2C92.357814390766&amp;w=384 384w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2231554244.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C3.821092804617%2C100%2C92.357814390766&amp;w=415 415w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2231554244.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C3.821092804617%2C100%2C92.357814390766&amp;w=480 480w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2231554244.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C3.821092804617%2C100%2C92.357814390766&amp;w=540 540w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2231554244.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C3.821092804617%2C100%2C92.357814390766&amp;w=640 640w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2231554244.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C3.821092804617%2C100%2C92.357814390766&amp;w=750 750w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2231554244.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C3.821092804617%2C100%2C92.357814390766&amp;w=828 828w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2231554244.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C3.821092804617%2C100%2C92.357814390766&amp;w=1080 1080w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2231554244.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C3.821092804617%2C100%2C92.357814390766&amp;w=1200 1200w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2231554244.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C3.821092804617%2C100%2C92.357814390766&amp;w=1440 1440w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2231554244.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C3.821092804617%2C100%2C92.357814390766&amp;w=1920 1920w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2231554244.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C3.821092804617%2C100%2C92.357814390766&amp;w=2048 2048w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2231554244.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C3.821092804617%2C100%2C92.357814390766&amp;w=2400 2400w\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2231554244.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C3.821092804617%2C100%2C92.357814390766&amp;w=2400\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl52\">LIMASSOL, CYPRUS &#8211; AUGUST 26: Bruno Duarte Da Silva (R) of Crvena Zvezda in action against David Goldar (L) of Pafos during the UEFA Champions League Play-offs Round Second Leg match between Pafos and Crvena Zvezda at Limassol Stadium on August 26, 2025 in Limassol, Cyprus. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><cite class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl51\">Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Never played in a competitive match<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Pafos is a <em>very<\/em> young club, having been founded only 11 years ago after the merger of AEP Paphos and AEK Kouklia. They won their first Cyprian title last season and worked their way through qualifying, beating Maccabi Tel Aviv, Dynamo Kyiv, and Red Star Belgrade on the way through.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">All respect to the Cyprian champions, if Juventus do anything except flatten them at home it will be a colossal failure. Pafos have a rather multicultural roster with some players who have seen big moments. Forward Bruno Felipe was on the Sheriff Tiraspol team that shocked the world when they beat Real Madrid in the Bernabeu in 2021 (he played in the game as a sub), and their big summer signing was David Luiz\u2014yes, that one. But Juve outclasses them in all respects, and there\u2019s absolutely no way that they should do anything other than beat them and beat them comprehensively. Anything else would be a Maccabi Haifa-level embarrassment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement jgpyd51 jgpyd50 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div style=\"position:relative\">\n<div class=\"_1nfb3k4j\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<div style=\"background-image:none\" class=\"duet--media--content-warning _1i91r6b0\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--image-gallery-image _1eezmj00 _1nfb3k4x\" id=\"c2IzMzppbWFnZTozMTgxMw==\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"_1eezmj01\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-680996716.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100\" data-pswp-height=\"2604\" data-pswp-width=\"3906\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><img alt=\"Monaco forward Kylian Mbappe (29) fights for the ball against Juventus forward Mario Mandzukic (17) during the Uefa Champions League semi final football match JUVENTUS - MONACO on 09\/05\/2017 at the Juventus Stadium in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Matteo Bottanelli\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"w91vxg0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url(&quot;data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'\/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'\/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'\/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'\/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'\/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'\/%3E%3C\/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mN8+R8AAtcB6oaHtZcAAAAASUVORK5CYII='\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E&quot;)\" sizes=\"(max-width: 639px) 100vw, (max-width: 1023px) 50vw, 700px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-680996716.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=256 256w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-680996716.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=376 376w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-680996716.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=384 384w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-680996716.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=415 415w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-680996716.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=480 480w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-680996716.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=540 540w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-680996716.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=640 640w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-680996716.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=750 750w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-680996716.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=828 828w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-680996716.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=1080 1080w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-680996716.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=1200 1200w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-680996716.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=1440 1440w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-680996716.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=1920 1920w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-680996716.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2048 2048w, https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-680996716.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400 2400w\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.blackwhitereadallover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-680996716.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl52\">Monaco forward Kylian Mbappe (29) fights for the ball against Juventus forward Mario Mandzukic (17) during the Uefa Champions League semi final football match JUVENTUS &#8211; MONACO on 09\/05\/2017 at the Juventus Stadium in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Matteo Bottanelli\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><cite class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl51\">NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Head to head record: 4-1-1<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Last played: 2016-17 Champions League Semfinal, won 4-1 on aggregate<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">After all the bad juju surrounding Benfica a while ago, here\u2019s a more enjoyable fact: Juventus\u2019 six games against Monaco have all come in Champions League knockout ties. In all three of those years, Juve has gone to the final. Most recently, they came together in the semifinals in 2017, when Juve was never seriously threatened over the two legs and Monaco\u2019s only goal came from an emerging 18-year-old named Kylian Mbappe.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">This year\u2019s game against the principality side will have one major storyline: the reunion matchup between Juve and Paul Pogba\u2014provided, that is, he isn\u2019t hurt by the time the match comes around. Denis Zakaria is another familiar name, as is Alekandr Golovin, who was a serious transfer target for Juve in 2018 before he opted for Monaco instead. Ansu Fati has also landed at Monaco in an attempt to resurrect his once-promising career.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Last year Monaco made it to the knockout playoffs before falling to Benfica. They finished at the head of a three-way dogfight for the last two French Champions League spots, finishing a point ahead of Nice and Lille in third. They\u2019re at a higher level than your average Pot 4 team, but they\u2019re also a team Juve will be favored to beat, even at the Stade Louis II.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"_1jdgahs6 tovz5r2 tovz5r0 tovz5rg\">8<!-- --> <!-- -->Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blackwhitereadallover.com\/juventus-2025-26-uefa-champions-league\/31798\/juventus-2025-16-uefa-champions-league-league-phase-draw-opponents\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The draw for the Champions League league phase was held on Thursday at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, and Juventus now know who they\u2019ll be playing over the next five months as they fight for the knockout rounds. Having been placed in Pot 2, there were a lot of ways that the draw could have gone [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2181,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2180","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-aggiornamenti-serie-a"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2180","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2180"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2180\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2181"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2180"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2180"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}