Champions League Preview: Juventus - Chelsea

After winning the first leg 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea travel to Turin hoping to finish the job and dump Juventus out of the competition.

9 Mar 2009 13:46:36

On A Roll

Having lost the first leg and failed to score an away goal at Stamford Bridge, Claudio Ranieri’s men have it all to do in Turin on Tuesday night.

To compound matters they face a Chelsea side who are currently enjoying a hot run of form.

The Blues are flourishing under new manager Guus Hiddink and have won their last six games on the trot.

Chelsea’s good recent form owes much to striker Didier Drogba who did the damage in the first leg, hitting the winner in the first half. The Ivorian appears to be enjoying his football again and may well be the man to watch, having bagged three goals in his last four games.

Another key man for the Blues is Michael Essien who may make something of a shock return to action against Juventus. Having missed the last six months due to a knee injury picked up on international duty in September, Essien made his long-awaited return to action with a substitute appearance against Coventry City at the weekend.

Manager Hiddink has since admitted that he must now decide whether to start with Essien, although after such a long absence it is possible he will begin on the bench.

Further good news on the injury front concerns Ricardo Carvalho who may partner John Terry at the back although Nicolas Anelka and Deco are expected to miss out and Paulo Ferreira has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Whilst Chelsea have endured something of an inconsistent season so far, Juventus will be aware that away from home they have been excellent.

The Blues have lost only three times on their travels all season and, armed with a narrow lead, will travel to Italy brimming with confidence.

Ranieri’s Revenge

Yet Claudio Ranieri’s men will be buoyed by their display in the first leg and will feel confident they can turn this tie around.

Their second half performance against the Blues proved they can cause Hiddink’s men problems and Pavel Nedved, in particular, almost grabbed a vital equaliser.

The Czech Republic international, who announced his intention to retire at the end of the season after the game at Stamford Bridge, was inches away from an equaliser in the closing minutes with a shot that whistled past Petr Cech’s left post.

Certainly Nedved’s determination to reach the Champions League final in his last season will aid Juve, as will their experience of coming from behind in the Champions League.

The Bianconeri have overturned first leg defeats in Turin, four times in seven attempts, mostly famously in 2003 when a 2-1 first leg semi-final defeat to Real Madrid was forgotten about with a 3-1 home win.

However, if they are to stage another remarkable comeback they will have to do so without some key players.

Mauro Camoranesi broke a rib at Stamford Bridge and will miss the game but so too will Mohamed Sissoko who injured his foot at the weekend and will join his colleague on the sidelines.

Against a midfield as strong as Chelsea’s, those injuries could prove key but with the likes of Alessandro Del Piero, Amauri and David Trezeguet the options in attack they will hope to find the inspiration needed to hand Hiddink his first Chelsea defeat.

FORM GUIDE

Last Five Results

Juventus

Mar 7: Torino 0-1 Juventus
Mar 3: Lazio 2-1 Juventus
Feb 28: Juventus 1-0 Napoli
Feb 25: Chelsea 1-0 Juventus
Feb 21: Palermo 0-2 Juventus

Chelsea

Mar 7: Coventry City 0-2 Chelsea
Mar 3: Portsmouth 0-1 Chelsea
Feb 28: Chelsea 2-1 Wigan Athletic
Feb 25: Chelsea 1-0 Juventus
Feb 21: Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

TEAM NEWS

Juventus

Claudio Ranieri has problems in midfield where injury rules out Mauro Camoranesi and Mohamed Sissoko. The pair join Paolo De Ceglie and Cristiano Zanetti on the sidelines and they may be accompanied by Marco Marchionni who is also a doubt.

Possible starting XI: Buffon, Mellberg, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro, Poulsen, Tiago, Salihamidizc, Nedved, Del Piero, Trezeguet.

Chelsea

Nicolas Anelka and Deco are both expected to miss the trip to Turin. Ricardo Carvalho and Michael Essien are both fit again and Hiddink must decide whether or not the pair to start with the pair.

Possible Starting XI: Cech, A Cole, Carvalho, Terry, Bosingwa, Mikel, Lampard, Ballack, Essien, Kalou, Drogba.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Juventus – Alessandro Del Piero

If one man can inspire his team to come from behind to beat Chelsea and progress into the quarter-finals of the competition it is Alessandro Del Piero.

Whilst the striker could not find a way past Petr Cech at Stamford Bridge, he will know that his side must beat the Chelsea stopper in Turin at least once if they are to progress.

The 34-year-old striker has been rested by Ranieri for the last two games, meaning he should be raring to go come Tuesday night.

Chelsea – Didier Drogba

Drogba scored the vital goal in the first leg and is a man on form after hitting three goals in his last four games.Guus Hiddink’s arrival seems to have revitalised the Ivorian who has rediscovered his goalscoring touch with a bang.

With Nicolas Anelka likely to miss out through injury, Drogba’s presence will prove even more crucial and he will know that an away goal will make Juve’s task that much more difficult.

PREDICTION

Whilst Chelsea undoubtedly go into the match with a slight advantage, this game remains delicately poised.

Yet the Blues look a different prospect than under Luiz Felipe Scolari and Hiddink appears to have restored their previous air of invincibility.

Although Juventus will undoubtedly hand Chelsea a very stiff examination, the Blues are a tough side to beat, especially away from home, and they may just do enough to sneak past Ranieri’s men.

Juventus 1-1 Chelsea