Juventus play host to Manchester City for the sixth round of Champions League fixtures with both teams looking to propel themselves up the table.
Pep Guardiola’s side come into the week 17th in the table after a heavy 4-1 defeat to Sporting and a 3-3 draw with Fenerbache which saw them throw away a three-goal inside the final 15 minutes. With City also struggling domestically Guardiola will be keen to avoid a two-legged play-off and collecting three points this evening could be crucial to their chances.
For their part Juventus are 19th and level with City on eight points. They were held to a goalless draw at Villa Park last time out which was part of a run of five draws in six matches for the Serie A side. Manager Thiago Motta wants to turn around their form and a statement victory over the Premier League champions in Turin could be the catalyst to doing just that.
Follow all the Champions League action with our live blog below:
Man City in Italy
City’s last game in Italy was a 1-1 draw at Atalanta in the 2019/20 group stage. They failed to win in their first four games away to Serie A sides (D2 L2) but have two victories in their subsequent four visits (D1 L1).
Mike Jones11 December 2024 19:35
City’s impressive run
The 0-0 draw at home to Inter on earlier in the season made it six games unbeaten against Italian opponents (W4 D2) for Manchester City.
This run that includes a 1-0 defeat of the Nerazzurri in the 2023 Champions League final, since the 1-0 loss at Juve in 2015. Before that, City had managed three wins in 12 games against Italian opponents (D5 L4).
Mike Jones11 December 2024 19:30
Jose Mourinho hits back at Pep Guardiola with fresh Manchester City claim
Jose Mourinho has insisted that he does not want Manchester City to be relegated from the Premier League, though suggested that it is wrong that “big sharks” find ways to “escape” the financial fair play (FFP) rules.
Manchester City insist they are innocent of charges that relate to the period between 2009 and 2018, where the club won three domestic titles.
Mike Jones11 December 2024 19:25
History beckons
Champions of Europe in 1985 and 1996, Juventus have also lost seven European Cup finals including five in the Champions League era – more than any other club.
Mike Jones11 December 2024 19:20
Returning to the European top flight
Juventus have returned to the competition after missing out in 2023/24.
The previous season was their 11th consecutive Champions League campaign, and the first time they missed out on the round of 16 since 2013/14 as Juve finished behind Benfica and Paris Saint-Germain in their section.
Mike Jones11 December 2024 19:15
Juventus vs English teams
Juventus were unbeaten in nine matches against English teams (W5 D4) before a 1-2 home defeat by Manchester United in the 2018/19 group stage but have now lost two of the last four.
Mike Jones11 December 2024 19:10
‘City must win one game’
Guardiola expanded on City’s recent dip in form and claimed that they must only focus on winning the next game they play, which is this evening against Juventus.
“We are not in a position – when you have these results in the last seven, eight games – to talk about winning games in plural.” he said, “We have to win a game first, and after that we can focus on the next one.”
Mike Jones11 December 2024 19:05
Guardiola on City’s injury crisis
Pep Guardiola was missing seven potential starters through injury or illness for the draw against Crystal Palace and he said: “It’s football, and we know that this season will be like this.
“What I said to the players (was) ‘Don’t feel sorry. Please accept the challenge’. It will be more difficult, but that’s what it is and maybe at the end we will have more satisfaction, in the way that we are going to (respond) to these problems, than maybe in the other seasons that we won the title.
“All teams want their players always fit and ready and unfortunately since the beginning that could not happen, and it’s going to be, I think, for longer. But one way or the other, we are going to try.”
Mike Jones11 December 2024 19:00