Juventus vs FC Porto
Competition: UEFA Champions League 2016/17
Date: 14 th March, 19:45 pm BST
Stadium: Juventus Stadium.
Juventus vs FC Porto Preview and Prediction
Juventus look to have done the hard part in this tie and are fully expected to take their place among a stellar Champions League quarter-final line-up following another victory over Porto.
The Italian champions triumphed 2-0 at the Estadio do Dragao with two goals in three minutes just after the midway point of the second half, Marko Pjaca and Dani Alves finding the net after Porto defender Alex Telles had been sent off for a second bookable offence in the first period.
The margin is likely to be extended at the Juventus Stadium, where Massimiliano Allegri’s side had won 17 of their 19 matches this season, drawing the other two, going into Friday night’s date with AC Milan (result not known at the time of writing).
Assuming Juve do complete the job of reaching the last eight, they would further enhance a quarter-final roster that promises some spectacular ties and all the more so after Barcelona’s truly incredible comeback against Paris Saint-Germain.
Porto were completely outplayed on their own pitch, although their numerical disadvantage for three-quarters of the game obviously did not help, and they will need a performance that even exceeds their 3-0 victory away to Roma in the play-off round to stand any chance in this tie.
That result, which came after a 1-1 draw at home, will give manager Nuno’s team some hope, but frankly it is stretching the boundaries of reality to imagine the Dragons achieving something similar against Juventus – even more than Barcelona scoring the three goals they needed from the 88th minute onwards against PSG!
In addition, Porto struggled for goals away from home during the group stage, drawing blanks at both Copenhagen and Leicester, and while they could find the net in Turin it is highly likely they will concede more than they score – leaving Juventus still targeting a second appearance in the Champions League Final in three years.
Juventus vs Porto stats
Juventus are unbeaten in their last 20 home matches in UEFA competitions
Juventus have never been knocked out of a UEFA competition after winning the first leg away from home, progressing from all 36 ties in which that has occurred
Only one of the four previous meetings of these clubs has contained fewer than two goals
Recommended bets
Juventus to win and over 1.5 goals
Draw HT/Juventus
