Melbourne Victory vs Juventus:
International Champions Cup 2016,
Date: Saturday, July 23, 2016
Kick-off: 10:00 UK Time
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne).
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The International Champions Cup series in Australia kicks off when Juventus face local side Melbourne Victory at the MCC on Saturday afternoon.
Juventus, who won the fifth consecutive Serie A title last season are one of the busiest teams in the summer transfer window making some major signings to strengthen the key areas of the squad ahead of the new season. Now Massimiliano Allegri will be keen to make sure the preparations go well and the team gel together in to the perfect mold to challenge for major titles once again.
Melbourne Victory were the 2014-15 A-League Champions, but finished sixth in the league in 2015-16 season. They were out of action since the Asian Champions League elimination on May 2015. The Blues had suffered a terrible run of results at the back end of the last season and will be looking to get a respectable result against a big side like Juventus side.
The Old Lady will be playing their first friendly of the new season on Saturday and are without a number of key players due to their involvement in Euro 2016. Gianluigi Buffon, Paul Pogba, Leonardo Bonucci, Paul Pogba, Sami Khedira, Marchisio, Barzagli, Zaza, Chiellini and Mandzukic are the players who are still on extended leave.
While new signing from Barcelona Dani Alves will also play not part in Juve’s Australian tour. The other two new signings defender Medhi Benatia and playmaker Miralem Pjanic had travelled with the squad.
Melbourne Victory vs Juventus: Prediction
This will be the first meeting between these two sides and both are playing their first friendly in the current pre-season window. Juventus are missing a number of key players and are short on fitness, but they are still a better quality team than their Saturday’s opponent.
I expect both teams to score and back Juventus to kick-off their pre-season with a narrow victory by a 2-1 margin.
Melbourne Victory vs Juventus: Tips
- Juventus to win.
- Both Teams to Score.
