Preview
FC Barcelona will need yet another fairytale comeback when they face off against Juventus at Camp Nou tonight. The Catalans need four goals to progress (three to force extra time) after Juventus thrashed Luis Enrique's side 3-0 in the first leg of the quarter-finals.
The Italian giants will be wary of the fact that Barcelona scripted a miracle in their last European game against Paris Saint-Germain. But Juventus are a superior side than the Parisians and have a much better defensive unit. Another miraculous escape from the jaws of defeat seems unlikely for Barcelona but one thing is certain and that is if anyone can overturn a 3-0 deficit, it is Lionel Messi and co.
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An early goal for Barcelona will set the tone for the remainder of the match but an away goal for the Italian side will surely end the game once and for all.
Form guide
Juventus come into this game on the back of a comfortable 2-0 victory against Pescara over the weekend. Along with Real Madrid, they are the only side unbeaten in the Champions League till date. The Bianconeri have won their last five games in the Champions League which is their joint longest streak.
They have also won all their away games this season, scoring 10 games on their travels. Juventus have conceded just two goals in the Champions League which surely makes it a Herculean task for Barcelona to make it through to the next round.
Despite all these staggering statistics, though, all is not lost for the Catalans. Barcelona have won their last 15 European games at Camp Nou and will equal Bayern Munich's record of 16 victories on home turf if they manage to beat Juventus tonight. Luis Enrique's men have also scored at least three goals in the home leg on seven occasions in their last eight attempts.
FC Barcelona: W-L-L-W-W
Juventus: W-W-W-L-D
Team news
Barcelona have a relatively full strength squad for tonight's blockbuster match as Javier Mascherano has been declared fit. The Argentine trained with the squad on Monday and will come directly into the playing XI. Sergio Busquets too is back after serving his suspension in the first leg and the Catalans will most likely play in a 3-4-3 formation with Sergi Roberto as the right wing back.
Juventus received some positive news last night as Paulo Dybala was declared fully fit for tonight's game. He was taken off on Saturday after he suffered a knock in the game against Pescara. Other than Dybala, there are no injury worries for the Bianconeri.
Match details
Timing - 12.15 AM IST
Venue - Camp Nou, Barcelona
Referee - Bjoern Kuipers
Head-to-Head
This is the third meeting between the two sides in two years and the record reads one win for each. Barcelona defeated Juventus in the 2015 Champions League final whereas the Italian giants beat the Catalans convincingly in the first leg last week. Juventus last played a match at Camp Nou back in April 2003 where they won the game 2-1 courtesy of goals from Pavel Nedved and Marcelo Zalayeta.
Probable lineups
FC Barcelona - Ter Stegen, Mascherano, Pique, Umtiti, Roberto, Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta, Messi, Suarez, Neymar.
Juventus - Buffon, Alves, Bonucci, Chiellini, Sandro, Pjanic, Khedira, Cuadrado, Dybala, Mandzukic, Higuain.
Prediction
FC Barcelona 3-1 Juventus
