Recent form gives Juve hope ahead of Real clash

Nine-time champions Real Madrid are among a quartet of teams seeking to record a fourth successive Champions League victory this week to secure a place in the last-16. PHOTO: AFP

Three consecutive wins and as many clean sheets in Serie A have given Juventus renewed confidence ahead of a must-win Champions League clash at home to Real Madrid today.

However Juve coach Antonio Conte has called on fans to give the Serie A champions an extra boost by offering Carlo Ancelotti’s Spanish giants a red-hot welcome to Turin.

“I hope the stadium will be a fiery cauldron on Tuesday night [tonight],” Conte told JTV. “The fans can help push us to victory.”

Given their lack of wins so far, Juve could certainly do with a boost.

Ousted from last year’s quarter-finals by eventual winners Bayern Munich, the Italians appeared down and out of this season’s competition following a 2-1 defeat to nine-time European champions Real three weeks ago.

That defeat came in the wake of a confidence-sapping league reverse away to Fiorentina, who scored four second-half goals to stun the champions 4-2.

But three consecutive Serie A wins against Genoa, Catania and Parma has boosted Juve’s resolve.

Midfielder Claudio Marchisio underlined the threat of Real Madrid’s Angel Di Maria, Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, but believes improvements to Juve’s defensive play could be decisive.

“We have to look out for their threat on the counter-attack through the likes of Di Maria, Ronaldo and [Gareth] Bale, who all break with extreme pace,” said Marchisio.

“Real have plenty of strong players up front who sometimes help out less in defensive areas, so that puts their backline under pressure.

Meanwhile, Real need only a point in Turin to secure their place in the last-16.

‘It will be a difficult test against Sociedad’

Manchester United can virtually ensure their last-16 place with victory in Spain after a 1-0 home win over Sociedad, playing in the tournament for the first time in 10 years, in Manchester moved them onto seven points from three games.

But David Moyes’s side have doubts over the fitness of Jonny Evans, Rafael da Silva and Tom Cleverley, who were all replaced at half-time in Saturday’s 3-1 win at Fulham.

“It will be a difficult test against [Real] Sociedad,” said Moyes.

“To go and play against any side in Spain who have qualified will be a hard test, but we will go over there and try and get a good result that will continue our good form in the group.”

Meanwhile, an in-form Bayern Munich will be looking to notch up their fourth straight win in the Champions League group stage and seal a spot in the final 16 when the Bundesliga champions face Viktoria Plzen today.

In another match, Manchester City will look to secure qualification for the knockout phase when they resume hostilities with CSKA Moscow.

Today’s Fixtures

Sociedad v Man United
Donetsk v Leverkusen
Copenhagen v Galatasaray
Juventus v Madrid
Olympiakos v Benefica
PSG v Anderlecht
Man City v Moscow
Plzen v Munich