The Champions League quarterfinals kick off on Tuesday, with Juventus’ game at home to Monaco every bit as intriguing -- if not quite as passionate -- as the simultaneous Madrid derby. This is a fixture oozing nostalgia: these two sides were were very big a couple of decades ago, though they’ve both endured some hard times since Monaco were beaten finalists in this tournament back in 2004.
Juventus vs. Monaco preview, Champions League 2015: Cagey affair expected
We aren’t likely to see a goalfest in Turin on Tuesday.
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Now, however, things are well and truly on the up. Juventus continue to dominate (an admittedly low-quality Serie A), while Monaco are still upsetting the odds in Europe with a bunch of young, talented players. The Ligue 1 outfit may well have lost the big bucks that allowed them to attract the likes of Radamel Falcao, James Rodríguez and João Moutinho to the principality, but in dumping Arsenal out of this tournament, they’ve already established their credentials.
Team news
Juventus are still without defender Martín Cáceres and midfielder Paul Pogba, with the latter in particular a huge miss for Massimiliano Allegri's side. However, Carlos Tevez and Andrea Pirlo should be available again after recovering from minor injury problems, having been rested in Juve's shock defeat away at Serie A's basement club Parma on Saturday. Wing-back Kwadwo Asamoah and midfielder Rômulo remain sidelined.
Monaco defensive midfielder Tiémoué Bakayoko is still out, as is striker Lacina Traoré. Veteran defenders Ricardo Carvalho and Andrea Raggi marked their return from injuries earlier this month, though it would be a surprise if they walked into Leonardo Jardim’s starting lineup.
Projected lineups (left to right)
Juventus (4-3-1-2): Gianluigi Buffon; Patrice Evra, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, Stephan Lichtsteiner; Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio; Roberto Pereyra; Carlos Tevez, Álvaro Morata.
Monaco (4-2-3-1): Danijel Subašić; Layvin Kurzawa, Aymen Abdennour, Wallace, Fabinho; Geoffrey Kondogbia, Jérémy Toulalan; Anthony Martial, João Moutinho, Nabil Dirar; Dimitar Berbatov
Key Matchups
Juventus’ back three vs. Juventus’ back four -- Arguably the most important tactical question heading into this game is whether Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri will elect to play a back three or a back four. On paper, the former is more defensively secure, though Juve have had much more success in Europe playing with the latter -- indeed they only battered Borussia Dortmund in the last round after switching to it. If they start with a three, it could allow Monaco to dominate the wide areas, and that’s where they’re most dangerous.
Carlos Tevez vs. Monaco’s centre-backs -- If you thought 31-year-old Carlos Tevez may have been on the wane, think again. He’s enjoying a new lease of life at Juventus, and continues to deliver matchwinning performances against some of the best teams in Europe. An awfully slippery customer for defenders to deal with, the Argentine could cause big problems for Aymen Abdennour and his centre-back partner -- either Wallace or the more experience Ricardo Carvalho.
Andrea Pirlo vs. João Moutinho -- This game’s most intriguing direct matchup will be between Juventus’ deep-lying playmaker Andrea Pirlo, and Juventus’ attacking midfielder João Moutinho. Pirlo is a wonderful passer from deep, though is notoriously weak defensively. If Moutinho is disciplined in his marking and manages to find space either side of the Italian veteran, Monaco will have a massive advantage.
Prediction
Both of these sides are probably at their most comfortable when they can spring forward and use their pace on the counter-attack. That unfortunately means we’re likely to see a pretty cagey game, with little goalmouth action. Still, let’s be optimistic, and say -- perhaps more in hope than expectation -- that we’ll still get to see a couple of goals scored. 1-1 draw.
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