Juve bid to ease pressure by rocking Real
In Italy, Juve are already seven points adrift of Serie A leaders Inter after Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Napoli while in Europe, they are still trying to recover from an embarrassing draw in their last game at BATE Borisov.
Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri was given another vote of confidence by club executives ahead of the Madrid encounter in Turin, despite his team having failed to win in their last five games.
Ranieri has also received the backing of his players.
“It’s absurd to put the blame on the coach,” said Juve defender Giorgio Chiellini. “It’s ridiculous. There is no sense in finding a guilty party.
“On Tuesday, we face Madrid and this is the right game to turn our season around.”
Ranieri and his players are fully aware of the expectations at Juventus — a proud club that has numerous Scudetti and European crowns in its history.
“Of course, when you play for Juve you are not used to not winning in five straight games,” Chiellini said.
“This means the problem could be a psychological one.
“We need to face this problem and resolve it as soon as possible. I repeat — the game against Real Madrid is the right opportunity to bounce back.”
This is a very big week for Juventus, who also face city rivals Torino in the Serie A at the weekend.
Madrid, meanwhile, travel to Turin’s Stadio Olimpico inspired by their perfect start to the European competition, with a 2-0 triumph against Borisov and a 2-1 win at Zenit St Petersburg.
The Spanish champions are two points clear of Juve in the standings.
Moreover, Bernd Schuster’s side are all the more confident after defeating Atletico Madrid 2-1 last Saturday.
Gonzalo Higuain struck the winner in injury time after Simao had cancelled out Ruud van Nistelrooy’s opener.
The win lifted Madrid to fifth in the Primera Liga and left them level on 16 points with arch-rivals Barcelona.
History is on the side of Juve, however.
Madrid have lost all of their previous four meetings at the Stadio Olimpico in the Champions League.
“We respect Juve,” said Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas. “Juve have a great team, important and strong players we will have to keep a close eye on.
“They have injury woes and it’s not easy to maintain the same rhythm, but they are a team that gained promotion to the top flight and returned to the Champions League.
“We want and we need a positive result against them but if we return to Madrid with a draw, that would be good for us.”
Ranieri will have to do without Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen, who sustained a muscular problem at the weekend.
Poulsen joins first choice goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, winger Mauro Camoranesi and striker David Trezeguet on the injury list.
The visitors welcome back Dutchman Arjen Robben, who has overcome a muscular problem and will be available.
Christoph Metzelder will also return, having been rested at the weekend, but injured midfielders Guti and Diarra remain sidelined for Real.
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