Juventus and Manchester City, both underwhelming this season, will clash in Turin on Wednesday evening in a Champions League showdown. Sitting close to each other in the league-phase standings, Juventus has struggled to turn draws into victories, while Manchester City faces an alarming dip in confidence.
Manchester City’s recent 3-3 draw against Feyenoord in the Champions League has sparked concerns about a potential decline in their dominance. Despite taking a commanding three-goal lead,
City allowed Feyenoord to claw back with less than 20 minutes to go, continuing a troubling pattern that began weeks ago. This followed a humbling 4-1 loss to Sporting CP, leaving the reigning Premier League champions in unfamiliar territory.
City has conceded seven goals in their last two European fixtures, a stark contrast to their solid start, where they kept three consecutive clean sheets. With just eight points from five games, City is clinging to a playoff spot, far from their usual top-tier standing.
The pressure is mounting on Pep Guardiola, who faces the challenge of reigniting his squad’s confidence. City’s form across all competitions has nosedived, with just one win in their last nine matches. Over the weekend, they fought back to a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace, salvaging a point but losing Rico Lewis to a red card. Now, they aim to avoid setting an unwanted record, as their five-match winless streak against Juventus is already their joint-longest against any team in UEFA competition.
Juventus, on the other hand, has maintained an unbeaten record against Manchester City since their first meeting in 1976, with three wins and two draws since then. However, their current Champions League campaign has been inconsistent. After winning their first two games, the Bianconeri managed only two points from their next three fixtures.
Thiago Motta’s men have also been serial drawers domestically, with their most recent Serie A match, a 2-2 comeback against Bologna highlighting their struggles to secure wins. Teun Koopmeiners and Samuel Mbangula salvaged a point for Juventus with late goals, but the result marked their fourth consecutive draw in all competitions.
Despite their inability to consistently find victories, Juventus has been formidable defensively. They boast Serie A’s best defensive record, conceding just 10 goals in 15 matches and keeping 10 clean sheets. Yet, their inability to capitalize on opportunities has left them seven points off the top of the league table.
Both teams enter Wednesday’s clash with much to prove. For Manchester City, it’s a battle to reclaim form and avoid falling out of the Champions League’s top 24, a stark departure from their 11-season streak of reaching the knockout stages. For Juventus, it’s a chance to solidify their position in the competition and break free from their draw-filled rut.
This matchup promises to be a test of resilience and tactical adjustments as two European heavyweights seek redemption in Turin.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Manchester City’s injury woes continue to linger, but Pep Guardiola could have some relief with the potential return of Phil Foden. The England international missed the weekend draw against Crystal Palace due to bronchitis but is expected to be in contention for Wednesday's clash.
The defensive line remains a concern, with Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji both picking up injuries during last week’s win over Nottingham Forest. John Stones and Mateo Kovacic are also unavailable, while Rodri and Oscar Bobb are long-term absentees.
Rico Lewis, despite his youth, has been a standout performer for City this season. The 18-year-old is the youngest player to feature in every minute of this year’s Champions League, creating 13 chances so far. Though he’s facing a domestic suspension, Lewis is available for this European fixture. Meanwhile, Matheus Nunes has hit form in Europe, registering three assists in his last three outings, more than any of his teammates. The Portuguese midfielder could retain his spot in Guardiola’s lineup.
For Juventus, the injury picture is slightly brighter, with Dusan Vlahovic making his return on Saturday after three weeks out with a thigh issue. Nicolo Savona has also recovered and is competing for a place at full-back alongside former City defender Danilo.
Thiago Motta is likely to stick with Pierre Kalulu and Federico Gatti as his central defensive pairing. However, the Turin side still has significant absentees, including Nico Gonzalez, Weston McKennie, and former City player Douglas Luiz. Long-term injuries to Juan Cabal and Bremer also limit their options at the back, while Andrea Cambiaso could miss out due to an ankle problem.
Both teams will need to dig deep into their squads as they prepare for this high-stakes Champions League encounter.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Juventus possible starting lineup:
Perin; Savona, Kalulu, Gatti, Danilo; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Weah; Vlahovic
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ortega; Walker, Dias, Gvardiol, Lewis; Gundogan; Savinho, De Bruyne, Silva, Nunes; Haaland
EXPERT PREDICTION
Juventus 2-2 Manchester City
Juventus may have mastered the art of keeping clean sheets, but under Thiago Motta’s early guidance, they remain a team in transition. This could give Manchester City a solid chance to secure at least a point in Turin.
While City’s recent form has been shaky, Juventus have their own struggles in Europe. They’ve lost four of their last six Champions League home games, a stark contrast to their dominance in the previous 40 matches. With injuries further depleting their squad, Juve's vulnerabilities could play into City’s hands.
