Just a Point Required for Juve
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The fifth round of 2018/19 UEFA Champions League group stage fixtures take place this week, with the action beginning on Tuesday. In Group H, Juventus currently lead the way with 9 points from their four games and know a point would be enough to send them through.
The Old Lady meet Valencia at the Allianz Stadium, with the visitors needing to take maximum points to have a realistic chance of making in into the Round of 16 this season.
Juventus come into this match having suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester United in their previous Champions League game. Having defeated the Red Devils 1-0 at Old Trafford and taken a 1-0 lead in the match, it appeared Juventus were on course to seal qualification with two matches to spare.
However, two late goals from Manchester United saw Juventus slump to their first defeat of the season in any competition. Since that loss, Juventus have won two games, both in Serie A and defeated AC Milan away plus SPAL at home.
The loss to Manchester United was a rare home defeat for Juventus who have lost just one of their last eleven home games in all competitions and just three of the last thirty at the Allianz Stadium. However, home form in the Champions League is not great and Juventus have won just one of their last five at home in the competition.
Juventus have conceded 2 or more goals in three of their last four home matches in the Champions League.
With Manchester United expected to beat Young Boys at home, Valencia know they must take maximum points from this game to have any chance of progressing in the Champions League. They are in good form and trends show Valencia have lost only one of their last thirteen matches in all competitions and they have won four of their last five.
However, there have been too many draws and Valencia have been held in seven of those thirteen matches. In the Champions League this season, Valencia have won one of their four games which came at home in their previous fixture against club Young Boys. The away matches at Manchester United and Young Boys both ended level.
Overall away form in the Champions League is poor and Valencia have won only one of their last seven games, failing to score in three of the last four.
Team news and Juventus will be without German midfielder Sami Khedira who is out until December with an ankle injury. He is joined on the treatment table by Emre Can and Federico Bernardeschi, the latter of which has a groin injury.
Valencia travel to Turin with doubts over Jeison Murillo and Cristiano Piccini but both have been training ahead of the game. Denis Cheryshev is struggling with a calf problem.
Juventus know they only need a point from this game but will be pushing for all 3 and should get them. Valencia have picked up two draws away in the Champions League this season but need to win this match and that seems very unlikely.
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