Prediction: Juventus vs Real Madrid

Verdict: Real Madrid to Win

Best Odds: 8/5

Bookmakers: Bet 365

Juventus welcome Real Madrid to Turin for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final clash between these two European heavyweights. The Old Lady beat Tottenham to reach this stage of the prestigious competition, while Los Blancos eased past much-fancied PSG. This will be an intriguing and high-quality repeat of the 2017 final that will see a tournament favourite leave the competition.

Juventus 

Massimiliano Allegri has led Juventus to the top of the Serie A table after 30 games, four points ahead of rivals Napoli and in prime position to secure yet another Scudetto. With a crazy 70 goals scored and just 16 conceded, the Turin based side have been their usual impressive sides on the domestic front, and have gone unbeaten in their last 18 league games.

In Europe the Old Lady haven’t been quite as impressive as in the Italian tip flight, making it out of a tough group in second spot after Barcelona. They won three, drew two and lost one of their group stage games, scoring seven and conceding five.

That record has been enough to get them this far and they progressed past a Tottenham side in the round of 16 that headed into the game as arguably the favourites. Juve managed a 2-2 draw in Turin and a shock 1-2 win in London, knocking the English side out and booking a quarter-final clash with Real Madrid.

Team News

The Juventus defence will likely looks lightly different to usual as Mehdi Benatia is suspended and Alex Sandro will probably miss out through injury.

Elsewhere both Miralem Pjanic and Federico Bernardeschi will be absent due to suspension and injury respectively.

Real Madrid 

Los Blancos are seemingly having a season to forget in Spain, sitting third in La Liga table, a whopping 13 points behind their eternal rivals Barcelona after 30 games. Zinedine Zidane’s men have actually scored 76 goals – six more than Juventus have managed – but they have also conceded 33, which has held them back from mounting any sort of title challenge.

In the Champions League however the Madrid side have been flying, though they did encounter some difficulties in Group H. With four wins, a draw and a loss, Real would have breezed through most other groups, but they were actually beaten to top spot by an unbeaten Tottenham side. They did see off Borussia Dortmund however, surviving the group of death and scoring 17 goals in six games.

Finishing second in the group meant a meeting with PSG, a side that many people fancied to win the entire competition. Los Blancos didn’t struggle to see off the French giants however, winning 5-2 on aggregate and living up to their reputation as European masters. Having already beaten one tournament favourite, it is difficult to imagine Real not progressing further than the quarter-finals.

Team News

Zinedine Zidane has very few injury concerns to deal with, which will be a welcome sight ahead of this clash. Central defender Nacho is the only player likely to miss out.

Key Factors to Consider

• Juventus have won four, drawn three and lost one of their eight Champions League games this season.
• The Old Lady have scored 11 goals in the competition so far this year.
• Real Madrid have won six, drawn one and lost one of their eight Champions League games this season.
• Los Blancos have scored 22 goals in the competition so far this year.
• The last meeting between these two sides ended in a 1-4 win for Real Madrid.

Conclusion

Juventus didn’t fare well when they met Real Madrid in the final of last year’s competition, losing 1-4 in heart-breaking circumstances. While the Old Lady remain a hugely talented team, they likely still won’t be able to cope with the Los Blancos’ remarkable ability to turn up and win in the Champions League. Even at home it is difficult to see Juventus coming out on top, especially with a new-look defence.

Verdict: Real Madrid to Win

Best Odds: 8/5

Bookmakers: Bet 365