Key occasions
24 minutes: Doku performs a beautiful go to De Bruyne, contained in the penalty space to the left of purpose, however his infield go is cleared.
22 minutes: Juventus are arising with moments of enterprising play, however they’ve thus far been a bit blunt after they come to needing a innovative. Conceicao dances down the correct on the finish of a pleasant transfer, however there’s a queue of defenders on the top of his pull-back.
19 minutes: Locatelli’s cross is headed out of the realm to Kenan Yildiz, who has a vicious, dipping, swerving shot from 25 yards that flies simply huge of the far publish.
17 minutes: Greater than a 3rd of the best way via the half, a sixth of the best way via the sport. Nonetheless awaiting a shot. Metropolis have a minimum of simply received the sport’s second nook.
15 minutes: Metropolis attempt to go their method out of defence however don’t look very comfy about it, and are a bit fortunate to finish up with a throw-in.
13 minutes: Metropolis work the ball ahead so far as Grealish, about 5 yards exterior the Juventus penalty space, however his first contact is hopeless and that’s the top of that.
9 minutes: Conceicao takes the ball off Lewis, however then is extra targeted on falling over and making an attempt to win a free kick than on taking benefit. I say that, however he has truly stayed down and looking out pained, so possibly I’m being unfair. Anyway, Juve have a nook.
6 minutes: Juventus have the ball for the primary time, work it out of defence very well – thanks largely to a beautiful crossfield go from Francisco Conceicao – however when Vlahovic is performed via he’s offside. Clearly now we have to attend for him to dribble into the realm and have a shot deflected out for a nook earlier than it’s given, however offside he’s.
3 minutes: Metropolis have had the ball for nearly all the sport so far, and so they finally work it to De Bruyne on the correct. Di Gregorio catches his cross.
1 min: Metropolis have kicked off, and instantly gone route one, Ederson pumping a protracted ball downfield and profitable a throw-in in consequence.
Pennants are exchanged and the coin tossed. Kyle Walker win the toss. “Buddies, Mancunians, Countrymen, lend me your ears … I come to not bury Walker, however to reward him! Frankly, if Citeh are having issues little or no of it is going to be on account of deficiency on the a part of Mr Quick’n’Dependable. Sure, he could also be getting burned a bit greater than prior to now, however possibly that is additionally right down to weaknesses elsewhere within the Guardiola meta-verse system? Any group can be completely satisfied to have a group member who ALWAYS provides the total 100% on the pitch and by no means slags off the administration or teammates through the laborious occasions. Ave, Kyle!”
The gamers come out, and across the floor followers wave pleasingly colour-coded flags.
I imply, this may do, wouldn’t it?
The large pre-match information is that Matheus Nunes has tiny shin pads together with his personal face on them.
Just a little extra pre-match studying from you, this time from the pen/keyboard of Ben McAleer for WhoScored. Is that this the top of the street for Kyle Walker?
The toughest factor knowledgeable footballer can do is admit when their race is run. Gary Neville did so within the bathrooms on the Hawthorns on New Yr’s Day in 2011. He retired a month later. His notorious 71-minute show has turn out to be the benchmark for poor performances from over-the-hill gamers. “He’s had his Neville-at-West-Brom second,” followers would quip. Kyle Walker has had many of those in latest months, however seemingly not one to persuade the defender his profession is drawing to a detailed.
Walker is without doubt one of the most embellished right-backs in English soccer historical past. The Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League – the 34-year-old has received all of them since leaving Tottenham for Manchester Metropolis in 2017. Now, there’s a actual likelihood he received’t add to his trophy haul.
Way more right here:
Right here’s a little bit of Jamie Jackson on Pep Guardiola’s declaration that this stint at Manchester City might be his final job in membership administration. I’m unsure I imagine it, however he didn’t appear to be equivocating:
Sooner or later I’ll really feel prefer it’s sufficient and at that second I’ll cease for positive. I’m going to cease. I’m not going to hitch one other group, I’m not going to depart to go to a different nation [for a club]. I received’t have the vitality. Now I’m nonetheless right here, however to consider beginning once more, the entire course of of coaching – no, no.
Right here’s Jamie’s story:
The groups!
The group sheets have been handed in, and we due to this fact know that tonight’s groups appear like this:
Juventus: Di Gregorio, Danilo, Gatti, Kalulu Kyatengwa, Savona, Locatelli, Thuram, Francisco Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Yildiz, Vlahovic. Subs: Perin, Pinsoglio, McKennie, Adzic, Fagioli, Weah, Douglas Luiz, Rouhi, Mbangula.
Man Metropolis: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Gvardiol, Lewis, Silva, Gundogan, Grealish, De Bruyne, Doku, Haaland. Subs: Ortega, Kovacic, Savio, Matheus Luiz, Foden, Wright, Simpson-Pusey, O’Reilly, McAtee, Wilson-Esbrand, Hudson.
Referee: Clement Turpin (France).
Howdy world!
Will this be any good? I’m very a lot an optimist, however given the type of these two sides it’s laborious to inform. Juventus have drawn their final 4 matches, 5 of the final six, and 7 of the final 9. In that point they’ve tied 0-0 (twice), 1-1 (twice), 2-2 (twice) and fought again from 4-2 down to attract 4-4 (as soon as). They’re absolute wizards of the stalemate. So whereas it’s true to say that they haven’t misplaced in 9, they’ve additionally solely received two of these. Within the plus column, Douglas Luiz and Weston McKennie might each be again from damage tonight.
The much less stated about Manchester Metropolis’s final 9 video games the higher, however for the report they’ve misplaced 9 and drawn two (together with, of their final Champions League recreation, the 3-3 Juventus want to finish the set). And for this recreation they’re with out John Stones, Nathan Ake, Mateo Kovacic and Oscar Bobb, plus Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji.
That is (a few of) what Thiago Motta, the Juventus coach, needed to say about this fixture:
I don’t assume there’s a finest time to play Manchester Metropolis, however we’ll face the match as we all the time do, by making an attempt to cease them from enjoying their soccer and impose our personal play on them. We’ve ready to offer it our all within the recreation, fastidiously finding out what we should do and what we should not do towards such an enormous opponent. I can’t judge their present scenario, however this can be a group that has confirmed their immense worth over time. I’ve huge respect for them and for his or her coach Pep Guardiola, for whom information merely converse for themselves, as he has managed to win the whole lot and constantly. We all know that Manchester Metropolis need to assault and maintain the ball. We must defend effectively and present nice high quality when now we have possession.
So, Juve, let’s see how a lot cautious finding out you’ve accomplished, then.
