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Champions League: Can Spurs replicate Turin heroics to reach quarter-finals?

Wednesday, 7 March 2018, 11:48 Last update: about 9 years ago
Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon attends a press conference at Wembley Stadium, London, Tuesday, March 6, 2018. Juventus will play a Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, March 7. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)
Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon attends a press conference at Wembley Stadium, London, Tuesday, March 6, 2018. Juventus will play a Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, March 7. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)

Italian giants Juventus travel to Wembley stadium on Wednesday night for the hotly anticipated second leg of this UEFA Champions League last 16 tie against Tottenham Hotspur.

 

A thrilling first leg in Turin has left the tie in the balance after away goals from Spurs duo Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane clawed the Premier League side back to parity from an early 2-0 deficit against the Italian champions.

 

 

Juventus players stand on the pitch before the press conference at Wembley Stadium, London, Tuesday March 6, 2018. Juventus face Tottenham Hotspur in a Champions League soccer, round of 16, 2nd leg match in London on Wednesday. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)


 

Both sides churned out important domestic victories over the weekend, with Spurs comfortably dispatching Huddersfield Town 2-0 on Saturday afternoon, while visitors Juventus moved to within a point of Serie A leaders Napoli with a last gasp 1-0 victory away at third placed Lazio.

 

 

Juventus Kwadwo Asamoah, centre, on the pitch before the press conference at Wembley Stadium, London, Tuesday March 6, 2018. Juventus face Tottenham Hotspur in a Champions League soccer, round of 16, 2nd leg match in London on Wednesday. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)


 

Recent Form

 

Tottenham have been in ruthless form since the turn of the year having not been beaten since December's 4-1 defeat at the Etihad stadium, a run which spans 17 fixtures in all competitions and includes victories over Manchester United and north London rivals Arsenal.

 

Mauricio Pochettino's side currently sit fourth in the Premier League table, five points clear of fifth place Chelsea.

 

 

Juventus Gonzalo Higuain, left),and Douglas Costa on the pitch before the press conference at Wembley Stadium, London, Tuesday March 6, 2018. Juventus face Tottenham Hotspur in a Champions League soccer, round of 16, 2nd leg match in London on Wednesday. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)


 

Juventus, meanwhile, are on a similarly impressive domestic run. Unbeaten since November, the Old Lady haven't dropped a single point in Serie A since December's goalless draw with Inter.

 

Saturday's late win at Lazio - alongside Napoli's home defeat to Roma - means Juventus' defence of the Scudetto is back in their own hands.

 

 

Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon and coach Massimiliano Allegri attend a press conference at Wembley Stadium, London, Tuesday, March 6, 2018. Juventus will play a Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, March 7. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)

 

 

Team News

 

Tottenham's primary injury concern leading up to this clash has come at the heart of defence, with Belgian pair Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen both proving uncertainties.

 

While Wednesday night's game comes too soon for Alderweireld, Vertonghen completed the full 90 minutes unscathed on Saturday and can expect a recall here.

 

 

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri attends a press conference at Wembley Stadium, London, Tuesday, March 6, 2018. Juventus will play a Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, March 7. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)

 

 

Heung-min Son started on the bench during the first leg, however his weekend brace should see him get the nod over Erik Lamela for the return tie. Serge Aurier is suspended after picking up his third European yellow card in Turin.

 

The biggest injury news coming out of the Juventus camp is that Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuaín had appeared a significant doubt following an ankle injury which forced him out of the Lazio clash, however he appears to have won his race to be fit.

Should Higuaín fail in his fitness race, however, then countryman and Saturday's match-winner Paulo Dybala will lead the line for the Italians. Mario Mandzukic has not travelled with the squad.

 

Former Chelsea wide-man Juan Cuadrado is a long-term absentee and won't feature, with the same applying to fellow winger Federico Bernardeschi.

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