Still searching for their first Champions League win of the season, Juventus welcome Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon to the Allianz Stadium on Tuesday night. Both sides are targeting a vital result to stay alive in the push for knockout-round qualification.
While Juventus have managed just one point after three group games, Sporting approach the clash buoyed by recent form that has placed them within touching distance of the top eight.
Match Preview
It has been a turbulent start to the European campaign for Juventus. Opening with two high-scoring draws – 4-4 against Borussia Dortmund and 2-2 versus Villarreal – the Bianconeri were taught a harsh lesson during their trip to Madrid, where they fell to Real at the Bernabéu. That result extended a miserable winless streak which ultimately cost Igor Tudor his job.
Caretaker boss Massimo Brambilla briefly steadied the ship by overseeing a much-needed 3-1 victory over Udinese, before the baton was passed to a vastly experienced figure: Luciano Spalletti.
The former Napoli and Italy manager signed an initial deal until the end of the season and enjoyed a winning start on Saturday, as Juventus – celebrating their 128th anniversary – overcame Cremonese 2-1. Filip Kostic struck inside two minutes, Andrea Cambiaso doubled the lead, and although Jamie Vardy’s late goal added tension, the Turin outfit held firm.
That domestic triumph ended weeks of frustration and offered encouragement that Spalletti could restore stability. However, early optimism must now be tested on the continental stage. Juventus have claimed only two victories from their last 11 Champions League encounters, though their record against Sporting Lisbon provides some comfort.
The Italians remain unbeaten across four previous meetings with the Lions, winning twice in Turin – including the 2023 Europa League quarter-final. They will aim to extend that dominance on Tuesday, urged on by a home crowd eager to see progress under new leadership.
Sporting’s Italian Struggles
Sporting Lisbon arrive in confident mood but carrying poor precedent when it comes to trips to Italy. The club has played 19 competitive matches on Italian soil and is yet to record a single win, losing 14 of those encounters. Three of those defeats have come within the last four seasons, including a Europa League exit to Juventus and this campaign’s 2-1 loss at Napoli.
Their recent away record in the Champions League is equally unkind: three straight defeats, each by the same 2-1 scoreline. Yet Rui Borges’ team continue to impress domestically, heading into the fourth group fixture with momentum on their side.
Sporting opened their campaign with a 4-1 home win over Kairat, stumbled in Naples, and then edged past Marseille in an action-filled contest at Estadio Alvalade. Down to ten men just before half-time, Marseille invited pressure, and Sporting substitutes Geny Catamo and Alisson Santos capitalised to seal the comeback.
That resilience has carried into league form. Friday night’s Primeira Liga victory over Alverca – secured through goals by Fotis Ioannidis and Pedro Gonçalves – was their fifth consecutive win in all competitions, keeping them level with leaders Porto.
Team News
For Juventus, Spalletti surprised many by retaining a flexible version of the three-man defence preferred by his predecessor, Igor Tudor. That setup may continue against Sporting.
Defenders Bremer and Juan Cabal remain sidelined through injury, but Kenan Yildiz and Lloyd Kelly could return after missing out at the weekend. Dusan Vlahovic and Lois Openda are expected to lead the attack again, with Jonathan David slipping down the pecking order. Vlahovic has contributed 11 goal involvements from 19 Champions League outings – a return Juventus will hope he can extend in Turin.
Sporting, meanwhile, have long-term absentees Nuno Santos and Daniel Braganca unavailable. Zeno Debast is a fitness concern, while right-back Ivan Fresneda limped off on Friday and may not recover in time, with Georgios Vagiannidis standing by.
Pedro Gonçalves, the club’s most prolific performer in Europe, should again link up with Francisco Trincao and Geovany Quenda behind either Ioannidis or Luis Suarez at the spearhead of Rui Borges’ fluid front line.
Probable Starting XI’s
Juventus (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Gatti, Koopmeiners; Cambiaso, Locatelli, Thuram, Kostic; Conceição, Yildiz; Vlahovic
Sporting CP (4-2-3-1): Silva; Vagiannidis, Diomande, Inacio, Araujo; Hjulmand, Simoes; Quenda, Trincao, Gonçalves; Suarez
Prediction
This fixture provides Juventus with an ideal platform to signal a fresh start under Luciano Spalletti. The home side are brimming with renewed confidence after back-to-back domestic wins, and Turin has rarely been a happy hunting ground for Sporting.
The Portuguese champions possess attacking quality and balance but have struggled when travelling to the peninsula. Expect a competitive contest, yet Juventus’ greater urgency and new-manager energy could tilt the outcome their way.
Prediction: Juventus 2–1 Sporting Lisbon
