Champions League Preview: Juventus – Girondins de Bordeaux

These two teams meet in Europe's elite club competition after nearly 25 years of avoidance...

Sep 14, 2009 1:46:26 PM

More On :  Bordeaux, Juventus, Juventus vs Bordeaux
Juventus players pose for the cameras for the team photograph
Kick-Off: Tuesday, September 15, 20:45CET.
Stadio Olimpico, Turin

Juventus Unbeaten This Season

Ciro Ferrara's men are unbeaten in Serie A this term, but the Champions League presents an even tougher challenge for them. Having beaten Lazio at the weekend in Rome, the Old Lady are full of confidence as they welcome French champions Bordeaux to the Stadio Olimpico in Turin.
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Both teams will be keen to keep their impressive runs going. Juve will be well aware that, like themselves, the French team are unbeaten domestically and come into this clash with their heads high following a win over Grenoble.

Although Ciro Ferrara will be venturing into unknown territory in his first Champions League match as coach, he will be familiar with Girondins coach Laurent Blanc. The men were title rivals when the coach played for Inter during the late 1990s. Yoann Gourcuff is also a familiar face following a three year spell tied to Serie A giants Milan. Another Italian acquaintance is Fernando Menegazzo, who had experiences with Siena and Catania.

These teams last faced each other in top-flight European football back on April 24, 1985. Blanc was playing for Montpellier, while Ferrara had just enjoyed his first professional season with Napoli.

Juve, led by French playmaker and current UEFA president Michel Platini, beat Bordeaux at the semi-final stage of the European Cup. Juve won through 3-2 on aggregate and went on to lift the trophy against Liverpool in the tragic Heysel final.

The current crop of Old Lady stars will no doubt be looking to achieve the same target as they attempt to get their European campaign off to a flying start.

Ironically, the Olimpico is the old Stadio Communale - the venue these teams met each other 24 years ago. The best memories Juve fans will have of Bordeaux is when they signed Zinedine Zidane from them in 1996.


The Playmaker: All eyes will be on Giovinco

Bordeaux In Confident Mood

Laurent Blanc is back in the Champions League for the second consecutive year, having steered les Girondins to Europe's premier competition last term. However, their European campaign did not go to plan, crashing out in the group phase.

Blanc's record against Italian opposition as Bordeaux coach is not great - his side lost to Roma twice in the group stage last term. The French outfit ended up finishing third in their pool as Chelsea and the Giallorossi progressed. Their drop into the old UEFA Cup was just as bad, losing to Turkish side Galatasaray.

The former Inter defender will hope his players have learned their lessons from that run to better their chances this time. With Group A consisting of Bayern Munich, Juve and Maccabi Haifa, Blanc will be keen to avoid an early upset and he is likely to hatch a plan to stop the Italians from playing their free-flowing football led. Although Juve appear to have a stronger team on paper, Blanc's men are ahead in terms of preparation, as Ligue 1 began two weeks before Serie A.

Bordeaux will be keen to press home their advantage, mindful of Juve's tough match away to Lazio at the weekend. Although the Bianconeri won, they didn't look perfect in that game. A draw will be perfect - anything more and the French side will have stamped their intent on this season's European campaign.

Form Guide

Juventus

September 12 v Lazio (A) - WON 2-0 (SERIE A)

August 30 v Roma (A) - WON (SERIE A)

August 23 v Chievo Verona (H) - WON 1-0 (SERIE A)

August 17 v Milan (A) - WON 1-1 (BERLUSCONI TROPHY)

August 14 v Inter (A) - DREW 1-1 (TIM TROPHY)

Bordeaux

September 12 v Grenoble (H) - WON 1-0 (LIGUE 1)

August 30 v Marseille (A) - DREW 0-0 (LIGUE 1)

August 23 v Nice (H) - WON 4-0 (LIGUE 1)

August 15 v Sochaux (A) - WON 3-2 (LIGUE 1)

August 9 v Lens (H) - WON 4-1 (LIGUE 1)

Team News

Juventus

Ciro Ferrara will be pleased with the news of Alessandro Del Piero's recovery, but the captain will be rested as he is not completely fit. Fabio Cannavaro and Vincenzo Iaquinta should also return after being rested against Lazio. Giorgio Chiellini is the only suspension concern and misses the game. Hasan Salihamidzic and Zdenek Grygera are both injured. Mohamed Sissoko has returned to training, but he is unlikely to play. The big injury news came from Diego, who is out for two weeks after straining a muscle against Lazio.

Probable Starting XI 4-3-1-2: Buffon; Caceres, Cannavaro, Legrottaglie, Grosso; Camoranesi, Melo, Marchisio; Giovinco; Amauri, Iaquinta

Bordeaux

Having rested a number of players at the weekend, Blanc will have a fresh squad from which to choose his starting XI. The coach has no injury or suspension concerns.

Probable Starting XI 4-5-1: Carrasso; Tremoulinas, Ciani, Planus, Chalme; Wendel, Diarra, Fernando, Gourcuff, Gouffran; Chamakh

Players To Watch

Sebastian Giovinco (Juventus)

With Del Piero and Diego missing the game, all creative responsibilities will rest with the 'Formica Atomica'. He played well when coming on against Lazio and big expectations need to be fulfilled in this one. Bordeaux defenders will need to be switched on.

Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux)

The former Milan man has been transformed under Blanc's tutelage. His career has been revived since leaving the Rossoneri for western France. Juve will need to watch his long range shooting and precision from free kicks. He will hurt the Old Lady if given the chance.

Prediction

The Bianconeri should win. It will not be comfortable, but they are favourites to come away with maximum points. Juve did not lose a Champions League game at home last season, and they will want to keep that record here.

Juventus 2-0 Bordeaux

Salvatore Landolina, Goal.com
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