Juventus will hope to win two consecutive games for the first time this season when they welcome Israeli side Maccebbi Haifa to Allianz Stadium this Wednesday.
Venue: Allianz Stadium (Turin)
Key Statistics
Juventus have lost their opening two UCL games.
They have lost just seven of their last 51 UCL home games (W22, D12).
The hosts have kept one clean sheet in their last six games.
Haifa have kept one clean sheet in their last six games.
They have failed to score in their last two away games.
The visitors have recorded just one win across their last nine European away games (D2, L6).
Head to head
Both sides met in the group stage of the Champions League in the 2009/10 UCL season. Juventus won both legs by a 2-0 aggregate scoreline.
Latest performances in all competitions
Juventus: W-L-L-D-L
Haifa: W-L-L-W-L
Juventus
Juventus returned to Serie A action last weekend to secure a 3-0 win over Bologna, their first win in all competitions since September third.
The Old Lady will now turn their attention to the Champions League, where they are yet to pick up a single point in Group H.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side succumbed to a 2-1 loss to PSG in the first round of the UEFA Champions League and followed that up with yet another defeat of the same scoreline against Portuguese side SL Benfica.
The Italian tactician has come under heavy criticism in recent times with some sections of supporters calling for him to be sacked amid a poor run of games without victory.
However, the Old Lady are favourites to secure all three points against the Israeli underdogs, but a shock 1-0 loss to Monza in the Italian Serie A before the International break will have the Italians banish any thought of an easy win as they search for a first win to finally get their Champions League campaign underway.
Possible Juventus starting line-up
Wojciech Szczesny; Danilo, Leonardo Bonucci, Bremer, Alex Sandro; Weston McKennie, Adrien Rabiot, Leandro Paredes, Manuel Locatelli; Dusan Vlahovic, Filip Kostic.
Injured: Marley Ake, Paul Pogba, Federico Chiesa, Kaio Jorge, Daouda Peeters
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa always seemed destined to be the ones to miss out on qualification after finding themselves in the same Group as PSG, Juventus and Benfica and so far the Israeli side have proved the predictions right.
With zero points after two games, Barak Bakhar’s side sits at rock bottom of Group H. The Israeli side will now come up against the only other team yet to pick up a point in Group H when they travel to Italy.
Barak Bakhar’s side have been dominant in the Israeli Premier League and sits atop the Israeli PL table with five wins from six games, putting them in cruise control of the Israeli top flight division.
The Israeli coach will now look to transfer his team’s domestic form to the international stage against Juventus.
The Old Lady’s recent struggles will serve as a means of optimism for Maccabi Haifa. With the successes of Monza and Benfica against the Italians, Maccabi Haifa have a template on how to beat Massimiliano Allegri’s side.
Possible Haifa starting line-up
Josh Cohen; Daniel Sundgren, Stan Goldberg, Ofri Arad, Pierre Cornud; Neta Lavi, Ali Mohamed; Omer Atzili, Tjaronn Chery, Din David; Frantzdy Pierrot.
Injured: Mahmoud Jaber
Doubtful: Suf Podgoreanu
Suspended: None
Prediction
Juventus 2-0 Haifa
