The Allianz Stadium is primed for a historic encounter as Italian giants Juventus prepare to host Bundesliga side Stuttgart in their first-ever competitive meeting. This Champions League group stage fixture promises to be a thrilling affair, with both teams eager to make their mark on the European stage.
Juventus have hit the ground running in this season’s Champions League campaign, securing maximum points from their first two matches. Their most recent triumph, a hard-fought 3-2 victory against RB Leipzig, showcased the team’s resilience and fighting spirit. The Bianconeri twice came from behind, with star striker Dusan Vlahovic netting a brace, before Francisco Conceicao sealed the win with a late goal.
Thiago Motta’s men are not just excelling in Europe; they’ve also been a force to be reckoned with in Serie A. A recent 1-0 victory over Lazio propelled them to the top of the league table, albeit temporarily. This win extended Juventus’ unbeaten run to an impressive 16 games across all competitions, dating back to the end of Max Allegri’s tenure last season.
Dusan Vlahovic has been in scintillating form, contributing either a goal or an assist in each of his last three Champions League appearances. The Serbian striker will be aiming to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo’s feat of four consecutive matches with goal contributions for Juventus in the competition.
Young talents Nicolo Savona and Kenan Yildiz have been regular fixtures in Motta’s lineup, with the Turkish teenager Yildiz expected to support Vlahovic in attack.
Stuttgart’s return to Europe’s elite competition has been challenging thus far. With just one point from their opening two matches, Die Schwaben find themselves near the bottom of the group standings. Their last outing resulted in a 1-1 draw at home against Sparta Prague, despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances.
While Stuttgart have been formidable at home in the Bundesliga, their away form has been less impressive. The team has managed only two away victories this season, one of which came in the DFB-Pokal against lower-league opposition. A recent 4-0 defeat to Bayern Munich has extended their winless run to four games across all competitions.
Jamie Leweling has been a standout performer for Stuttgart in the Champions League, despite not finding the back of the net yet. The winger has had the joint-most shots without scoring in the competition this season, level with PSG’s Achraf Hakimi and Ousmane Dembele.
Striker Ermedin Demirovic has been in fine form domestically, netting five goals in the Bundesliga so far.
Thiago Motta is likely to set up his team in a 4-2-3-1 formation, emphasizing possession and quick transitions. With Di Gregorio suspended, Mattia Perin is expected to take his place between the posts.
Sebastian Hoeness will probably opt for a 4-2-3-1 system as well, focusing on high pressing and quick counter-attacks. The German side has averaged an impressive 65% possession in their Champions League matches so far, second only to Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
This match marks the first-ever competitive meeting between Juventus and Stuttgart. The German side’s record against Italian opposition is not encouraging, with just one win in 11 attempts, dating back to 1979 against Torino in the UEFA Cup.
Team News
Head coach Thiago Motta faces several challenges with his squad ahead of this match. Long-term absentees Bremer and Arkadiusz Milik continue their recovery from knee surgeries. Additionally, summer signings Teun Koopmeiners (rib injury) and Nico Gonzalez (thigh injury) are also unavailable for selection.
The Bianconeri will also be without first-choice goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio due to suspension. However, there is some positive news as USA midfielder Weston McKennie may return after a minor muscular injury sustained during international duty. Francisco Conceicao is back after serving a one-match domestic ban.
The team has lowered its age profile this season by regularly fielding academy graduate Nicolo Savona and Turkish teenager Kenan Yildiz. Yildiz is expected to support Vlahovic up front as he aims for another impactful performance.
For Stuttgart, manager Sebastian Hoeness will have to navigate a few injury concerns as well. Germany midfielder Chris Fuhrich (adductor), Dan-Axel Zagadou (knee), and Justin Diehl (shoulder) are all sidelined. Leonidas Stergiou (back) and Nikolas Nartey (knee) also remain unavailable for selection.
Despite these challenges, Stuttgart will rely on key players like Jamie Leweling and Ermedin Demirovic as they look to turn their fortunes around in Turin.
Expected Starting XIs
Juventus: Perin; Savona, Kalulu, Gatti, Cabal; Locatelli, Fagioli; Cambiaso, Yildiz, Mbangoula; Vlahovic
Stuttgart: Nubel; Stenzel, Rouault, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Karazor, Stiller; Millot, Undav, Leweling; Demirovic
Match Prediction
Given Juventus’ current form and home advantage, coupled with Stuttgart’s struggles on the road, a comfortable victory for the Italian side seems likely. We think the tie favours Juventus, with a 2-0 win for the home team a likely outcome. Both teams have shown the ability to score, so a “both teams to score” bet might also be worth considering.
Prediction: Juventus 2-0 Stuttgart
