Juventus” data-scaytid=”3″>Juventus rely on Fernando Llorente, Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal to win tonight’s Europa League semi-final with Benfica.
Juventus rely on Fernando Llorente, Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal to win tonight’s Europa League semi-final with Benfica.
It kicks off in Turin at 20.05 UK time (19.05 GMT), as the Bianconeri need to overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit if they are to play the Final in their home stadium.
Tevez scored in Lisbon, his first European goal since 2009 when he was still at Manchester United, and he starts again tonight with Llorente.
Mirko Vucinic was used in the first leg, but has been returned to the bench in favour of the Spanish striker.
Arturo Vidal struggled with a knee injury recently, but he is in the starting XI alongside Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba.
Leonardo Bonucci was rested for Monday’s 3-1 win at Sassuolo, but starts today on his 27th birthday, while Martin Caceres steps in for Andrea Barzagli.
Benfica still have a series of injury problems to contend with, as Silvio and Lujbomir Fejsa are ruled out with Eduardo Salvio back on the bench.
Andre Gomes is a big loss, as he sits out a ban for a card he picked up in the first leg, but goalkeeper Artur is surprisingly benched.
Perez starts after Juve lodged a complaint with UEFA claiming he elbowed Giorgio Chiellini in the first leg.
Juve can look to history for reassurance, as the last time these clubs met in Europe was the UEFA Cup quarter-final in 1993.
Benfica won 2-1 at home, but lost 3-0 in the second leg and the Bianconeri went on to lift the trophy that season.
Juventus have a 100 per cent home record in Serie A this term and are unbeaten in 27 official games at this stadium, including 23 victories.
The Eagles also have previous, as they won the first leg of their Europa League semi-final 2-1 in 2010-11, but went out after losing 1-0 at SC Braga.
Benfica were the beaten Finalists a year ago, losing to Rafa Benitez’s Chelsea.
Juventus: Buffon; Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Asamoah; Tevez, Llorente
Juventus bench: Storari, Barzagli, Marchisio, Padoin, Vucinic, Giovinco, Osvaldo
Benfica: Oblak; Maxi Pereira, Luisao, Garay, Siqueira; Ruben Amorim, Perez; L Markovic, Rodrigo, Gaitan; Lima
Benfica bench: Artur, Jardel, Andre Almeida, Sulejmani, Ivan Cavaleiro, Oscar Cardozo, Salvio