Juventus” data-scaytid=”1″>Juventus have Mirko Vucinic, Fabio Quagliarella and Andrea Pirlo in tonight’s Champions League showdown with Chelsea, who drop Fernando Torres.

Juventus have Mirko Vucinic, Fabio Quagliarella and Andrea Pirlo in tonight’s Champions League showdown with Chelsea, who drop Fernando Torres.

The Bianconeri are currently third in Group E, but only one point behind joint leaders Shakhtar Donetsk and Chelsea.

As their final game is in Ukraine, it is essential Juve get a good result on home turf against the reigning Champions League holders.

Vucinic has missed the last few games due to an ankle injury and then a bout of flu, but has recovered to start alongside Quagliarella, sending Sebastian Giovinco to the bench.

Pirlo was suspended for Saturday’s Serie A 0-0 draw with Lazio, so returns well-rested to the midfield.

Stephan Lichtsteiner is back after he was dropped for a few games, but Nicklas Bendtner is not even on the bench.

Chelsea were held to a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge when these teams met back in September and were beaten by West Bromwich Albion at the weekend.

There were reports that Torres would be dropped for this huge game after an alleged locker room row and he is indeed on the bench in Turin, leaving Eden Hazard as a 'false 9' although it is also possible the Blues could line up with an unusual 5-2-3 system.

Juan Mata, Oscar, Ramires, Ashley Cole and Branislav Ivanovic have all shaken off injuries to return for Roberto Di Matteo’s men, but Frank Lampard and John Terry are sidelined.

If Shakhtar Donetsk beat Nordsjaelland this evening, then they will secure their spot in the knockouts thanks to a superior head-to-head record with Chelsea, leaving just one qualifying place left.

Unlike the last Champions League home game against Shakhtar, the Juventus Stadium is expected to be sold out tonight.

Chelsea’s record on Italian soil is weak thanks to a single win at Lazio in 2003-04, three draws and four defeats.

Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Quagliarella, Vucinic

Juventus bench: Storari, Caceres, Pogba, Pepe, Giaccherini, Giovinco, Matri

Chelsea: Cech; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill, Ivanovic, A Cole; Ramires, Mikel; Hazard, Juan Mata, Oscar

Chelsea bench: Turnbull, Bertrand, Oriol Romeu, Marin, Piazon, Torres, Moses

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Tickets Kit Collector