Matuidi: ‘Dybala can change game’

Blaise Matuidi trusts Juventus can beat Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League and Paulo Dybala “is capable of changing a game.”

The first leg ended 2-2 in Turin, so the Bianconeri need to win at Wembley on Wednesday evening or draw 3-3 and above.

“Wembley is a wonderful stadium, I had the fortune of playing there with the France team,” Matuidi told Sky Sport Italia.

Blaise Matuidi trusts Juventus can beat Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League and Paulo Dybala “is capable of changing a game.”

The first leg ended 2-2 in Turin, so the Bianconeri need to win at Wembley on Wednesday evening or draw 3-3 and above.

“Wembley is a wonderful stadium, I had the fortune of playing there with the France team,” Matuidi told Sky Sport Italia.

“It won’t be easy on Wednesday, as Tottenham are a team who play good football, are on form domestically and did great things in the Champions League, including the first leg against us.

“In any case, we proved in Turin that we can cause them serious problems, so we are going to London looking to win and score goals. If we play the way we know how, the way we did against Lazio, then it’s possible.”

Gonzalo Higuain remains in doubt to the last minute with an ankle injury, while Mario Mandzukic is not 100 per cent fit either, but Dybala is back and scored the last-gasp winner against Lazio on Saturday.

“Higuain is recovering in the best way and I hope he’ll make the journey with us tomorrow. We are all happy with Paulo’s goal, because he deserves it for the hard work he puts in every day.

“Dybala proved yet again, as he has done so many times, that he is a player capable of changing a game and giving the team victory.”

Italian football was shaken on Sunday by the news that Fiorentina captain Davide Astori had passed away in his sleep, aged only 31.

“I send my condolences to his family. I didn’t know him personally, but many of my teammates did and they are in great pain. I could tell we were not only losing a great player, but also a great person.

“It’s never easy to step back on to the pitch after a tragedy like this, but football will try to go on in his honour too.”