Nedved trusts Gatti on debut and Juventus in Champions League

Juventus vice-president Pavel Nedved still believes they can continue in the Champions League and trusts Federico Gatti will step up for his European debut against Benfica.

It kicks off at the Estadio da Luz at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Dinamo Zagreb-Milan on the LIVEBLOG.

Juventus learned yesterday that the investigation into potentially inflated capital gains from player sales has completed the first stage and will progress.

“Our position is clear, the club released a statement and I have nothing to add. We are defending ourselves and we will defend ourselves in the courts,” Nedved told Sky Sport Italia.

They have problems on the pitch too, specifically that if they don’t win in Lisbon against an unbeaten Benfica, they are out of the running for the Champions League Round of 16.

“I think that tonight there is only one result to achieve, victory, so that would be a real coup. The performances against Torino and Empoli would not be enough, so we must do much better this evening.”

Gatti gets his Champions League debut in defence, having played only in Serie B until this season.

“It will not be an easy game for him, especially in a passionate atmosphere like this. I have played here and I know what it is like.

“I have no doubts on the lad, he’s got a heart of gold, works really hard and has this immense desire to make it. I am happy for him that he has the chance to play tonight, the coach was a little unlucky having to make choices that were forced upon him, because Alex Sandro and Paredes had these injuries.

“The coach had some ideas and was forced to modify them over the last few days.”

Should Juventus miss out, will they try to go all the way in the Europa League this season?

“I think we will believe to the end that we can play in the Champions League. We want to prove that tonight. I don’t want to cry about milk before it is spilt.”