Juventus will face Sevilla, Dinamo and Lyon in the group stages of the Champions League.
Granted, it’s not a straight forward draw….but it’s a darn sight better than last years. In a strange twist, Marko Pjaca, Dani Alves and Miralem Pjanic will return to face former clubs….I’m choosing to take it as a sign.
Champions League draw:
Group A: Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Basel, Ludogorets
Group B: Benfica, Napoli, Dynamo Kiev, Besiktas
Group C: Barcelona, Manchester City, Borussia Monchengladbach, Celtic
Group D: Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, PSV, FC Rostov
Group E: CSKA Moscow, Bayer Leverkusen, Tottenham Hotspur, Monaco
Group F: Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting CP, Legia Warsaw
Group G: Leicester City, Porto, Club Brugge, FC Copenhagen
Group H: Juventus, Sevilla, Lyon, Dinamo Zagreb
Beppe Marotta discussed today’s draw with Premium Sport.
“We know what our role is, namely to win qualification regardless of our opponents. We have an obligation to win.
“The opponents might be less tough on paper, but Sevilla often win the Europa League and Dinamo and Lyon are dangerous.
“Are Juventus among the favourites? We feel ready for a challenging journey that could give us satisfaction, we want to do our best to get to the end.
“We’ve strengthened for that, to improve upon what we’ve done in recent years.
“The Champions League is a cup though, not a League. You need different factors and favourable circumstances, but our team has a very high standard.
“We’d like to have more Italians but our domestic football isn’t giving much satisfaction, so we looked abroad.
“We’ve kept the core though, to win in Italy and in Europe.”
Speaking JTV, Juve captain Gigi Buffon was cautious about the group stage draw.
“On paper they are all teams not to be underestimated, but they’re within our reach,” Buffon told JTV.
“It’s hard to say who is the most formidable opponent, Dinamo are a talented team, Sevilla are well-established and Lyon are part of the elite of French football, even if they’re not living the splendour of a few years ago.
“If we want to make a strong impression on this tournament then we have to win, right from the start, against our opponents.
“We’re coming off the back of a final and going out to one of the strongest teams in the tournament, who we played on equal terms with.
“That means that our journey must be just as good. We’ve added new players, who are champions but also great professionals, they’ve immediately shown that with their behaviour and how they act in the group.
“Among them there are those who, like Dani Alves, have experience in this competition and can really help us. These tournaments are won on the details, the nuances.
“The Champions League shouldn’t be an obsession for us, even I’d like to think ahead to the final in Cardiff but I know that’s a mistake.
“On paper we’re the strongest team in the group, but then there’s the pitch. Determination and commitment are the key features to be the strongest in the group.”
Yes. The best. First spot. For sure?
I’d think so. We must think that this is one of the easier groups, and if we can’t get out of this then we would not have had a chance at winning any of the knockout matches.
Of course. Im very excited about the match against Sassuolo. In one week.
Same here, looking more forward to that game than the Lazio game!
I think that Sassuolo is stronger than Lazio or Inter.
Cant wait for every juve game. Live on DAZN.
How do you watch Juve?
Unfortunately on shitty streams. Once my own home is finished in construction I will be able to watch it on tv
Im sorry pal.
Im happy that these days are over.
How do you watch juve in cl?
I hate those fucking streams.
Keep your eyes out for DAZN. Thats the future.
CL, serie a, Coppa italia, its all on streams for me 😛 unless its a big CL game, like Bayern, Barca or Real, then its usually on tv here. And then you have to bear the commentator always being a fan of one of those three.
Whats dazn? I havent researched on what possible channels I can watch Juve yet, construction will take at least another year for completion, so still a long while to go
Dazn is like netflix. 10 euro per months. 8000 live games. They show everything.ok no cl. Cl i watch on sky.
Dazn its just a matter of time and it will be europe wide.
Thats not a bad deal. I have to wait at least a year anyway so maybe it will be available in Belgium by then
It will be. For now its available in germany switzerland austria.
And Japan.
On sidenote: Who should come till Wednesday?
In transfers you mean? I would add a defensive midfielder but nothing more. I wouldnt even mind if we left the squad as it is for now, see until January how we do. Rather do it like that than buy another Hernanes in a panic fit.
I think that nobody will arrive. And thats fine with me.
And trust me i dont understand the concerns about out midfield. Asamoah Lemina seem to be sharp. Pjanic will explode. And hopefully Khedira stays fine.
Yeah pretty much my idea too. In January we can fill any holes that open up during the campaign, but as it is I think we’re good to go
Stronger than Lazio is a real possibility, but Inter with Suning behind them will soon enough be too strong for Sassuolo and probably a Scudetto contender as well. At least, thats my guess.
I would prefer a strong Sassuolo and a shit Inter though.
I just think that Sassuolo did a great job all the years.
I hope that the fucking milano clubs stay the fuck where they belong. But I hope that Sass can surpass them in near future.
They did and we can only hope they can keep that up! I want Milan back in the top 3 though, they have too much of a rich history to leave them aside in the dust.
Given this favorable draw, I would hold off on getting Matuidi and give Asamoah and Lemina more playing time. What do you guys think?
I think we’ll need Matuidi in the long run this season. Not taking anything away from Lemina, Asamoah and Sturaro…..but if we want that CL trophy, we need depth in the centre of the pitch
I rate Lemina and if hes as good as i think he can be, matuidi shouldnt be a factor when it comes tohim getting playing tims. In the end, we re looking to compete, if Leminia cant get mins, its because hes not at the level we need him to be.
Quite a favourable draw for us. Sevilla isnt easy bit sure could have been worse
A great draw for us!!! Sorry it’s been a while guys,hope your all ok.JUVE JUVE JUVE JUVE.
Hey Dino! Certainly been a while. How are you doing?
Yeah I know dude,I couldn’t log in for ages and gave up with frustration.low and behold,I try on the off chance and here I am lol.
I see. Great to have you back. You’re still the biggest Juve fan i know :p
Dino! How you been mate?
I’m good thanks,still loving my beloved juve!!! Great to be back on here.
Always good to have you around man! How do you like the new faces?
Yeah it’s fantastic,and great the site is strong as ever.
we could have had a much easier group like B, or E, but it will do
My estimates:
A : #1 PSG #2 Arsenal…shame no real competition there, easy ass group
B : #1 Napoli #2 Benfica? ..all 4 teams really suck who knows what may happen there but these two appear to be strongest on paper
C : #1 Barcelona (unfortunatley) #2 Manchester City…easy group for them two
D : #1 Bayern Munich #2 Atl Madrid … easy work for Bayern and Madrid
E : #1 Spurs? #2 Monaco? can Leverkusen do enough? Moscow lost their best striker…anything can happen in this group, again all teams involved are equally worthless, but the most interesting as no one is a clear favorite
F : #1 Real Madrid #2 BVB ….easy work for them two
G : #1 Porto #2 Leicester again aside from the obvious two, the others are crap unheard off teams
H : #1 La Juve!!! #2 Sevila/Lyon/Dinamo? it will be an intersting fight for 2nd place
Juve – Bayern – Madrid – Barca: All seem to be the only ones with the teams capable of winning the whole thing
BVB – Porto – Liecester – Atletico. Madrid – PSG: All Seem to be the ones with the teams capable of performing an ubset underdog fight for the title
Man City, Arsenal, Group B, E and Juve’s runner up wont get past round of 16
As a Dutchman i have to stick up for the Dutch teams whenever i can, Atletico actually had quite alot of problems with PSV last season in the last 16 round. Went to penalties over 2 games. You’re probably right about the 2 teams advancing but it might not be as easy as you think. Atleast i hope 😛
No Leicester won’t repeat the glory of last year Dutch. It really was a one off… Kante leaving has hurt them big time, most people are acknowledging that (inc home boy Gary Lineker), and they seem to have lost some of their fight and spark.
Most of the big names have been given huge pay rises, and It looks like they will be dining off the glory of last season for most of this one. And why not? They deserve it after last season’s heroics. They should get out of their group in CL though.
i wouldent underestimate their new Striker Musa..have you seen the kid? dear lord he will be feared
Leciester may not win it but i think they can 100% make it past the group stage, and even make it farther than Spurs and Arsenal
Kante was the bedrock of the title winning team G. They have not replaced him like for like, so they are more vulnerable in defence and less dogged in their play. Scoring goals was nit a problem as they kept Vardy and Mahrez. Two matches in, two average performances and 1 point out if six tells it’s own tale.
Don’t underestimate Man City. Pep will have them into shape sooner rather than later. He has some decent players to pick from, and they are out of the starting gate with a bang in the EPL. You know Pep has moved them up a notch when they turnover Stoke City away from home for the first time in many seasons – something that they have failed to do for many a season since the MC project got underway, and always seen as a good test of a teams spirit and resolve.
Perhaps…i just dont respect Guardiola as a coach, he is to over glorified and over rated if you ask me…Bayern Munich was his test and he failed. Also yea Man City has a good Midfeild and descent offense, but their defence is laughable..Otamendi? lol Zabaleta? Kompany is good but he is coming back from an injury right? who knows how his form may be
If the defence is bad PG will sort it. You missed out new signing John Stones. He and Kompany are class, and a good starting point for him to build on.
It’s hard to say he’s overrate, but I agree he failed at BM which has left question marks. Yes he has only been at clubs with deep pockets, and at Barca with the best player in the world. But you still have to make it work to win the CL even then, as was proven when Barca failed to make the final last year. He is a undoubtedly a great coach – his stint at Man City will show us how great he is.
EU10m profit on Zaza is a splendid piece of business (everyone is overpaying, yet Pjanic seems potentially a canny move, as does Dybala)…and that money covers the Matuidi deal (pretty much). With Mandzukic and Higuain the obvious prima puntas, Dybala probably backed up by Pjaca and possibly Cuadrado to add scope for a 4-3-3, do we really need another striker? If Barbosa was looking at our squad, how much would he expect to play? I think we can forget about the burly brazilian…
We are certainly stronger than this point last year. Yet Allegri and fortune will play the prominent roles in our destiny, for the system must change to accommodate the new recruits. We have not at all signed like for like. Still, I shall save such pondering for a larger editorial. And then there is also the 4 Home grown in house players to confirm or for our squad to be reduced…much to discus, yet I am in the office and must plan my weekend to include a collision with the same valkyrie who was in dark and devastating form in my adventures in the dream realm…I will ask her if she recalls the same, or fragments, for it is rare for me to find any familiar faces or thighs in the darkness of the eyes shut realm were the soul flies naked, wild and free…
How well Pjanic fits into the squad is of prime importance. His creative spark deployed deeper??? or will we be forced to move him higher up the field? Jury remains very much out on Lemina for me. Early days, and our first solid test in Rome is almost upon us…
Buddy, I would love to sit at a bar with you and talk football. Your posts are legendary.
I am glad you enjoy my rather raw and often haphazard emissions of self, Dybala…and if you are ever in Melbourne, or persisting in a realm where I travel, yes yes! Let us collide, collude, raise our glasses to the sky in homage to our shared passion and seek kinship!
Absolutely brother.
I second that
I read today Ouasim Bouy has returned from his loan spell at Zwolle and has been loaned out to Palermo for this season. Great club to play at, terrible president but great club. Anyone know more about Palermo’s season and the chances Bouy could get there?
I will cover his move and more in my upcoming youth report…He did very well at Zwolle. No new injuries, commanding performances at both DM and CB, fair few assists. His best campaign since recovering from the wretched ACL injury. The move has taken place, just waiting for official confirmation. Ouasim is in Palermo…
Do we still own him?
yes, very much so…He has a contract with us until 2017. Maybe extended shortly, or perhaps it will depend on his performances at Palermo. He remains on Raiola’s books.
im not sure but i think zamparini is no more club president at palermo
Wiki says he’s still there
wiki says a lot of shits dutch
more and more reports on rodriguez, even espn reporting it
anyway, berardi scored again, his 6th, just wow
Great draw for the lads! I think we can be confident in advancement this time around, anything less than group winners will be a disappointment. I am excited about playing Dinamo Zagreb as it is my neck of woods. The other part of it is their prospects, Coric, Gojak, Benkovic, Hodzic are all tremendous talent. Make no mistake, by this time around next year those 4 will be the next Rog and Pjaca’s, if not better.