18 September 2018
THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SHOW RETURNS
Europe’s biggest competition is back and the Bianconeri will be looking to make their mark on Wednesday night, as they take on Valencia at the Estadio de Mestalla (21:00 CEST).
Juventus head into the match in good form, having stretched their tally to four opening games unbeaten after defeating Sassuolo 2-1 at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday. The Old Lady found the breakthrough in the second half, when Cristiano Ronaldo pounced quickest on a loose ball in the box to score his first ever Juventus goal and put the Bianconeri a goal up. 15 minutes later and it was 2-0, as Juve broke from a Sassuolo corner and Emre Can fed Ronaldo on the left-hand side of the box with the Portuguese number seven firing an effort low and hard into the corner of the goal. It proved to be a nervy final few minutes, when Khouma Babacar pulled a goal back for the visitors from a header, but La Vecchia Signora held on to claim all three points.
VALENCIA YET TO MAKE THEIR MARK
The Bianconeri’s opposition, Valencia have yet to pick up their first three points of the season after three draws and one defeat sees them in 17th place in La Liga after four games, with their most seeing Los Che draw 0-0 at home against Real Betis on Saturday.
Following last season’s 4th place finish, coach Marcelino has attempted to strengthen his squad in the summer transfer window, with notable arrivals including the permanent signings of Goncalo Guedes, Geoffrey Kondogbia and Jeison Murillo after last year’s loan spells from PSG and Inter respectively. Whilst French striker, Kevin Gameiro moved from La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid and Belgian, Michy Batshuayi signed on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
At the other end Juventus signed Joao Cancelo from Valencia, former Bianconero, Simone Zaza left for Torino on loan and Portuguese winger, Nani returned home to Sporting CP.
#VCFJUVE MATCH FACTS
- Valencia will become the eighth Spanish team that Juventus have faced in the Champions League with the two sides having never played one another before.
- Juventus have won once in their last six European games against Spanish opposition, whilst Valencia have only lost once in their last seven vs Italian teams.
- Los Che haven’t drawn in their previous 18 European games, winning 10 and losing eight.
- It will be Massimiliano Allegri’s 77th Champions League match, with only Fabio Capello (78) and Carlo Ancelotti (153) the only Italian coaches to have taken charge of more games.
- During his time in Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo actively participated in 50% of the goals scored in the Champions League by Real (105 goals and 27 assists).
- Ronaldo has the second most appearances in the Champions League (153), with only Iker Casillas having made more (167).
- CR7 is the tournament’s top scorer, with 120 goals scored in 153 appearances.
- The Bianconeri will come up against an Italian opponent whom they faced last season after defender, Cristiano Piccini’s move from Sporting CP in the summer.
