15 December 2014
Gianluigi Buffon has revealed that Juventus have been drawn against the team he most wanted to meet in the last 16 of the Champions League - Borussia Dortmund.
The goalkeeper believes the Bundesliga 2012 champions and Champions League 2013 runners-up will provide an intriguing test of the Bianconeri’s European credentials over two legs starting from late February.
Speaking from the team’s training base in Vinovo, Buffon said: “They were the team I was hoping to face. Not because I consider them to be inferior to the top sides remaining in the draw, but because I think it will serve a useful yardstick for us, enabling us to work out how far we can go and how we can get better. It will be an excellent test in a fantastic stadium.”
With the likes of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich remaining in the hat when Juventus were picked out, Buffon admitted the draw was “reasonable” but was quick to point out the threats posed by one of the Bundesliga’s very best.
“It was a reasonable draw, it could have gone better, but also worse. I’ve got a great deal of respect for the team we’ll be up against. Two years ago they reached the Champions League final and more than held their own with Bayern.
“In Europe they know how to transform themselves and produce a greater return than their league form. It will be a tough test, but also an inevitable one if we want to harbour hopes of achieving important goals.”
