Juventus vs Real Madrid 1st leg Champions League Preview | Quarter Final

Finally the day has arrived the Champions League is back in action. Juventus vs Real Madrid is the star match of tonight. The last season's Champions League finalist face of each other in a epic encounter. Both team have had a disappointing season so far by their standards. Juventus are just ahead in the Italian League and have not been at their absolute best in the Champions League as well. They roughly played good football against Spurs for 20 minutes and are very much fortunate to be in the quarterfinals. While Real Madrid the current defending Champions are having more disappointing season by the standard they left last season. They are out of the Spanish Cup and more importantly Laliga and have only the Champions League en route to win a major title this season. Still these two teams have picked up pace since the turn of 2018 and Juventus vs Real Madrid 1st leg is expected to be a riveting encounter as Juventus face the team who stopped them from winning the trophy last season and while Madrid face the team they have never defeated in the knockout tie. Have a look at the key points ahead of this encounter.

Key points for Juventus vs Real Madrid 1st leg Quarter Final

3) A statement making match

This thing has not been said during the build up to this match. The fact of the matter is this match is a big statement making match for both the teams. Real Madrid are not on that much pressure as they have won back to back Champions League and expecting to win another one was always going to be a big task.
 Yet, the performance overall this season has been disappointing by their standards. The fact that Barcelona are having a fairly unexpected season also makes it embarrassing for Madrid. The only hope at this stage for them is Champions League. If they can win this match then they are definitely going into the 2nd leg or even the semifinals as the legitimate contender for the 3rd champions league in a row. 

Juventus to the contrast have to win it not only for themself but for the Italian League. They have reached the finals twice in the last three campaigns but have failed on both the occasions. This year they might have reached the quarterfinals but have looked nothing like themselves. Against Spurs they might have won but their overall performance was not upto the mark. Juventus will have to defeat Madrid in order to be taken seriously by other sides in this competition . A lose will only make them the new chokers of the tournament.

2) Effect on both the manager's future

The fact is both Zinedine Zidane and Massimiliano Allegri's future at their respective club will depend upon this tie. The reason for them remaining might be different , but the fact is next year at this time they might not be in their respective clubs. Zidane is managing Madrid where a trophyless season is not acceptable and might end up getting a sack because of it. While Allegri might simply leave for other challenges(his name has been tipped for both PSG and Arsenal jobs). This match might make or break them. Zidane winning might just stop Madrid from sacking him and give him another season thinking that it was just a season where the team switched off at the wrong time.
While Juventus winning might make Allegri have more belief in this team and expect them to win the competition this year or the next one. If Juve lose, Allegri can simply go to other clubs in hopes of winning a competition that he has never won. 

Their is no denying that this tie will define rest of the season for both the teams but also their managers future. A victory will go a long way for both Zidane and Allegri's future in Madrid and Juventus.

1) Last chance for Buffon and Ronaldo

Gianluigi Buffon has won everything that is to be won, with Champions League being the only trophy he has not. At the age of 40, surely this has to be his last chance of winning the trophy. He has previously been the runners up of this competition 3 times. The fact that he is not getting any younger and being 40 years of age make it even harder to expect him to win this competition in the future. Their is no denying that his legacy is far more greater than winning the Champions League, but the fact that he has been so close to taste the success of this competition makes people pray that he wins it. Also with any ageing squad and bright future talent being watched like vulture never helps. This might just be the year when Gianluigi Buffon can win this competition.

Cristiano Ronaldo on the other hand have won this competition multiple times. For him it is the Ballon d'or at stake. The fact his arch nemesis Lionel Messi is in scintillating form and of verge of winning Laliga his claim to 6th ballon d'or is only by winning Champions League. Also that World Cup is on the horizon and it will make it even more hard for him to make a case for himself if Madrid does not win this match and win the Champions League as well.

Their is no denying Juventus vs Real Madrid is a cracking contest that everyone is waiting to unfold.

According to 90 MIN predictions:

Juventus : 30% chance to win

Real Madrid : 40 % chance to win

Draw: 30% 

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