A 1-0 loss at the hands of Galatasaray signalled the end of Juventus' Champions League campaign last season as the Old Lady failed to make it beyond the group stages. However they have responded strongly this time around and have performed commendably without being in the limelight for too long.
Prior to the draw for the Champions League semi-final, Juventus were being spoken of as the weakest side among the last four and were regarded as being as easy prey for the heavy weights. However it will not come as a surprise if Massimiliano Allegri's men make their doubters eat their words. Here are five ways Juventus can beat Real Madrid and make their way to the final:
Carlos Tevez turning back years
The Argentinean has arguably been the best player in Italy this season and can fire the Old Lady to the final if he continues his good form. The former Man City man has been lethal infront of the goal having found the back of the net on 28 occasions in all competitions.
His trickery can cause a lot of trouble to the Real Madrid back line which can be very vulnerable at times and Tevez can use that to his advantage to guide his team to the final.
Experience in the squad
One clear advantage Juventus have over their counterparts is the experience in their squad, which means that one can expect a very disciplined performance from the Old Lady. In a match as big as the Champions League semi-final you need a lot of calm heads on the pitch and Allegri is fortunate of having many leaders in his squad.
His captain Gianluigi Buffon leads by example and even at the age of 37, Gigi guards the penalty area better than many of the top keepers in the world. He maintains his cool in the most nervous situations and transfers this tranquillity to his defenders who know they have a world class goalkeeper guarding the goal.
In front of him Buffon has the ever reliable Giorgio Chiellini as well as Andrea Barzagli who has cemented his place in the starting line-up after an injury plagued season and has been rock solid. Andrea Pirlo on the other hand shows no sign of aging and has been as influential as ever. Juventus have a number of young players who have shown a lot of potential this season, however it is their experienced personnel who will be heavily relied upon.
Morata with a point to prove
The youngster received his schooling at the Castilian club and will now be facing his former club for the first time since sealing his move to Juventus. The 22 year old showed a lot of promise during his days at Real Madrid but the abundance of attacking talent in the squad restricted his chances.
At Juventus the striker has found his feet having scored 11 goals in all competitions this season. His form especially after the turn of the year is what has captured everyone's attention with the Spaniard having scored eight goals in 15 games after the winter break. It can be quite a daunting task to face your former side and Álvaro Morata must ensure he does not get his emotions get the better of him. Should he manage to keep hold of his nerves, the youngster can play a big role for his team over the two legs.
Record at Juventus Stadium
The recently crowned Serie A champions have established the Juventus stadium as a fortress and are unbeaten at their home ground in 11 matches in UEFA competitions. Furthermore Massimiliano Allegri's men have won 15 of their 17 home league matches drawing the other two which clearly shows their dominance when playing at home.
The Old Lady can take advantage of the fact that the first leg is being held at the Juventus Stadium and will know that a good performance on Tuesday will give them the upper hand in the tie.
Winning the midfield battle
Midfield is one of Juventus' strongest area and for them to get anything out of the match they will have to dominate in the middle of the park. The presence of the likes of Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo will definitely make life easier for Juve and with Paul Pogba expected to be fit enough for the second leg, Juventus will be confident they can win the midfield battles.
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