Between the two of them, Manchester City and Juventus have won six league titles in the past four seasons. However, one side are flying high and are enjoying a five-point gap over other title aspirants and a whopping 11 ahead of last season's champions. The other, meanwhile, has endured the worst start to their season in the club's entire history and are floating just above the drop zone with one point from their first three games.
As Manchester City prepare to welcome Juventus to the Etihad, each team will be feeling differently about their past few domestic fixtures, yet both will have the same objective: to earn all three points in their opening 2015/2016 Champions League match.
Manchester City
After having to settle for second last season as Chelsea edged them out to win their fifth title, Manchester City are back with a bang. The Sky Blues have been in absolutely perfect form from the very beginning, and are sitting comfortably five points ahead of title rivals Arsenal and Manchester, whilst reigning champions Chelsea are 11 points off the pace. And to delight fans even more, Joe Hart has kept an impressive five clean sheets, whilst his side have scored 11 goals so far.
However, today's hosts have not fared well in continental competitions and have won only three out of their last 11 Champions League home matches.
Still, in all fairness to the 2014 Premier League champions, they have not had the best of luck when it comes to their grouping, with at least two of their opponents presenting a serious challenge. In 2012/2013, they had Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Ajax for company in their quartet. The following season, it was Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, and Viktoria Plzen. And last term, they had Bayern and CSKA - yet again - plus Roma in their group. Finally, when they did make it out of their very tough group, Manchester City were presented not once, but twice with the very same obstacle to a spot in the quarter-finals: Barcelona.
So, following yet another frustrating European campaign, City opted to do what most of the continent's big clubs would do: splash the cash this summer. Over £100 million was spent on Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne, Fabian Delph, and Nicolas Otamendi to freshen things up. Although they are again in another tough group, the hosts will be hoping to maintain the same excellent form that has seen them soar to the top of the league table.
Whilst Sergio Aguero, who was last season's Golden Boot recipient, will be dearly missed this evening, Manuel Pellegrini had at least some positive news for Manchester City fans concerning David Silva and Sterling:
PELLEGRINI: "@aguerosergiokun is not fit for tomorrow. He has an injury to his knee. @21lva and @sterling7 are fit." #cityvjuve
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) September 14, 2015
Yet although their upcoming visitors have not had the best league start, City will still have to be on their guard. Out of their four meetings with Juventus in European competition, they have won just one, a UEFA Cup match back in 1976. Their other three games have finished as two draws and a loss.
Juventus
Meanwhile, if Manchester City are flying high, Juventus are floundering. Last season was an impressive one beyond most fans' dreams, as the Bianconeri not only won their fourth straight Scudetto and tenth Coppa Italia, but also made it to the finals of the Champions League. Whilst they were beaten 3-1 by Barcelona, they nonetheless helped to elevate Serie A's status - which has taken a downturn in recent years - on the continental stage.
Unfortunately, their second term under Massimiliano Allegri has not gone as planned. Although they won the Supercoppa Italiana last month, the start to the 2015/2016 Serie A campaign has been quite disappointing. First was a shock 1-0 loss to Udinese, which marked the first time the Bianconeri had ever lost their opening fixture at home. This was followed by a 2-1 reversal to Roma, leaving them with zero points and the worst ever start in their history. Last weekend saw them finally earn their first point - albeit unconvincingly - against Chievo, a team that they usually had no trouble beating in their prior meetings.
As such, the Champions League could present a new change of scenery for the reigning Serie A champions. However, Juventus have traditionally not fared well against Premier League sides on English turf; in fact, the last time La Vecchia Signora defeated an English team at home was back in 1996, when they trounced Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Like Pellegrini, who in addition to Aguero will also be without experienced defender Pablo Zabaleta and new signing Delph, Allegri will also have to contend with some injuries. Versatile Ghanaian international Kwadwo Asamoah is still out, as is new signing Sami Khedira. And although he featured in the 1-1 draw with Chievo, key midfielder Claudio Marchisio is set for another spell on the sidelines due to a thigh strain. The Italian international had performed as an apt deputy for midfield maestro Andrea Pirlo last season and will be expected to fully assume that role once he returns.
The last time Manchester City and Juventus met was during the 2010/2011 Europa League group stage. Neither the Citizens nor the Bianconeri were able to earn three points as both games finished as 1-1 draws. Will we see a repeat of that this evening? Or will one of these teams start off their Champions League campaign with a win?
This will be an entertaining match-up between last season's Champions League finalists and their high-flying opponents. And to ensure you do not miss out, LiveSoccerTV's got you covered, so make sure you bookmark our special Manchester City vs. Juventus match page for times and viewing options for your location.
Team sheets for Manchester City vs Juventus
Man City's Starting XI: Hart, Sagna, Kompany, Mangala, Kolarov, Toure, Fernandinho, Nasri, Silva, Sterling, Bony.
Juventus' Starting XI: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Sturaro, Hernanes, Pogba; Cuadrado, Mandzukic, Morata.
Man City's subs: Caballero, Otamendi, Demichelis, Fernando, Navas, De Bruyne, Aguero.
Juventus' subs: Neto, Barzagli, Alex Sandro, Lemina, Pereyra, Zaza, Dybala
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