Preview: Bianconeri poised to make it to the last 16 of the Europa League
After an embarrassing performance in the Champions League which saw them getting knocked out in the first round of the competition, the Old Lady will be hoping to make the most out of their participation in Europe’s second tier club competition.
The Italian league leaders will head into the second leg with a two goal advantage after goals from Pablo Osvaldo and Paul Pogba gave the Turin side a 2-0 win in the first leg.
Despite the win Juventus’ Italian manager Antonio Conte was not thoroughly satisfied with his team’s performance and insisted that they needed improvement both offensively and defensively.
"A 2-0 win is certainly a good result going into the second leg," the Juve trainer said.
"We had several scoring opportunities, but either we weren't accurate enough or their goalkeeper did well. Trabzonspor had finished ahead of Lazio in the group phase, so they weren't to be underestimated.”
"We did well, but there is still another game to play. We got too stretched out in the second half when pushing hard for another goal, risking conceding by fielding three strikers.”
Conte also hinted that he might rest some of his star players in the return leg owing to a congested fixture list which is to follow.
"I looked at the fixture list and, in the most optimistic reading, we’d play 16 games in 52 days. That would destroy players if I always used the same ones."
"We have to involve the entire squad and try to help those who haven’t played as much get their matchfitness. I don’t know any other way of going forward."
Juventus have produced impeccable performances in the league so far and have dropped just nine points all season. They are currently on top of the Serie A table and lead second placed AS Roma by nine points.
Trabzonspor on the other hand have had a less successful league campaign so far. Hami Mandirali’s men are currently seventh in the Super Lig, 15 points adrift of leaders Fenerbahce.
The club have performed poorly after the departure of Mustafa Akcay earlier in the month and their victory against Kayserispor last time out was only their first of the month of February. Furthermore Trabzonspor will have history against them having not beaten a Serie A side at home since 1982 when they recorded a 1-0 win over Inter Milan in the first round of the UEFA Cup. Trabzonspor will now have to better that score line if they are to have any chance of remaining in the competition.
To their advantage the Turkish side have a good home record in European competitions. They are undefeated in seven matches at the Huseyin Avni Aker Stadium in European competitions and their defeat to Juventus was only their first in 12 European games this season.
Turkey on the other hand does not hold pleasant memories for the defending Italian champions who suffered a 1-0 loss in Istanbul which resulted in them crashing out of the tournament at the expense of Galatasaray. Juventus have also fared poorly in European away outings this season and are winless in their last four away trips losing three of them.
Where to watch the match – live stream, start time, TV channels, live scores
Watch Trabzonspor vs Juventus live on Thursday, February 27, 2014:
In Canada at 14:45 ET on Mediaset Italia, Sportsnet World
In UK at 19:45 GMT on BT Sport 1
In US at 14:45 ET on ESPN3, Fox Sports 2 USA, SiriusXM FC, Fox Soccer 2Go
Fans in Australia can catch the action live on Setanta Sports Plus Australia
For complete details of match listings and live scores, visit the Trabzonspor vs Juventus match page.
