Juventus vs Borussia Dortmund: Who Has The Edge?
Aug 6, 2013; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Internazionale midfielder Wesley Sneijder (10) is tripped by Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci (19) during the first half at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Juventus are set to host Borussia Dortmund at the Juventus Stadium in Torino, Italy and you cannot go to war without a survival guide or in this case the right tactical approach. To this point Juventus Manager Max Allegri had been tinkering and adjusting with each passing week from the start of the season, but since early December he seems to have found his preferred 4-3-1-2 formation.
This is what many fans, pundits, and even mimes have been screaming for throughout the peninsula of Italy. Except the Bianconeri’s previous manager, Antonio Conte, refused to abandon his three-man defense in Europe. Was that a matter of Conte being stubborn? Perhaps, but the important thing is that Allegri has done a wonderful job inheriting a team of champions and keeping them hungry for more success.
Let’s take a closer look at the team with the advantages…
Schedule
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Obviously, unless a certain “fan” lives under a rock in the Sahara Desert they are aware of Borussia Dortmund being in a relegation survival battle. They are not alone in the Bundesliga relegation shockers debates as they have the pleasure of sharing their stress with a VfB Stuttgart. Oh and what a surprise, but even more opportunistic for both Stuttgart and Juventus that Dortmund will be taking the field with 18th placed Stuttgart February 20th. That would be the Friday before traveling to Torino to face Italian Scudetto holders, Juventus. At the same time BVB is facing Stuttgart, well, Juventus will be entering the field of play against Atalanta. Atalanta, the team that sits only three points ahead of Gianfranco Zola’s resurgent Cagliari side.
Advantage: Juventus. It is safe to say that a win against Cesena this past week would have ensured a major rotation in the starting lineup for Juve, but instead Allegri will make some key moves. It’s likely Pirlo, Lichsteiner, Bonucci, Evra, and Vidal will get the rest and that should be enough for Juve to see Pepe, Sturaro, Ogbonna, Pereyra, Caceres, and Padoin will feature. That will be a lot more rest that Juventus could afford to have over Dortmund who are fighting to survive until they run out of breath in Germany.
Goaltending
Gianluigi Buffon will be on one end and Roman Weidenfeller at the other. The battle of the two tall and ever so important men for their clubs.
Advantage: Gianluigi Buffon and Juventus. Nothing else needs to be said besides this man, Buffon, that boasts more on his credentials list than Weidenfeller boasts even wins on a FIFA 15 Ultimate Team with the likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Hazard, Pogba, Ibrahimovic, and anybody else you feel like plugging in for the sake of the argument.
Next: Manager