Juventus v Borussia Dortmund: Who Has The Edge?

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Midfield

Ever watch the movie, Gladiator? How about the movie, The Patriot? No? Well I am going to assume you have seen Saving Private Ryan and get to my point. The battle that will ensue between these two midfields will be a battle fit for the big screen and an IMAX screen might not even do it justice. Dortmund has been rotating their midfield all season hoping to find the cure for their chronic epidemic known to many sports scientists as, Disappointimism. Reus is back from injury and recently signed an extension with Dortmund, but are not fools that is solely so Dortmund can gain some leverage in negotiating his sale. Mkhitaryan, Gundogan, Kagawa, and Bender have been shadows of their past versions. In fact of the midfielders mentioned the only player to really find himself a factor has been Reus and Kagawa to a certain degree.

Juventus have had a consistent midfield group for the past few season and domestically they have been gladiators immortalized into Italian football history. Pirlo, according to the Ten Commandments in Christianity well you shouldn’t mention the Lord God’s name in vain and so we won’t discuss Him any further. Vidal understands German football better than any player on the Juventus roster and will look to eat every blade of grass as a true competitor. Pogba is already one of the top players in the world at such a tender age of 21 and should this be his Juventus swansong then you can expect him to make this a story book ending. Marchisio is Juventus to the bone and much like his idol, Alessandro Del Piero referred to as the King, well Marchisio is known throughout Torino, Italy as ‘il Principe’ meaning, the prince. Lichsteiner is a robot and just industrial on the playing field as he platoons the entire right flank of the field. His one weakness is his hot temper and that is something Allegri will be keeping a close eye on.

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Advantage: Juventus. The Italian champions boast one of the top five midfields in all of Europe statistically alongside Real Madrid, Paris San Germain, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich. That is great company to be paired up with especially when competing in Europe. There is more to prove for Juventus after last season’s debacle and the atmosphere in Torino is a positive one going into this encounter. Nonetheless, this is a battle to watch intensively.

Attack

The difference and the problem for Juventus. Sure, domestically Tevez and Morata couldn’t be hotter. Fernando Llorente on the other hand hasn’t found the back of the net since dial-up and that is a significant problem. Whereas Borussia Dortmund might not be an effective attack in the Bundesliga they sure as heck know how to put the ball in the net when they reach the continental tournament. Immobile is the player to watch in this matchup and whether he puts one in the back of the net, which he has in the past, or not remains to be seen because none of us know what the future holds. Let us understand this is player Juventus cashed in on after showing no faith in him to put on the famous black and white sweater. Instead he was sold to fund other moves in the likes of Alvaro Morata. Immobile holds the key to the attack.

Dortmund are the more clinical team in front of goal. Allegri himself has bashed his own side for like the killer instinct to get the ball on goal and be more clinical in the box. He couldn’t be more right. Juventus have created more threats through their midfield than they have through their forwards.

Advantage: Borussia Dortmund. Klopp might not have Lewandowski anymore, but he has some speedy forwards in P.A. Aubameyang and Ciro Immobile. Juventus have struggled to deal with counter-attacks in the more recent weeks and unless Allegri gets that tinkered out in an upcoming practice then the Juventini have a lot to fear come Tuesday.

Next: Home field advantage?

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Juventus vs Borussia Dortmund: Who Has The Edge?

By Francesco Pellegrino | Feb 20, 2015

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