Juventus vs. Monaco Preview
Where: Juventus Stadium – Turin, Italy
When: Tuesday, May 9, 2017, 2:45 PM ET
Line: Juventus -176 vs. Monaco +395, draw +269; total 2.5 – view all Champions League lines
TV Broadcast: Fox Sports 1
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Betting on Juventus (-176)
Juventus find themselves in a very good spot entering the second leg. They won the first leg in Monaco 2-0 thanks to a double from star striker Gonzalo Higuain. That result means they can afford to lose at home by any one-goal margin and still go through to the final.
However, it’d take a brave soul to bet on Juve to lose at home. The Italian giants only failed to win for the very first time in 18 Serie A home games this season as they grabbed a late 1-1 draw against city rivals Torino over the weekend. Higuain once again got on the scoresheet as he put in a late stoppage time equalizer.
Juventus haven’t been quite as dominant in Europe, as they’ve drawn two of their five home games this season. But they have won their last three in a row, though, including an absolutely dominant 3-0 win over Barcelona. Their unbeaten streak at home in the Champions League is now up to 18 games (11 wins, 7 draws).
The Italian champions had the luxury of resting a couple of key personnel against Torino, including veteran goalie Gianluigi Buffon and defender Giorgio Chiellini. That added rest should only help them maintain their incredible defensive record in the competition. Juve have kept a clean sheet in six consecutive Champions League games, and have nine in 11 games overall.
Betting on Monaco (+395)
Monaco have it all to do in Italy. Not only do they need to be the first team this season to beat Juventus on home soil, but they also need to do it by at least two clear goals to move on to the Champions League final.
History won’t be on their side in terms of achieving that feat. There have been 14 teams to lose by two goals at home in the first leg of a Champions League knockout round, and none have advanced.
Monaco got some good preparation for the second leg, though, as they defeated Nancy 3-0 in midweek to inch closer to the Ligue 1 title. Apart from a 5-0 thrashing against PSG in the French Cup with a very under-strength team, Monaco have now won their last seven away games in all competitions.
And despite getting shut out for the first time in 30 home games this season in the first leg, Monaco did at least manage to create good opportunities against Juve in the first leg, only to be denied by some terrific saves from Buffon.
Writer’s Prediction
Juventus (-176) seal their place in the final in style as they score another 2-0 win against Monaco at home.
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