Porto are on a terrific run of form. They’ve won their last six league games in a row, and haven’t lost in all competitions since suffering a 1-0 defeat away to Leicester in the Champions League way back in September. That’s a span of 20 games, where they’ve won 15 and drawn five.
Porto boast one of the most formidable home-field advantages in all of Europe this season. They are undefeated in 12 home league games (11 wins, 1 draw) with 29 goals scored and just seven conceded.
Porto also went unbeaten in three games at the Dragao during the group stage (two wins, one draw), which helped them finish second in the group. They avenged that loss to Leicester by crushing the English champions’ second-stringers 5-0 in Portugal.
The Portuguese will come out organized and tough to break down. They’ve conceded just 14 goals in 28 league and Champions League games this season.
However, they don’t exactly have the most potent attack. Rising star Andre Silva (13 goals) and Tiquinho Soares (11 goals) have supplied a decent amount of goals, but neither is particularly prolific. Their chances of breaching a Juventus defense which is arguably the best in Europe aren’t particularly promising.
Juventus are having another dominant season in Italy. The reigning Italian champs have won six league games in a row since losing to Fiorentina, and have conceded exactly one goal during that span. They were equally dominant during their Champions League group stage campaign, as they went undefeated with 4 wins and 2 draws. The two goals they conceded in six games were tied for the fewest in the stage.
Contrary to their domestic form, Juve were impressive away from home in Europe. They won all three games, scoring eight goals and conceding just one. They went into Spain and hammered their biggest group rivals Sevilla, 3-1.
It’s hard to pinpoint a glaring weakness in this Juve side. Their defense remains impeccable; their midfield is rock solid; and their attack led by the prolific Gonzalo Higuain (22 goals in 25 games) is deadly. Manager Massimiliano Allegri has also proven to be a very canny tactician, especially in Europe.
Allegri has decided to sit his star defender Leonardo Bonucci for this first-leg matchup after a recent bust-up, but he should have the right pieces and gameplan in place to overcome Bonucci’s absence.
Writer’s Prediction
Juventus (+110) takes a commanding lead into the second leg with a 2-0 away win.
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