Juve vs BVB. In my eyes this is another great fixture. Its is such a shame that both this game and the other great match are on on the same night but it is only testament to the great competition that is the UEFA Champions League. Some may be even be forgiven for picking this fixture above Man City vs Barcelona.
One may say this is another grudge match; a repeat of the 1997 Champions League Final, Dortmund coming out as champions in a 3:1 victory. I'm sure everyone remembers that Ricken lob and if you don't, here's one for you...
Also there is a hint of a David and Goliath complex here: we have Juventus, the Old Lady, four time Italian champs four, years in a row and still going strong, currently 12 points ahead of all opposition and pretty much the most dominant team in the Italian league at the moment. Having not lost in Serie A this year, Juve is pretty much the Jon Jones of the Italian League
Then you have Dortmund: although they have recently began to pick of form, the have had an abysmal season by their standards, at one point bottom of the Bundesliga and are currently sitting 12 on the table. Yes they've suffered a lot of injuries to senior players but all this indicated to me is a lack of squad depth, which is atrocious considering this is a side battling that ought to be battling for honours.
Both teams, my dark horses for this competition, which makes this fixture ironic, have a lot to prove. Juve on the one hand, despite their domestic strength and dominance have failed to translate such performances on the European stage. Last season they bowed out at the group stages and this season they didn't top their group. I can boldly say that if they do not reach at least the quarter finals this year, then they have failed in this season's edition of the competition; while Dortmund's failure in the domestic level has not reflected in the Champions league as they topped their group, what everyone in the Yellow and Black camp has failed or refused to acknowledge is that unless they win the Champions League this year, there will be no trips to Europe for them next season.
Juve will be equipped with a formidable midfield, the long lasting Andrea Pirlo, the man machine Arturo Vidal , the energetic Claudio Marchisio, and the boy prodigy that is Paul Pogba, while BVB will have Marko Reus and co to maintain their outrageous intensity tonight.
My favourite for tonight's game will be Juve. They're at home, and they have the squad, form and confidence to get the job done here tonight. However BVB will prove to be no pushovers here tonight. Intensity versus tactical strength is the name of the game tonight. Let's see who come out on top tonight.
Ps. Guess who was on the pitch last time these goons played.
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