Juventus Season 2012-2013

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Serie A Team of the Week: Amauri and Osvaldo at the double

Goal.com looks at the star performers from the latest round

of Italian league action at the weekend.

Oct 20, 2012

With a couple of very big games and a huge batch of big performances, round eight's Team of the Week was not an easy one to compile. But Goal.com has managed to whittle down the numbers to present you the best XI from the weekend's fabulous Serie A action.

Torino were the latest side to come away from the Renzo Barbera with something to show for their trip to Sicily, and it was Jean-Francois Gillet who left with the most credit, with some excellent stops ensuring that Palermo wouldn't take all three points against the Granata.

In front of him, Andrea Ranocchia gets the nod for an impressive shift against Catania, who had Inter on the rack at times in the second half at San Siro but couldn't find their way past the big centre-back. Andre Dias is the first of three Lazio players in this week's team as he kept Giampaolo Pazzini quiet during the Biancocelesti's 3-2 win over Milan. The final spot in the back line goes to supersub Martin Caceres, whose header moments after coming on for Juventus against Napoli broke the spirit of the away side and sent Juve clear at the top of Serie A.

Our four-man midfield has some familiar faces, as another wonder strike from Antonio Candreva earned him a third call in succession for the Team of the Week. His effort from distance for Lazio helped to put Milan out of sight, and his endeavour down the right ensured that it was a long time before the Rossoneri could make any headway down his flank. Paul Pogba is included after he came on to hit a magnificent volley to see off Napoli for Juventus, prompting calls for the Frenchman to see more game time in the black and white shirt. Anderson Hernanes' latest influential performance, capped by his sixth goal of the campaign, gets him a centre-midfield spot, while Kwadwo Asamoah appears in our XI for the fourth time this season thanks to his phenomenal effort down the left in Juve's 2-0 win.

Up top, Antonio Cassano is rewarded for his goal and leadership from the front in Inter's win against Catania, but he's flanked by two men who went one better. Amauri netted twice - the first from the spot - as Parma surprised many by taking three points off Sampdoria at the Ennio Tardini, while Pablo Daniel Osvaldo bounced back from a fortnight of conjecture and controversy to score an excellent double in Roma's comeback victory at Genoa.

GILLET (Torino)

RANOCCHIA (Inter) - DIAS (Lazio) - CACERES (Juvents)

CANDREVA (Lazio) - POGBA (Juventus) - HERNANES (Lazio) - ASAMOAH (Juventus)

CASSANO (Inter) - AMAURI (Parma) - OSVALDO (Roma)

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (3rd leg) - 23-10-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

................

NORDSJAELLAND - JUVENTUS

Parken Stadium - Copenhagen

Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Germany)

Caceres: Juventus desperate for first Champions League win

The Uruguay international is aiming for victory in Tuesday's encounter against

the Danish outfit in order to keep the Bianconeri's European ambitions alive.

Oct 22, 2012

Juventus defender Martin Caceres is eagerly anticipating the Champions League Group E fixture away against Nordsjaelland, and is determined to bag the full three points against the Danish Superliga champions.

The Serie A giants drew their opening two games against Chelsea and Shakhtar Donetsk respectively, and Caceres realises that they cannot afford to slip up again on Tuesday if they are to reach the knockout stages of European club football's elite competition.

"Now we want to go on and do well in the Champions League," the Uruguayan defender was quoted as saying on the official Juve website.

"We’ve drawn our first two games and it’s time for our first win. We understand the importance of Tuesday's game in Denmark.

"We always want to win, we know we’re wearing a shirt that brings pressure and we always play to get the three points."

Tuesday's encounter is scheduled to kick off at 20:45CET.

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (3rd leg) - 23-10-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

................

NORDSJAELLAND - JUVENTUS

Parken Stadium - Copenhagen

Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Germany)

Buffon returns for Juventus as Lichtsteiner & Asamoah are rested

The experienced shot-stopper has shaken off his thigh injury while some

of his team-mates will stay behind in Turin to recover from minor fitness issues.

Oct 22, 2012

Gianluigi Buffon has been included in Juventus' 22-man squad for Tuesday's Champions League match away against Nordsjaelland.

The goalkeeper picked up a muscular problem while away on international duty with Italy and consequently missed this weekend's 2-0 Serie A win over Napoli.

However, the 34-year-old has now been given the green light again by the club's medical staff and is likely to start against the Danish champions.

Meanwhile, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Kwadwo Asamoah have both been left out of the team for Tuesday's Group E match.

The Ghanaian midfielder has been omitted as a precaution after taking a knock to his ankle during Saturday’s meeting with the Partenopei, whereas the Swiss full-back will be put through a specific regime to improve his condition.

Juventus have collected two points from as many games, while Nordsjaelland lost their opening two matches.

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (3rd leg) - 23-10-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

................

NORDSJAELLAND - JUVENTUS

Parken Stadium - Copenhagen

Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Germany)

Laudrup relishing Juventus challenge

Oct 22, 2012

Andreas Laudrup of Nordsjaelland is looking forward to facing Juventus – a former club of father Michael.

The latter, now boss of Swansea City, was a player for the Old Lady in the 1980s and his son will take on the Turin giants in the Champions League on Tuesday.

“It will be a special evening for me,” stated the 21-year-old to Tuttosport. “My dad played for Juventus for four years and he has always spoken well of his time in Turin where he has happy memories.

“I don’t know whether I will start the game,” added the midfielder. “I hope I do though as facing the Bianconeri would be a dream.

“Juventus are a great side, a very great one. They are the Italian champions and they play an entertaining brand of football.”

Laudrup added that he has great admiration for Juventus and Italy playmaker Andrea Pirlo.

“He’s a fantastic player with an excellent right foot,” he explained. “He is the star of the Bianconeri midfield, but also that of Italy. You could learn a lot from him.

“To play alongside him? It’ll be nice, but I don’t think that is likely. I’m young and I still need to grow. I would have to do a lot to deserve the shirt of Juventus.

“But I can’t hide the fact that I’d love to play for the same club that my father played for.”

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (3rd leg) - 23-10-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

................

NORDSJAELLAND - JUVENTUS

Parken Stadium - Copenhagen

Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Germany)

Juventus squad for Nordsjaelland

Oct 22, 2012

Gigi Buffon and Mirko Vucinic are back in the Juventus squad for their Champions League game at Nordsjaelland on Tuesday.

Buffon and Vucinic missed the 2-0 win over Napoli on Saturday through injury and illness respectively, but they have returned for European duty.

Left-back Paolo De Ceglie also returns to the set-up, but Simone Pepe, Kwadwo Asamoah and Stephan Lichtsteiner have remained in Turin.

Asamoah picked up an ankle injury at the weekend, while the Swiss international right-back has been rested.

Juventus are third in their group, two points behind Chelsea and Shakhtar Donetsk, after two draws from two games.

Squad: 1 Buffon, 2 Lucio, 3 Chiellini, 4 Caceres, 6 Pogba, 8 Marchisio, 9 Vucinic, 11 De Ceglie, 12 Giovinco, 15 Barzagli, 17 Bendtner, 19 Bonucci, 20 Padoin, 21 Pirlo, 23 Vidal, 24 Giaccherini, 27 Quagliarella, 30 Storari, 32 Matri, 33 Isla, 34 Rubinho, 39 Marrone.

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UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (3rd leg) - 23-10-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

................

NORDSJAELLAND - JUVENTUS

Parken Stadium - Copenhagen

Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Germany)

Alessio: Nordsjaelland have our respect

Oct 22, 2012

Angelo Alessio has claimed that Juventus will not take anything for granted when they face Nordsjaelland in the Champions League.

The Bianconeri travel to Denmark to face Kasper Hjulmand's team on Tuesday, and the 47-year-old assistant Coach believes his side will not be complacent.

“We have great respect for Nordsjaellad,” he told a Press conference. “They are a team that plays great football, and have done well against Shakhtar Donetsk and Chelsea.

“They play good, possession football, and we realise how much quality they have. We have prepared for a challenging match.

“There are no easy games in this competition, so we will have to focus on tomorrow night.”

He also declined to comment on any selection issues his team may face ahead of the game.

“We still have one more training session,” he said. “And we will use it to make any final decisions regarding who will start.”

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (3rd leg) - 23-10-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

................

NORDSJAELLAND - JUVENTUS

Parken Stadium - Copenhagen

Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Germany)

Nordsjaelland - Juventus Preview: Winless Bianconeri

looking to heap more misery on Danish champions

Antonio Conte's men will be desperate to return to Turin with all three points after

drawing their opening two games thus far, away to Chelsea and at home to Shakhtar Donetsk.

Oct 22, 2012

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

FC NORDSJAELLAND

Hansen

Parkhurst, Okore, Runje, Mtiliga

Stokholm, Adu

Lorentzen, Christensen, John

Nordstrand

JUVENTUS

Buffon

Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini

Pirlo

Isla, Marchisio, Vidal, De Ceglie

Giovinco, Vucinic

Juventus should be bolstered by the return of captain Gianluigi Buffon and forward Mirko Vucinic for Tuesday night's crucial Champions League Group E clash with FC Nordsjaelland.

Buffon sat out Saturday night's Serie A win over title rivals Napoli with a thigh injury picked up on international duty with Italy but is expected to be given the all-clear to return in goal in place of Marco Storari for a game that the Bianconeri simply have to win after successive draws against Chelsea and Shakhtar Donetsk.

Vucinic also missed the top-of-the-table showdown in Turin but he has recovered from the flu virus which laid him low last week and is expected to start up front alongside Sebastian Giovinco, with Fabio Quagliarella dropping to the bench.

However, on the down side for the Italian champions, the game in Copenhagen has come too soon for both Simone Pepe and Paolo De Ceglie, who are also doubtful for this weekend's trip to Catania.

As for the hosts, who have lost their first two games without scoring a single goal, coach Kasper Hjulmand has at least no fresh injury concerns, with his troops having come through last Friday's 3-0 win over Silkeborg unscathed.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Nordsjaelland have never before lined-up against an Italian side in European competition.

• Juventus have taken on Danish opposition just once before, the Bianconeri defeating Hvidovre IF 7-4 on aggregate in the first round of the 1982-83 European Cup.

• The hosts have now gone eight games without a victory in Europe, losing seven of those encounters.

• Andreas Laudrup's father, Michael, netted 16 times in 102 appearances for Juventus.

• Nordsjaelland quartet Nicolai Stokholm, Kasper Lorentzen, Jesper Hansen and Jores Okore were all in the Danish squad beaten by Italy in Milan last weekend. Juventus forward Nicklas Bendtner started up front for the visitors.

• Juventus have yet to taste defeat in any competition so far this season, with their unblemished Serie A record now standing at 47 games, a run which stretches back to the penultimate round of the 2010-11 season.

Head to Head

................................

Last Five Matches

FC Nordsjælland

Oct 2, 2012 - FC Nordsjælland 0 - Chelsea FC 4 - UCL

Sep 19, 2012 - Shakhtar Donetsk 2 - FC Nordsjælland 0 - UCL

Jul 8, 2012 - Twente 2 - FC Nordsjælland 1 - FR

Aug 25, 2011 - Sporting Lisbon 2 - FC Nordsjælland 1 - EL

Aug 18, 2011 - FC Nordsjælland 0 - Sporting Lisbon 0 - EL

JUVENTUS

Oct 20, 2012 - Juventus 2 - SSC Napoli 0 - Serie A

Oct 7, 2012 - Siena 1 - Juventus 2 - Serie A

Oct 2, 2012 - Juventus 1 - Shakhtar Donetsk 1 - UCL

Sep 29, 2012 - Juventus 4 - Roma 1 - Serie A

Sep 25, 2012 - Fiorentina 0 - Juventus 0 - Serie A

Players to Watch

Joshua John

Scoring goals has proven incredibly difficult for FCN in their debut campaign in the Champions League proper, so they could really do with their most reliable marksman, Joshua John, carrying over his scintillating domestic form into European competition. That will be easier said than done, of course, but the on-loan Twente attacker, who has netted eight times in nine Danish Superliga appearances since arriving in Farum during the summer, showed enough against the Blues last time out to suggest that he belongs at this level.

Arturo Vidal

The all-action Chile international was strangely out of sorts in Saturday's crunch clash with Napoli and his withdrawal midway through the second half came as no surprise. Juventus will need the former Bayer Leverkusen man at his biting best if they are to suppress what is likely to be a spirited challenge from the home side.

Prediction

The home side are unsurprisingly seen as the whipping boys in Group E, having lost their opening two games. However, Juventus would do well to be very wary of the Danish champions, who caused Shakhtar problems in Donetsk before coming out on the wrong side of an incredibly unjust 4-0 scoreline at home to Chelsea. Still, Juventus received the perfect pick-me-up after some rather patchy performances by deservedly defeating Serie A title rivals Napoli at the weekend. Away win.

Editor's Prediction

FC Nordsjaelland 0 - 2 Juventus

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (3rd leg) - 23-10-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

................

NORDSJAELLAND - JUVENTUS

Parken Stadium - Copenhagen

Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Germany)

Nordsjaelland are a good team, says Claudio Marchisio

The Bianconeri midfielder has given credit to the Danish Champions League

debutants ahead of their Group E clash on Tuesday evening.

Oct 22, 2012

Juventus' Claudio Marchisio is aware of the difficulties his side could face when travelling to Denmark to play against Nordsjaelland for their next Champions League fixture.

The 26-year-old told reporters at a press conference leading into the game that despite The Old Lady being clear favourites, he believes that the Danish underdogs could pose a threat to his team's European plans.

"Nordsjaelland are a good team. They have players with international experience," he warned.

The Italy international then went on to explain the challenge of facing lesser-known opposition in an international context, detailing how domestic matches can differ greatly to European games.

"For us, winning in Italy is all too easy because we know all of the other clubs very well. In Europe, it is difficult to win every match.

"But now we have to win to continue our European tournament," he concluded.

Juventus take on Nordsjaelland on Tuesday evening at 20:45CET.

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (3rd leg) - 23-10-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

................

NORDSJAELLAND - JUVENTUS

Parken Stadium - Copenhagen

Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Germany)

Nordsjælland vs. Juventus PREVIEW –

Danish New Boys vs. Determined Old Lady

Oct 22, 2012

Tuesday night will see the Old Lady of Italian football have a first date with some humble Danish “Wild Tigers” and, while confidence will be soaring following the 2-0 victory over Napoli on Saturday, three vital Champions League points are absolutely essential for Juventus. After two draws against Chelsea and vs. Shakhtar the Bianconeri can ill afford to slip up in Scandinavia.

In terms of stature in the footballing landscape, it’s hard to imagine two sides farther removed from each other than FC Nordsjælland (pronounced: “Norshelland”) and Juventus. Turin’s Vecchia Signora is a storied and hugely successful club, domestically as well as internationally, and a member of the absolute world elite (a historical fact that even the tumultuous events of the last six years have not altered).

FC Nordsjælland (or simply FCN, as they’re often called in Denmark) on the other hand, is a very new club indeed, the current name having only been in use since 2003 (they were previously known as Farum, a town in the northeast of the island of Zealand from which the Tigers hail). Indeed, the club never tasted Danish top-tier football before the 2002-03 season, and while they have stayed up ever since, it wasn’t until 2010 that FCN won their first trophy, the Danish Cup. Successfully defending their Landspokalturneringen (Yup, that’s how the cup’s called — Ed.) title the following season, the meteoric rise of the once unknown provincials was completed in 2012 when they won the Danish Superliga a mere twelve years after the club introduced professional football!

In many ways this match is a duel between opposites, for even though the common denominator is that both won their domestic championships last season, for the Danes this was a unique feat in the history of the club whereas for the Bianconeri, a Scudetto was more a case of “normality restored”. This fixture thus pits UEFA Champions League debutantes against seven-time finalists of said tournament; Italian pedigree against Danish pluckiness. There was only ever going to be one favourite going into this match.

But while there is every reason to think Juve can live up to the billing, this encounter is vital for their chances to proceed from the group stage, especially after their home draw against Shakhtar Donetsk. The Bianconeri quite simply NEED to get six points from the coming two games against FC Nordsjælland – and that kind of urgency comes with its own type of pressure, no matter the level of the opposition…

FC Nordsjælland

That FCN are reigning champions of the Danish league is still a bit of an enigma for many people domestically. Not so much because of the team itself — which plays an uncompromising and enjoyable brand of football under highly rated coach Kasper Hjulmand — but more so because FC Copenhagen (the dominant force of Danish football in recent years) failed to win the title, something which everyone agreed was there for the taking (and that in the very first season where a championship resulted in direct qualification for the UCL).

But one club’s loss is another club’s gain, and FCN are naturally relishing the chance to compete with Europe’s finest. The fact that they are there at all speaks volumes of how far you can go with a coherent vision, a settled game plan and inspirational coaches (any of that sound familiar, Juventini?). For while is was a surprise that the club performed that well last season, there was no doubt that the solid, possession-based and attacking system developed at FC Nordsjælland over the last few seasons had the potential to come good.

Like their (much) more illustrious counterparts Barcelona (and in many ways, Juventus too), the recent success of the Tigers is built first and foremost on a system or even a philosophy of football, which has been implemented and matured with great care. The club’s explicit values of “Team Spirit, Courage, Dedication and Joy” have resonated around the team, and coupled with some shrewd breeding and buying of the right types of individuals to function within it, the “vision” of FC Nordsjælland culminated last season.

The big question since then of course was whether or not this model could make it against the elite teams of Europe. The answer has, so far, been a rather emphatic “no”. For while the Danes have some European experience (including being only narrowly beat to the Europa league group stage by Sporting Lisbon two years in a row), the basic difference in level of experience – and not least, sheer quality – has so far shone through in their two previous UCL outings. For while FCN stayed true to their possession-based style and saw plenty of the ball, both in Donetsk and at home vs. Chelsea, the results speak for themselves: two defeats and a goal difference of 0-6.

The Tigers will of course hope that the first two results were down to inexperience, namely the team’s need to bed in and get used to the pace and the ferocity of the Champions League, but one has to wonder whether these results are not simply caused by the general chasm in quality between a good and talented group of individuals — most notably Okore, Mtiliga, Stokholm, Nordstrand, and of course young (even if he is mostly used as a sub still) Andreas Laudrup, son of former Barça, Real Madrid, and more importantly Juventus icon Michael — and the truly great and proven squads of their group opponents. It should also be noted that FCN parted with one of their best assets this summer, in shape of central defender Andrea Bjelland, whose absence has been clearly felt in the opening stages of this season, both in the league and in Europe.

It shall be interesting to see whether FC Nordsjælland intend to persevere with their traditional game plan against Juventus, or if the two defeats early on have forced coach Hjulmand to opt for a more cautious/cynical approach when facing the Italian Champions in Copenhagen (due to the limited capacity of the their home ground in Farum, Nordsjælland play their Champions League matches at Parken Stadium in the Danish capital).

NORDSJæLLAND (4-2-3-1)

Hansen

Parkhurst, Okore, Runje, Mtiliga

E.Adu, Stokholm

Lorentzen, S.Christensen, John

Beckmann

BENCH: Villadsen, A.Christiansen, Nordstrand, Gundelach, A.Laudrup, Ticinovic, Petry

Starting %: S.Christensen 55-45% Nordstrand

Injured: -

Suspended: -

Other: D.Jensen, Kildentoft, K.Issah, Lawan, Sise

Juventus

Two of the main concerns for Antonio Conte’s men this season was how they performed following international breaks, and in what way their form would be affected by playing in Europe’s elite competition all while attempting to sustain a successful Scudetto defence. There appears to be no problem with the latter, a combination of the squad having such incredible belief in its own ability – witness the ease with which substitutes Martín Cáceres and Paul Pogba slipped into the side against Napoli – but the former is quickly becoming a far more pressing issue.

Stretching back to Gigi Delneri’s ill-fated UEFA Europa League run, la vecchia Signora now holds the dubious record of having drawn 8 consecutive continental matches but that simply must end here, if Juve are to hold any hope of progressing beyond the Group Stage. As Chelsea and Shakhtar go head-to-head twice, Juve have a real opportunity to put six points on the board against what is undoubtedly the weakest side they will face this term. [insert own joke about Zeman’s Roma here!]

Conte will most likely continue with the 3-5-2 formation that has served the side so well thus far and is perhaps unlikely to rotate too many players, so vital it is to win here. Pogba and Cáceres may well be given starts, in-keeping with mister Conte’s habit of rewarding those who perform well but, those two aside, we are most likely to see the strongest XI possible come kick-off time. This should include returning Gigi Buffon and Mirko Vucinic, but however not Kwadwo Asamoah (who picked up a slightly ankle knock Saturday) and Stephan Lichtsteiner (suffering from over-exertion) who are not part of the call-up list.

The game may also see some playing time for Eljero Elia… erm sorry, Nicklas Bendtner as he was in good goal scoring form for the national team last week and has been performing well in training according to the club propaganda machine. If that all sounds eerily familiar to you then don’t worry, you are not alone!

Of course it is a match riddled with all those footballing clichés about guarding against complacency, over-confidence and not underestimating the opposition in the quintessential ‘must-win game’. However, this is one match where supporters everywhere (even Danes who have inexplicably chosen this moment to leave their homeland and travel to North America… cough*LARS*cough) will want to tune in and see a convincing performance. One that simply says to the rest of Europe…

We are back…

We are serious…

WE ARE JUVENTUS!

JUVENTUS (3-5-2)

Buffon

Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini

Cáceres, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Giaccherini

Giovinco, Vucinic

BENCH: Storari, Lúcio, Marrone, De Ceglie, Pogba, Matri, Bendtner

Starting %: Giaccherini 60-40% De Ceglie, Vidal 55-45% Pogba, Giovinco 70-30% Bendtner

Injured: Lichtsteiner (matchday #9), Asamoah (#9), Pepe (#9)

Suspended: -

Other: Rubinho, Padoin, Isla, Quagliarella, Iaquinta

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (3rd leg) - 23-10-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

................

NORDSJAELLAND - JUVENTUS

Parken Stadium - Copenhagen

Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Germany)

Champions League Preview:

Juventus vs. FC Nordsjælland — Danish Treat

Oct 22, 2012

For all the winning Juventus has done this season, there seems to be one thing missing. No, no, It's not Antonio Conte celebrating on the sidelines after every goal — although I do miss that guy running up and down the sideline like a complete mad man sometimes.

Hint: It involves the competition that Juventus are playing in tomorrow.

If you guessed "Champions League win" then you can come on down and collect your very own prize!

(Black & White & Read All Over doesn't actually give out prizes.)

For the next two European games, Juventus have the chance to play the bottom feeders of Group E. And, at the same time, Chelsea and Shakhtar will basically beat each all to hell. Or that's the hope, at least. The first one, obviously, is in Denmark in 24 hours time. The next, in two weeks, is the return leg at Juventus Stadium.

So, with the squad already touching down in Copenhagen, we say one word: AVANTI!

GOOD NEWS

The best part about Saturday's 2-0 win over Napoli wasn't just the fact that Juve battled for two late goals, but also how they didn't show any kind of drop off from the international break. Obviously a lot of it had to do with the fact just about everybody was off with their respective national teams, but still. The fact that they came out against a very difficult side and won was fantastic.

Now let's just hope they can continue playing like that for an extended period of time instead of throwing in a complete clunker like they did the last time the Champions League was on the schedule.

BAD NEWS

I know absolutely nothing about tomorrow's opposition other than the fact that they're from Denmark. What does that say about me? Well, you can probably guess that the amount of Danish Superliga games I've ever watched can be counted on one hand — that is also missing a few fingers.

So, for info regarding Nordsjælland, I direct you to the JuventiKnows match preview written, unsurprisingly, by their resident Danish football correspondent.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

1. How much squad rotation there will be. Because, well, let's face it. Nordsjælland isn't going to be the toughest team Juventus play in the next month or so. I know it's the Champions League and you should never take any of your opponents lightly. But a little squad rotation against a team that Juventus should beat never hurt anybody.

2. How Juventus starts the game. This is the kind of game where you want things settled fast and have nothing waiting to be settled going into the final 30 minutes or so. Well, that's at least the way I think of it. Juventus should — and hopefully will — show that they're the better team early, take the lead, put the game away, and then cruise the rest of the way.

There's the blueprint, fellas. Go ahead and follow it as close as you'd like.

3. Starting strikers. Why? Because we do it every goddamn week, nerds. Mirko Vucinic said he's good to go on Facebook as the team left for Denmark on Monday, so it'll be interesting to see whether he starts from the bench or is on the field when the opening whistle sounds. Sebastian Giovinco is coming off a damn good game against Napoli over the weekend, so I'd expect to see him start. Other than that, it's really totally up in the air.

4. The right-wing battle. (And no, this has nothing to do with who I'm voting for President next week.) With Stephen Lichtsteiner not being included in the 22-man squad that departed for Denmark, it's a two-man race for who's starting on the right wing against Nordsjælland. It would make sense if Martin Caceres is picked because he has been the second stringer on the right for pretty much the entire season thus far. However, this would be a great chance for Mauricio Isla to get a start against a side where he could get some confidence going.

5. How San Gigi is looking. Not his outfit, which will be awesome as always, but the condition he is in after missing Napoli over the weekend. He presumably is completely healthy since he is back in the squad and hopefully he doesn't have much work to do on Tuesday.

6. The final result of Chelsea-Shakhtar because, well, it's pretty damn important.

My starting XI (3-5-2): Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Isla, Vidal, Pogba, Marchisio, De Ceglie; Vucinic, Giovinco

[Socrates 8329]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (3rd leg) - 23-10-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

................

NORDSJAELLAND - JUVENTUS

Parken Stadium - Copenhagen

Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Germany)

Excited Hjulmand relishing Juventus test

Kasper Hjulmand says FC Nordsjælland are looking forward to two-time European champions

Juventus's visit "like it is Christmas Eve", with both teams seeking a first Group E win.

Oct 22, 2012

FC Nordsjælland coach Kasper Hjulmand compared himself to a child at Christmas as he spoke of his club's excitement at hosting Juventus on Tuesday. "We are looking forward to this match like it's Christmas Eve," said Hjulmand, who did not disguise his admiration for Juventus and Andrea Pirlo, in particular, but stressed that his team still "have a chance" of taking their first Group E points.

Nordsjælland Coach Kasper Hjulmand

Juventus are a fantastic team. They have not lost in 47 league matches and are also undefeated in the Champions League this season. Juventus coach Antonio Conte has created a side with a superb team spirit. Everybody works extremely hard and knows exactly what to do.

The team is the star. Andrea Pirlo is the key, though, as his distribution is second to none. He is a joy to watch – at least when you are not up against him. I am not the first coach to try to find a way to close Pirlo down. It is an almost impossible task.

If we can improve as much for this match as we did between our first game at Shakhtar Donetsk and the one against Chelsea, we have a chance. We did a lot of things right against Chelsea. Juventus do not give many chances away so we have to be clinical in front of goal. I rate Juventus as one of the best teams in the world right now, but we believe we can surprise them if we give our all. We are looking forward to this match like it is Christmas Eve.

Weekend result

Friday: Nordsjælland 3-0 Silkeborg IF(Nordstrand 72, Okore 75, Laudrup 80)

Hansen; Gundelach (Parkhurst 73) Okore, Stokholm, Mtiliga; Petry (Issah 63) Adu; Christensen, Lorentzen, John; Nordstrand (Laudrup 73).

• Morten Nordstrand scored his 50th Superliga goal on Friday. Nordsjælland have lost just one of their last 14 home games – the 4-0 defeat by Chelsea FC on matchday two.

Team news

Ivan Runje and Mikkel Beckmann are doubts for the game following tests during training on Monday.

Juventus Assistant coach Angelo Alessio

I have plenty of experience and a good feeling, so I am not worried that Antonio Conte is not here for this match. We have respect for FC Nordsjælland, but we acknowledge that we are the favourites and have a good chance to pick up three points. Chelsea scored three of their four goals here very late in the match, so we know it is not going to be easy for us. Nordsjælland have been playing some fine football.

We will assess the squad after our training session at the stadium and then decide who is going to play. Conte decides who plays depending on the tactical outlay and the opponents we face. We have five forwards in the squad so it is not certain that Nicklas Bendtner will feature.

Weekend result

Saturday: Juventus 2-0 SSC Napoli (Cáceres 80, Pogba 82)

Storari; Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli; Lichtsteiner, Vidal (Pogba 76), Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah (Cáceres 78) ; Giovinco, Quagliarella (Matri 60).

• Paul Pogba scored his first goal for the club as the Bianconeri extended their undefeated run to 47 Serie A games, since a 1-0 defeat at Parma FC on 15 May 2011. Fabio Capello's AC Milan set the Italian top-flight record of 58 matches without defeat between 1991 and 1993.

Team news

Gianluigi Buffon (thigh) and Mirko Vučinić (flu) are back in contention after missing the Napoli game, while Kwadwo Asamoah (ankle) and Stephan Lichtsteiner (fatigue) have stayed in Turin. Simone Pepe is out.

Match fact

Michael Laudrup, father of Nordsjælland forward Andreas, was on Juventus's books between 1983 and 1989, scoring 16 goals in 102 games.