JUVENTUS SEASON 2024-2025

[Socrates 8516]

[Socrates 8516]

[Socrates 8516]

[Socrates 8516]

Juventus avenge Super Cup defeat and return to winning against AC Milan

 

 

Juventus secured a 2–0 win against AC Milan this evening as they finally returned to winning ways.

 

Having been beaten by Milan the last time the two teams met, Juventus were in no mood to start slowly and showed intent from the opening exchanges.

 

Thiago Motta’s men strung together some impressive passes as they looked to take an early lead, with Samuel Mbangula particularly standing out. ............

 

Despite their dominance, Milan seemed content to defend and wait for opportunities to counter-attack, and the first half ended goalless.

 

Motta made a change at the start of the second half, bringing on Tim Weah for Kenan Yildiz, and the American nearly broke the deadlock minutes later, only to be thwarted by another excellent save from Maignan.

 

However, the lively Mbangula gave Juventus the lead shortly after, as his deflected shot wrong-footed Maignan.

 

The Bianconeri doubled their advantage five minutes later when Weah found the net following a brilliant pass from Khephren Thuram. From there, Juve had to prove they could maintain their lead. ............

Milan fought hard to get back into the game, but Juventus held firm and saw out the win, delivering a performance full of intensity and control.

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-avenge-super-cup-defeat-and-return-to-winning-against-ac-milan/

[Socrates 8516]

Player Ratings: Juventus 2-0 Milan – Mbangula steals the show

 

 

Samuel Mbangula is Football Italia’s MVP in Juventus’ 2-0 win over Milan. ............

 

Mbangula broke the deadlock at minute 49 when Emerson Royal deflected his shot from inside the box.

 

Timothy Weah, who had replaced the injured Kenan Yildiz during the half-time break, doubled Juventus’ lead five minutes later. ............

 

Player Ratings

Juventus: Di Gregorio 6; Cambiaso 6.5, Gatti 7, Kalulu 7, McKennie 6.5; Locatelli 7, K Thuram 7.5 (83′ Fagioli N/A); Yildiz 6 (46′ Weah 7.5), Koopmeiners 6.5 (75′ Douglas Luiz 6), Mbangula 8; Nico Gonzalez 6.5 (83′ Vlahovic N/A). Coach: Motta 7.

 

Best Juventus player: Mbangula 8 – His pace down the flank already caused trouble for Milan in the first half. The goal after the break, his third one this season, was the icing on the cake. He recovered the ball in the build-up to Juventus’ second goal. He received a deserved standing ovation when he was subbed off.

 

Juventus coach: Motta 7 – Another step forward after a positive performance against Atalanta on Tuesday. There are still issues to be fixed as Milan could have scored twice in the first half, but the second-half performance was convincing and, most importantly, produced a win that Juventus had been missing since December 22.

 

Milan: Maignan 6.5; Emerson Royal 5 (74′ Camarda N/A), Tomori 5, Gabbia 5.5, Theo Hernandez 5.5; Bennacer 5.5 (63′ Jimenez 5), Fofana 5; Musah 5, Reijnders 5.5 (80′ Terracciano N/A), Leao 5; Abraham 5 (80′ Jovic N/A). Coach: Conceiçao 5.

 

Best Milan player: Maignan 6,5 –  ............

 

Lowest Milan rating: Emerson Royal 5 –  ............

 

Milan coach: Conceiçao 5 –  ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-2-0-milan-ratings-mbangula-show/

 

Modificato January 18 da Socrates

[Socrates 8516]

Thiago Motta: “We Work Every Day for This – Mbangula Is Helping Us a Lot.”

 

 

Juventus secured a crucial 2-0 victory against AC Milan at the Allianz Stadium, marking a significant moment for the team and their coach, Thiago Motta. The win was highlighted by goals from Samuel Mbangula and Timothy Weah, helping Juventus reclaim momentum in their pursuit of a top-four finish in Serie A.

 

After experiencing three consecutive draws, Juventus were eager to return to winning ways. The match saw them take control in the second half, scoring both goals within a five-minute span. Mbangula opened the scoring with a fortunate deflected shot that found its way into the net, while Weah doubled the lead shortly after, showcasing his skill and composure in front of goal.

 

Following the match, Motta expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance. “We work every day to win, every training session counts,” he stated. “It takes a lot of effort to perform like we did today. I’m grateful to my players, who are growing and delivering performances like this.” ............

 

“Today we played with great quality,” he noted. “Psychologically, this helps because opponents see they are facing a team that plays well.” ............

 

“Aside from the goal, Mbangula is a player who helps us tremendously in all situations of play,” Motta remarked. “He is always available and has never been out of the team. Whenever he participates, he contributes significantly.” ............

 

“We wanted to be aggressive and limit Maignan’s comfort with the ball at his feet because he often finds free players,” Motta explained. “The boys did very well, and I’m pleased with how it turned out.”

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Read more -> https://www.footitalia.com/thiago-motta-we-work-every-day-for-this-mbangula-is-helping-us-a-lot/

[Socrates 8516]

Juventus player ratings v AC Milan – Youngster gets top mark

 

 

Michele di Gregorio – 8.0
 ............

Weston McKennie – 7.0
Deployed at right-back, McKennie did a fine job of limiting Rafael Leão’s impact and gave him little space to operate.

Federico Gatti – 7.5
Gatti handled the challenge of Tammy Abraham well and even pushed forward when the opportunity arose.

Pierre Kalulu – 7.5
Facing his parent club, Kalulu delivered a solid performance, showcasing his composure and defensive ability.

Andrea Cambiaso – 7.0
 ............

Khephren Thuram – 7.5
Thuram continues to grow in importance for Juventus. His excellent assist for Timothy Weah’s goal underlined his quality.

Manuel Locatelli – 8.0
Locatelli thrives in big games, and this match was no exception. His commanding performance hinted at his potential as a future captain.

Samuel Mbangula – 8.5
The standout performer for Juventus on the night, Mbangula was a constant threat and outshone Kenan Yildiz with his attacking play.

Teun Koopmeiners – 7.5
Another assured display from Koopmeiners, who helped control possession and came close to scoring with a spectacular effort.

Kenan Yildiz – 7.5
 ............

Nicolas Gonzalez – 7.5
 ............

 

Substitutes

 

Timothy Weah – 8.0
The very definition of a super-sub, Weah made an instant impact with a well-taken goal.

Douglas Luiz – 6.0

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

Dušan Vlahović – N/A
 ............

Nicolò Fagioli – N/A
 ............

Vasilije Adžić – N/A

 ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-player-ratings-v-ac-milan-youngster-gets-top-mark/

[Socrates 8516]

Yildiz injury update after Juventus’ win over Milan

 

 

Thiago Motta says Kenan Yildiz will be assessed after suffering a suspected adductor injury against Milan, but ‘hopefully’ his physical issue is ‘not serious.’

 

The Turkey international was subbed off during the half-time break of Juventus’ 2-0 win over Milan on Saturday. ............

Motta said before the second half that Yildiz had sustained a suspected adductor injury and provided a further update during a post-match press conference. ............

 

“Yildiz was replaced during the break because he felt something in the adductor,” said the Juventus boss.

 

“I didn’t want to take any risk. We’ll assess him; hopefully, it is nothing serious.” ............

“The important thing is to understand our philosophy, and the lads are very smart. It’s not about the number of minutes, but the quality, and everyone did well today.” ............

 

Juventus’ next official match is against Club Brugge in the Champions League on January 21. The next Serie A match is away at Napoli this coming Saturday.

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/yildiz-injury-update-juventus-win-milan/

 

Modificato January 18 da Socrates

[Socrates 8516]

Juventus 2 - AC Milan 0: Initial reaction and random observations

 

For so long, we’ve been waiting for something like this.

 

You got glimpses. You got plenty of frustration and disappointment over these last couple of months as the draws came one after another, too.

 

You saw signs of improvement and intent going forward against Atalanta. On Saturday night, Juventus took things one step further. For the first time in a long time, Juve didn’t just win — they won. with authority.

 

Juventus and Thiago Motta not only got an incredibly much-needed win to end a string of seven draws in their last eight games, but the 2-0 win over AC Milan was very much one of the best performances of this 2024-25 season. ............

 

There was something different from this Juventus side against Milan. A welcome change. An aggressive change, and one that included plenty of punch both going forward as well as simply forcing Milan into the kinds of mistakes that prevented any sort of comeback.

 

Juventus took the lead through Samuel Mbangula — one of the handful of players who wholeheartedly deserved man of the match recognition — and didn’t stop there. Motta’s squad doubled their lead through Timothy Weah all of five minutes after Mbangula’s opener and done what they’ve lacked so many times over the course of this run where they’ve blown lead after lead — actually add on. ............

 

Juve played with bite, they played with purpose and they had a game plan that was executed damn well. They forced Milan into turnovers with their press and, at times, made things just a living hell for a team they had lost to just two weeks ago.

 

It’s one step. It’s nothing to get too carried away about just yet.

 

But after so many draws, so many frustrating nights where you wonder both where things are going and if you can come up with any sort of new way to describe it, it sure is nice to see something different — and in a positive way.

 

I sure as hell hope Juventus don’t go another month without a domestic victory. There are certainly some interesting days ahead both on and off the field as this big month of January rolls on. For now, for one night, I can sit here and feel far from frustrated.

 

That is a nice change. That is a welcome change. And I hope there’s more of it during the second half of the season because all of those damn draws make you feel a certain kind of way.

RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS

• Hey look! It’s Juventus up into fourth place! ............

• Prayer circle for Kenan Yildiz. Let’s hope this muscle injury of his that forced him off at the half is minor and we’re only talking about him potentially missing a very small number of games. I don’t want to think about anything else.
• Although, the way Weah played after coming on for Yildiz certainly made things a little easier, I guess. We don’t want Yildiz to be hurt, but Weah coming on and having that kind of impact certainly played a big role in Juventus’ second-half performance.
• Samuel Mbangula, you’re cool and you can stay.
• It is pretty impressive to see a young player like Mbangula is — he celebrated his 21st birthday on Thursday — bounce back after a relatively quiet run of appearances and now play the way he has the last few weeks. It was always going to be tough to match the way he started his senior career at Juventus, but this is a pretty good way to show that he can be a contributor on this team. ............

• Manuel Locatelli’s passing numbers in the first half were just absurd: 71 touches, 63-of-66 on his passing (95%) and 9-for-10 on the long balls he played. That is just silly stuff. And all done in one half.
• At one point in the first half, Locatelli had more passes into the final third of the field than Milan had as a team. That’s pretty dang impressive on both fronts.
• Overall, this was Locatelli very much in maestro mode. Goodness did he have a great game.
• Same goes for the man who plays alongside of him, Khephren Thuram. Maybe not as good as Locatelli, but definitely up there as one of the better performances from those in Juventus jerseys.
• Teun Koopmeiners had 23 touches in the first half against Atalanta. He had 43 touches in the first half against Milan. Almost like being more involved helps him when it comes to how well he’s playing. ............

• If there were any worries about what might be going on in Andrea Cambiaso’s head with all these rumors about his future going on, he certainly didn’t play like it. That was a quality showing at both ends of the field despite all of the outside noise. ............

• The way Thiago Motta celebrated Mbangula’s opening goal felt like it had a little extra behind it. Understandable considering how this season has gone — especially of late.
• So now we see if Juventus can replicate this kind of play against Club Brugge and then Napoli over the course of the next week. Things certainly get a little more interesting and encouraging if they can do just that.

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Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2025/1/18/24346638/juventus-ac-milan-2025-serie-a-matchday-21-final-score-result-initial-reaction-random-observations

[Socrates 8516]

Motta insists Juventus was the better team and deserved to win

 

Thiago Motta had no doubts that Juventus were the deserved winners in their clash against AC Milan this evening. The Bianconeri controlled much of the game, while AC Milan relied on counter-attacks, a strategy that put Juve under occasional pressure. However, Juventus rose to the challenge and secured a crucial 2-0 victory. ............

 

Despite Milan’s confidence in their ability to replicate their earlier success, Juve delivered a commanding performance. They dominated possession, executed their game plan effectively, and scored twice while maintaining solid defensive organisation. This ensured Milan had no realistic opportunity to stage a comeback.

 

After the match, Thiago Motta praised his team’s performance, highlighting their control throughout the 90 minutes. He said:

 

“We were superior in the first half too. We did better than our opponents throughout the match so tonight’s win is deserved. There are mistakes that we need to improve and correct in the next matches. We were good on the pitch, we played 95 minutes with superiority over our opponents. It’s always a great feeling to win a match against a great team and against an opponent who has great players and a very experienced coach.” ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/motta-insists-juventus-was-the-better-team-and-deserved-to-win/

[Socrates 8516]

Timothy Weah reveals what Motta said to him as he came on

 

Timothy Weah made a significant impact after coming on as a second-half substitute in Juventus’ 2-0 victory over AC Milan this evening. The American forward scored one of the goals, helping to secure a crucial win for the Bianconeri and delighting fans with his performance.

 

Weah replaced Kenan Yildiz at the break, a substitution that surprised some supporters. However, the American seized the opportunity, demonstrating his quality and proving to be a reliable option for manager Thiago Motta. Known for his ability to deliver in important moments, Weah underlined why he is one of the players Motta can trust to make a difference. ............

 

After the game, Weah shared the guidance he received from his manager. He said:

 

“Yes, the coach asked me to make the difference even when I come off the bench. I did it and I’m happy.” ............

 

The American’s impact not only secured three vital points for Juventus but also reinforced the depth and quality of their squad. As the season progresses, performances like these will be essential if Juventus are to achieve their objectives. ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/timothy-weah-reveals-what-motta-said-to-him-as-he-came-on/

[Socrates 8516]

Mottaball unleashed: Juventus dominate AC Milan from start to finish

 

We were told it was coming.

 

We were told that things were slowly coming together. That the players were showing good signs. That the team looked fantastic on the training pitch, and just needed to translate it to match day. That everything would come together and we’d see the kind of flowing football that we saw Thiago Motta conjure at Bologna over the last two years. ............

 

On Saturday night, Mottaball finally arrived. Juve went out against AC Milan and avenged their Supercoppa Italiana crash-out two weeks ago by dominating wire to wire. They harrassed them with an unrelenting press that forced Milan into mistake after mistake. They never let their opponents breathe, often recovering the ball within seconds of losing it.

 

As the game continued, Juve’s grip tightened, and a goal started looking like more and more of an inevitability. It finally came just before the hour mark, and then the cherry on top: they kept going, kept pushing, and added to the lead in just five minutes, putting the game away before they saw the rest of it out, adding the exclamation point of a must-needed clean sheet in a 2-0 win at the Allianz Stadium.

 

It was Juve’s first win since beating Monza on Dec. 23, their first clean sheet since beating Cagliari in the Coppa Italia Round of 16 five days before that, and their first clean sheet in the league since Nov. 23, when these same two teams played out an insipid goalless draw at the San Siro. It was the day things finally came together — hopefully the first of many. ............

 

The match began as if it had been shot out of a cannon. Mbangula attacked the suspect Emerson early, hitting a cross that just flew over Yildiz’s head—then produced a tremendous counterattack that saw Reijnders put a good ball into Leão, but his attempt at a back-heel flick failed to do anything. ............

 

 

The numbers at the end of the half were staggering. Juve had attempted 362 passes to Milan’s 170, and completed them at a 95 percent rate. Locatelli led the way, dropping deep between the center-backs to orchestrate things before moving up to continue to pull strings closer to the box.

 

Yildiz made way for Timothy Weah at the break. The game came out of the half more subdued than it was at the start of the match, but the game rhythm quickly settled back into what it had been before. Juve forced turnovers seemingly every time Milan touched the ball.

 

It started with a nifty exchange on the sideline between McKennie and Koopmeiners. He pushed it upfield to Thuram, who laid it off with his first touch to González. The Argentine feigned a shot before sliding it to the left to Mbangula. The winger looked for one of his far-post curlers, but it deflected off Emerson, wrong-footing Maignan, who could only flail at the ball with his trailing hand while it flew past him. ............

 

 

Right back on the front foot, Juve kept pushing, and within minutes had the second goal that has so often eluded them. Mbangula started the move this time, jumping on a heavy touch by Fofana and allowing Thuram to recover the ball and send Weah screaming down the field. He opened up a shooting lane with a quick twist and then fired across goal past Maignan, who was convinced he’d go near post and was completely rooted to his spot as the ball rolled right past him and into the net. ............

LE PAGELLE

MICHELE DI GREGORIO - 6.5. Had nothing to do in the second half — literally, Milan didn’t record a shot on target in the second period — but made a couple of great saves in the first to keep the game tied and allow Juve to continue executing the game plan without having to force things by playing catchup.

WESTON McKENNIE - 6. ............

FEDERICO GATTI - 7. Made not one, but two clearances off the line in that chaotic sequence in front of the Juve goal at the half-hour mark. Add in two interceptions and a 98.1 percent pass completion rate, and you have a very good day.

PIERRE KALULU - 7. Continued to torment the team that gave up on him, playing solid defense and working to recover possession quickly to snuff out counterattacks. Blocked a pair of shots as well.

ANDREA CAMBIASO - 6.5. ............

MANUEL LOCATELLI - 8. Maybe the best game he’s played at Juventus, ironically coming against the club that raised him. He didn’t have any direct contributions to shots or goals, but the way he orchestrated the team coming out of the press was amazing. He completed 12 of 15 long balls, added in a pair of tackles, and made the block on that early corner kick play by Reijnders. This is the Locatelli we bought from Sassuolo.

KHEPHREN THURAM - 6.5. ............

KENAN YILDIZ - 6. Had a key pass and completed 94.4 percent of all his passes, including three of three at long-range. His defensive work was a big part of Juve’s early press. But he really should have scored late in the first half. Perhaps the injury that forced him off the field altered how he took it (you could see immediately that that was when he felt it). Feel better soon, Kenan.

TEUN KOOPMEINERS - 6. Led the team with three tackles, which tells you just how far forward Juve was forcing Milan to make mistakes. He also led the team in shots, but put just one of four on target. It was far from his worst, but he’s still not quite at his best.

SAMUEL MBANGULA - 8. He’s started to really take off. He was a constant threat, especially against the substandard defending of Emerson Royal. His goal got help from the deflection, but I’m not 100 percent convinced that the shot he intended to take would have missed. Active without the ball as well, including winning the ball that Thuram and Weah turned into the second goal.

NICO GONZÁLEZ - 6.5. ............

SUBS

TIMOTHY WEAH - 7.5. He was a huge threat the moment he stepped onto the pitch. Forced Maignan into a save early, then took his goal beautifully, keeping the Milan keeper rooted to his spot. His defensive work shouldn’t go unnoticed either — two tackles, two interceptions, and a clearance.

DOUGLAS LUIZ - 6. ............

DUSAN VLAHOVIC - NR. ............

 

NICOLÒ FAGIOLI - NR. ............

VASILIJE ADZIC - NR. ............

MANAGER ANALYSIS

This was what it was all building up to. This was Mottaball.

 

Everything we’d been expecting to see, everything we’d been assured we would eventually see, blossomed in this game. The ferocious press that gave Milan absolutely no time to breathe and completely discombobulated them to the point that they could barely complete simple tasks on the field. Winning the ball upfield to have a shorter line of attack. The quick passes and off-ball movement pulling defenses apart. The desire to kill games quickly instead of backing off to defend after scoring. All the things we saw his Bologna do that made him so sought-after in the first place were on full display at the Allianz.

 

There has been a lot of talk recently about discontent in the locker room, and that Motta’s support among the players may have been slipping. Clearly, that isn’t the case. A team can’t put their coach’s plans together and execute them so comprehensively if they’re at loggerheads. Motta has been building to this, and though the fits and starts have been frustrating, the end result—at least for tonight—is glorious.

 

Now comes the harder part: he has to keep doing it. As wonderful as Saturday night was, it ultimately won’t mean much if it’s a one-off. Motta needs to keep the team on this trajectory, to make games like this the norm, not the exception. A hot run of form could catapult this team into a comfortable top-four finish and perhaps even set themselves up for a true title challenge next season.

 

The foundation has finally been laid. Now it’s time to start building the house.

LOOKING AHEAD

Juve’s job doesn’t get any easier over the next few weeks. Juve starts the home stretch in the league phase of the Champions League on Tuesday on the road against Club Brugge, then visit league leaders Napoli (barf) and host Benfica in the league phase finale before coming to a softer landing against Empoli at home and Como away.

 

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Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2025/1/19/24346826/juventus-ac-milan-2025-serie-a-matchday-21-final-score-result-match-recap-analysis-thiago-motta

[Socrates 8516]

The latest updates on Yildiz, McKennie & Conceicao ahead of Brugge trip

 

In the penultimate matchday of the Champions League group stage, Juventus will take on Club Brugge away from home.

 

The Bianconeri are coming off a morale-boosting victory over Milan on Saturday, but the outcome also entailed two injury concerns, as Kenan Yildiz and Weston McKennie both picked up knocks during the contest.

 

The Turkiye international had sustained an adductor problem while attempting a shot on Mike Maignan’s goal late in the first half. ............

 

The 19-year-old is still expected to show up at the J|Medical Centre to undergo the necessary tests on Monday. He will also be evaluated by Thiago Motta and the technical staff to find out whether he can pull off an immediate return to action and join the trip to Brugge.

 

McKennie is also in the same boat after suffering a strain during the clash against the Rossoneri on Sunday. ............

 

Finally, the source reveals that Francisco Conceicao continued to work separately on Sunday, but he’ll be hoping to pick up the pace and rejoin his teammate in group training to earn himself a spot in the squad. ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/the-latest-updates-on-yildiz-mckennie-conceicao-ahead-of-brugge-trip/

[Socrates 8516]

Preview: Club Brugge vs. Juventus - prediction, team news, lineups

 

Both hoping to sneak inside the all-important top eight, Club Brugge and Juventus convene at Jan Breydelstadion on Tuesday evening, as the Champions League makes its return.

 

As the inaugural league phase approaches its conclusion, both sides are just outside the automatic qualification places, with Juve holding a one-point advantage over the Belgian champions.

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Match preview

Unbeaten in 18 games across all competitions, having won 15, Club Brugge resume their Champions League campaign in sparkling form, knowing that another victory in midweek would secure at least a place in the playoffs. ............

 

All four meetings between Club Brugge and Juventus to date have come in UEFA's top club tournament, with the Serie A side winning three times so far - though they lost on aggregate in the 1978 European Cup semi-finals. ............

 

Like Tuesday's hosts, the Turin giants have proven tough to beat this season, and they are still undefeated in Italy's top flight after a 2-0 win over Milan at the weekend: Timothy Weah and rising star Samuel Mbangula both scored after the break to quickly avenge Juve's recent defeat in the Supercoppa Italiana.

 

That result came as a huge relief for under-fire coach Thiago Motta, whose team have drawn over half of their 29 games across all competitions, letting leads slip on no fewer than seven occasions.

 

In addition to fluffing an advantage against Milan in the Supercoppa semis, Juventus had also failed to convert from a winning position in all of their previous three league matches - against Fiorentina, city rivals Torino in the Derby della Mole, and then away to Atalanta BC.

 

While the Bianconeri therefore lie 13 points behind Serie A leaders Napoli, they are still well-placed to progress in the Champions League, having signed off for 2024 by beating an ailing Manchester City side 2-0 on home turf.

 

Top scorer Dusan Vlahovic and utility man Weston McKennie both found the net, leaving Motta's men 14th in the league-phase table on 11 points - just two adrift of automatic qualification for the last 16. ............

Team News

 ............

 

Meanwhile, Juventus could give Dusan Vlahovic his first start of 2025, as the Serbian striker appeared as a substitute in Saturday's win over Milan. To date, Vlahovic has been directly involved in eight goals in 12 Champions League appearances.

 

However, Turkish teenager Kenan Yildiz - who has one goal and an assist in this season's league phase - was taken off at half time with an adductor injury, so he could join long-term absentees Arkadiusz Milik, Juan Cabal and Bremer on the sidelines.

 

Thiago Motta hopes to have Francisco Conceicao back in the fold after a four-game layoff, though the tricky winger has hardly been missed, as Club Brugge academy graduate Samuel Mbangula continues to excel in his rookie campaign.

Club Brugge possible starting lineup:
Mignolet; Sabbe, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Onyedika, Jashari; Vetlesen, Vanaken, Skoras; Jutgla

 

Juventus possible starting lineup:
Di Gregorio; McKennie, Kalulu, Gatti, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Gonzalez, Koopmeiners, Mbangula; Vlahovic

 

We say: Club Brugge 1-2 Juventus

Though Juve's first two Champions League goals this season were scored during the first half, all seven since have arrived after the break.

 

They also struck twice during the second half against Milan last time out, so even if Club Brugge go in front, the Bianconeri can fight back and claim maximum points.

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Read more -> https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/club-brugge/champions-league/preview/preview-brugge-vs-juventus-prediction-team-news-lineups_563341.html

[Socrates 8516]

Triple boost for Thiago Motta as Juventus trio resume training ahead of Champions League clash

 

Juventus coach Thiago Motta will be able to rely on Kenan Yildiz, Weston McKennie and Francisco Conceicao in tomorrow’s Champions League contest.

 

The Bianconeri held their breath when Yildiz suffered an injury scare during Saturday’s contest against Milan. The Turkish was seen clutching his leg in agony after aiming a shot at Mike Maignan’s goal towards the end of the first half. ............

 

Yildiz avoided any muscular injuries, and was already spotted in training on Monday. Therefore the attacker should join the travelling party that will head to Belgium to take on Club Brugge. The two clubs will lock horns on Tuesday night in the penultimate matchday of the Champions League group stage.

 

Similar to Yildiz, McKennie has also overcome a problem he sustained against Milan to resume training alongside his teammates. ............

 

Moreover, Conceicao has finally shrugged off his muscle problem to return to group training. The Portuguese winger suffered a knock while warming up ahead of the semi-final of the Italian Super Cup a few weeks back.

In addition to these injury boosts, Motta also welcomed Randal Kolo Muani to the fold for the first time. ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/triple-boost-for-thiago-motta-as-juventus-trio-resume-training-ahead-of-champions-league-clash/

[Socrates 8516]

Champions League - Club Brugge v Juventus: Match Preview

 

As the UEFA Champions League league phase nears its conclusion, Club Brugge and Juventus prepare for a crucial encounter at the Jan Breydelstadion on Tuesday evening. Both teams are vying for a coveted top-eight finish, with Juventus currently holding a slim one-point advantage over the Belgian champions.

 

Club Brugge enter this match riding an extraordinary 18-game unbeaten streak across all competitions, with 15 victories to their name. The Blauw-Zwart have been a force to be reckoned with, finding the net in 29 of their last 30 matches. ............

 

Juventus, while undefeated in Serie A, have struggled with consistency. The Turin giants have drawn over half of their 29 games across all competitions, often squandering leads. However, their recent 2-0 victory over AC Milan, with goals from Timothy Weah and rising star Samuel Mbangula, has injected new life into their campaign.

 

In the Champions League, Juventus sit 14th in the league-phase table with 11 points, just two shy of automatic qualification for the last 16. Their last European outing saw them overcome Manchester City 2-0, with top scorer Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie finding the net.

 

The history between these two clubs in European competition is limited but intriguing. All four previous meetings have occurred in UEFA’s top club tournament, with Juventus winning three. However, Club Brugge emerged victorious on aggregate in the 1978 European Cup semi-finals, adding an element of historical revenge to this encounter.

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Team News

 ............

 

For Juventus, Dusan Vlahovic could make his first start of 2025. However, Turkish teenager Kenan Yildiz is doubtful after sustaining an adductor injury. Thiago Motta hopes to have Francisco Conceicao back in contention, though Samuel Mbangula’s excellent form may keep him in the starting lineup.

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Expected Starting XIs

Club Brugge: Mignolet; Sabbe, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Onyedika, Jashari; Vetlesen, Vanaken, Skoras; Jutgla

 

Juventus: Di Gregorio; McKennie, Kalulu, Gatti, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Gonzalez, Koopmeiners, Mbangula; Vlahovic

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Match Prediction

While Club Brugge’s home form and recent goal-scoring record are impressive, Juventus has shown a knack for second-half comebacks in the Champions League this season. The Italian side’s experience in high-stakes European fixtures could prove crucial. Expect a closely contested match with Juventus potentially edging out a 2-1 victory, dealing a blow to Club Brugge’s top-eight aspirations while boosting their own chances of automatic qualification.

 

Prediction: Club Brugge 1-2 Juventus

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Read more -> https://www.footitalia.com/champions-league-club-brugge-v-juventus-match-preview/

[Socrates 8516]

Club Brugge vs Juventus: Preview and Prediction

 

Club Brugge and Juventus will aim to break into the top eight of the UEFA Champions League standings on Tuesday night.

Club Brugge enter this crucial Champions League clash against Juventus in outstanding form, boasting an 18-match unbeaten streak across all competitions. With 15 wins during this stretch, the Belgian champions are firing on all cylinders and know that a victory on Tuesday would secure them a spot in at least the playoffs. Their prolific attack has been the hallmark of their success, having scored in all but one of their last 30 matches. ............

 

Historically, Brugge have struggled against Italian sides, with Belgium’s last Champions League win over a Serie A team dating back to 2003. However, with a vibrant attack and an unbeaten streak fueling their confidence, Nicky Hayen’s men will aim to change the narrative and continue their charge toward the knockout rounds.

 

Juventus, much like their Belgian counterparts, have been difficult to beat this season. The Serie A giants remain undefeated domestically, and their 2-0 win over AC Milan last weekend served as a much-needed confidence boost for coach Thiago Motta. Goals from Timothy Weah and rising star Samuel Mbangula secured the victory, providing a swift response to their Supercoppa Italiana semifinal disappointment.

 

Despite their domestic consistency, the Bianconeri have been plagued by an inability to hold onto leads, letting advantages slip on several occasions this season. This trend was evident in recent Serie A draws against Fiorentina, Torino, and Atalanta BC, as well as in their Supercoppa loss to Milan.

 

Nevertheless, Juventus have shown flashes of their best in the Champions League. A commanding 2-0 win over Manchester City in their last group-phase match highlighted their potential, with Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie on target.

 

Currently sitting 14th in the group-phase standings with 11 points, Juve must deliver against Brugge to strengthen their hopes of automatic qualification for the knockout stage.

Team News & Tactics

Club Brugge

 ............

 

 

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Mignolet; Sabbe, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Onyedika, Jashari; Vetlesen, Vanaken, Skoras; Jutgla

Juventus

Juventus may be set to hand Dusan Vlahovic his first start of 2025, as the Serbian striker, who has been directly involved in eight goals in 12 Champions League appearances, made a substitute appearance in their victory over AC Milan on Saturday. However, Turkish teenager Kenan Yildiz could miss out after being substituted at half-time against Milan due to an adductor injury.

 

If Yildiz is ruled out, he will join long-term absentees Arkadiusz Milik, Juan Cabal, and Bremer on the sidelines. On a positive note, Thiago Motta could welcome Francisco Conceicao back to the squad after a four-game absence, though the winger’s absence has been mitigated by the excellent form of academy graduate Samuel Mbangula in his debut season.

 

In terms of formation, Juventus are likely to deploy a 4-2-3-1 setup. Michele Di Gregorio will feature as the goalkeeper, protected by a back four consisting of Weston McKennie, Pierre Kalulu, Federico Gatti, and Andrea Cambiaso. Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram are expected to anchor the midfield, offering stability and control.

 

In the advanced roles, Nico Gonzalez, Teun Koopmeiners, and Samuel Mbangula will provide creativity and attacking threat behind the lone striker Dusan Vlahovic, who will lead the line and aim to convert chances into goals.

 

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; McKennie, Kalulu, Gatti, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Gonzalez, Koopmeiners, Mbangula; Vlahovic

Key Stats

• All four meetings between Club Brugge and Juventus have occurred in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League. Juventus have won three of these encounters (W3 L1), including home and away victories the last time they met in the same edition (2-1 away and 1-0 at home in the 2005/06 season).
• Club Brugge won their first three games against Italian sides in major European competitions during the 1975/76 UEFA Cup. However, since then, they have struggled against Italian opposition, managing only two wins in their subsequent 20 fixtures (D6 L12), and they are winless in their last 14 matches against Italian clubs.
• The last time a Belgian team defeated an Italian side in the UEFA Champions League was in October 2003, when Club Brugge edged AC Milan 1-0. Since that win, Italian sides have gone unbeaten in 14 such matches against Belgian clubs, winning 10 and drawing four.
• Club Brugge have won three of their six UEFA Champions League group-stage matches this season (D1 L2). They have only surpassed this tally once, winning five matches in their historic 1977-78 European Cup campaign when they reached the final before losing to Liverpool.
• Juventus have kept clean sheets in each of their last two UEFA Champions League matches. This is an improvement compared to their previous 15 games in the competition, during which they managed only one clean sheet. The last time they kept three consecutive clean sheets in the Champions League was in September/October 2021.

Player to Watch

Teun Koopmeiners

The Dutch midfield maestro has quickly become a pivotal figure in Juventus’s lineup under Thiago Motta. Known for his exceptional vision, passing accuracy, and ability to dictate the tempo of the game, Koopmeiners will be crucial in Juventus’s quest for dominance against Club Brugge. His knack for threading precise through balls and contributing defensively in critical moments makes him an indispensable asset in both halves of the pitch. ............

Prediction

 Club Brugge 1-1 Juventus

This match pits two in-form teams against each other, with both vying for a crucial top-eight finish. Club Brugge’s attacking threat and home advantage make them formidable, while Juventus’s resilience and defensive solidity provide a strong counterpoint.

 

While Brugge have the firepower to trouble Juve, the Bianconeri’s experience and quality in tight European matches could see them eke out a result. Expect a hard-fought battle, with a draw being a likely outcome.

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Read more -> https://thehardtackle.com/round-up/2025/01/21/club-brugge-vs-juventus-preview-and-prediction/

[Socrates 8516]

[Socrates 8516]

Champions League Preview: Club Brugge vs Juventus – Team News, Line-ups & Prediction

 

Brimming with confidence after a derby win against Milan last weekend, Juventus head into the penultimate round of the UEFA Champions League first phase in high spirits. Thiago Motta’s charges travel to the Jan Breydel Stadium to take on Belgian champions Club Brugge in a must-win fixture. ............

 

Juventus stunned perennial Premier League champions Manchester City 2-0 in their last Champions League outing, courtesy of second-half strikes from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie. In doing so, Motta’s men have closed the gap on eighth-placed Lille to only two points with two games to go.

 

As such, anything other than victory in Bruges would effectively rule Juventus out of the race for automatic knockout qualification. However, the hosts will not go down without a fight as they boast a three-point lead on 25th-placed Paris Saint-Germain following a spirited 2-1 home triumph against Sporting CP last time out.

 

Beating Juventus would seal Club Brugge’s playoff berth. Nicky Hayen’s lads head into proceedings in a buoyant mood after a 4-2 home win against domestic rivals Beerschot VA extended their winning streak in all competitions to five matches.

Match Preview

Club Brugge

 ............

 

Juventus

 

Juventus’ win against Pep Guardiola’s side halted their unenviable three-game winless run in the Champions League (D2, L1), eclipsing their scoring tally from those three matches. Moreover, they’ve kept a clean sheet in back-to-back European fixtures, increasing the likelihood of shutting out Brugge’s uneventful frontline.

 

Motta breathed a sigh of relief last Saturday as the win against Milan arrested his side’s four-game winless streak in all competitions (D3, L1). Indeed, it’s been a season of stalemates for Juventus, whose 62% of Serie A matches have ended all square. Furthermore, six of their last seven away games have finished level (W1).

 

That sequence includes draws against Aston Villa and Lille in this competition, with Juventus failing to score from open play on both occasions. However, the record-time Italian champions have broken the deadlock in their last four competitive outings on the road, highlighting the potential for a quick-fire start.

Team News

 ............

 

 

As for Juventus, long-term absentees Arkadiusz Milik, Juan Cabal, and Gleison Bremer remain unavailable for selection. Kenan Yildiz picked up a minor injury against Milan and could surrender his place in the starting XI to Francisco Conceicao, who’s on the verge of returning to the squad.

Club Brugge vs Juventus Potential Starting Line-ups

Club Brugge (6-3-1): Mignolet; Sabbe, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Onyedika, Jashari; Vetlesen, Vanaken, Skoras; Jutgla.

 

Juventus (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; McKennie, Kalulu, Gatti, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Gonzalez, Koopmeiners, Mbangula; Vlahovic.

Club Brugge vs Juventus Prediction

Juventus have only won back-to-back matches three times this season, underscoring a notorious lack of consistency under Motta. Despite not losing away from home since April 2024, ten of their 15 road trips in that sequence have ended level (D5). Therefore, a share of the spoils wouldn’t surprise us.

 

Prediction: Draw

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Read more -> https://cultofcalcio.com/champions-league-preview-club-brugge-vs-juventus-team-news-line-ups-prediction/

[Socrates 8516]

Koopmeiners explains what Juventus expects from Club Brugge

 

Teun Koopmeiners and his Juventus teammates are fully aware of the tough challenge that lies ahead in their upcoming Champions League fixture against Club Brugge. The Bianconeri have travelled to Belgium to face one of the most in-form teams in Europe, and they have the opportunity to bring an end to Brugge’s remarkable unbeaten run.

 

Club Brugge’s impressive form has seen them go unbeaten in their last 18 matches across all competitions, a streak that has turned them into one of the most formidable sides in Europe. ............

 

Despite Juventus being the bigger team on paper, Club Brugge will feel less pressure going into the match, given their outstanding form. Koopmeiners, who has been integral to Juventus’ midfield, knows exactly what to expect from their opponents. As they prepare for the fixture, the midfielder shared his thoughts: “Tomorrow will be a beautiful evening. We want to win, we have to play well and defend aggressively. It will be a difficult match, because Club Brugge is a young team with a lot of energy. They play a lot with the ball and we have to defend compactly. We are confident and we want to win.” ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/koopmeiners-explains-what-juventus-expects-from-club-brugge/

[Socrates 8516]

[Socrates 8516]

[Socrates 8516]

Juventus and Club Brugge share the spoils in Champions League tonight

 

Juventus and Club Brugge shared the spoils in a goalless draw in the Champions League tonight.

 

Juventus knew they were facing a team that had been in fantastic form, and the Belgians made some interesting runs at the start. ............

 

The Bianconeri heeded that threat and began making it hard for their opponents to reach their goal.

 

However, Juve was also struggling to create clear chances in the match as Club Brugge showed why they have been unbeaten for such a long time. ............

 

 

Teun Koopmeiners and Gustaf Nilsson came close to breaking the deadlock for their teams but could not.

 

It wasn’t until the 85th minute that we had a shot on target as Manuel Locatelli forced a terrific save from Simon Mignolet.

 

No other clear-cut chance came, and Juve missed the chance to win another game. 

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-and-club-brugge-share-the-spoils-in-champions-league-tonight/

[Socrates 8516]

Player ratings: Club Brugge 1-1 Juventus – Toothless attack, Locatelli precise

 

Juventus’ second away goalless draw in a row in the Champions League proved enough to earn them a place in the top 24, but the Bianconeri managed a single shot on target against Club Brugge, once again highlighting a worrying attacking sterility.

 

While Thiago Motta’s side also conceded little to the Belgian outfit, they remained goalless in the competition for the third time out of seven fixtures, with the prospect of getting direct access to the round-of-16 via the top eight now extremely unlikely. ............

Club Brugge 0-0 Juventus: player ratings

Juventus: Di Gregorio 6; Savona 6, Gatti 6.5, Kalulu 6, Cambiaso 5.5; Locatelli 6.5, Douglas Luiz 6; Weah 5.5, Koopmeiners 5.5, Mbangula 6.5; Nico Gonzalez 5.5

 

Best Juventus player: Locatelli 6.5 – His contribution looks indispensable to make his side’s play more fluid, but in addition to serving as a midfield metronome, he also tested Mignolet in the closing minutes with one of Juventus’ most dangerous shots of the night. Unfortunately, his teammates up front make little use of his precise ball distribution.

 

Coach: Thiago Motta 5.5 – It looks like Juventus’ attacking struggles keep hindering the team’s potential, especially on nights like these, when the Bianconeri fail to capitalise on their supremacy. While the Old Lady booked a place for the knockout league phase playoffs, their inability to win these kinds of games leaves them with a regret and must be addressed soon if they want to progress in the competition. ............

 

Club Brugge: Mignolet 6.5; Sabbe 6, Ordonez 6.5, Mechele 6.5, De Cuyper 6.5; Onyedika 6, Jashari 6; Talbi 6.5, Vanaken 6.5, Tzolis 5.5; Jutglà 6. Coach: Nicky Hayen 6.5

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/player-ratings-club-brugge-1-1-juventus-tooth/

[Socrates 8516]

Thiago Motta: ‘Juventus need more from the strikers’

 

Thiago Motta had harsh words for Juventus forwards after a dismal 0-0 draw with Club Brugge in the Champions League. ‘We didn’t create enough and I want more from the strikers.’ ............

 

Once again, they dominated possession, but hardly created any real scoring opportunities save for Nico Gonzalez tripping over the ball, a Teun Koopmeiners header wide and save on Manuel Locatelli’s long-range effort.

 

“All the teams who have come here had problems against a side that defends very well and clams up. We didn’t suffer, but we also didn’t create enough to win the match,” Thiago Motta said.

 

“It’s a pity, because we could’ve done better this evening, with all due respect for this team which had in other games scored on the counter-attack and then defended well to avoid letting their opponents back into the match.

 

“They had very few scoring opportunities, they played the entire match waiting for us to make a mistake.” ............

 

“Finally, we are starting to get some players back from injury, above all in attack,” continued Thiago Motta. ............

 

“It is a way of staying balanced, Manu understands the right moment to drop deep or push forward. I want to see more of the strikers, because they have the quality to do it. Samuel tried more today, he was close to the opposition area and tried to cause problems with dribbling, but the other five I mentioned, I want to see more,” added Motta. ............

 

 

“Douglas Luiz is a player with superior technical quality, in good shape physically right now and did very well in recent matches. Everyone will get their opportunity to play, along with Khephren Thuram, Weston McKennie, Nicolò Fagioli, we have a lot of games and this means I can rotate and get the best out of all of them,” concluded Thiago Motta.

 

Juventus have played 29 competitive games this season and drawn 15 of them, winning 12 with only two defeats.

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/thiago-motta-juventus-need-more-from-strikers/