Socrates

Porca miseria Pereyra

Evidentemente non si fida dei componenti della panchina.

Pogba, ragazzo mio, diventerai pallone d'oro quando imparerai a non fare giochetti inutili con il pallone.

Tevez vuole il terzo

Immobile lascia stare vá.

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) HT 2-1: Morata dents Dortmund Feb 24, 2014 Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata have given Juventus a 2-1 half-time lead, but Borussia Dortmund had more possession. This was the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 and the Juventus Stadium was packed out with a huge banner reading: ‘He who dares wins.’ Alvaro Morata was picked to partner Carlos Tevez, while Arturo Vidal returned after injury. Ciro Immobile started against his old club, though he insisted he felt closer to their arch-rivals Torino. Immobile had the first shot after 60 seconds, firing just over the bar from distance. However, Juventus took the lead with a counter-attack, as Roman Weidenfeller only parried a Morata effort a few inches, allowing Tevez to bundle over the line with help from Marcel Schmelzer. It didn’t last long, as Giorgio Chiellini slipped on the turf, allowing Marco Reus to go clear on goal and beat Gigi Buffon. That could prove to be a costly error and meant Reus has scored in each of his last four Champions League appearances. Leo Bonucci nodded over, but a mistimed Paul Pogba tackle put Lukasz Piszczek out of the game after just 32 minutes. Buffon got behind a Nurat Sahin snapshot and there was more bad news for Max Allegri, who lost Andrea Pirlo to a calf injury. Borussia were comfortably more confident as time went on in the first half and had more possession, as that equaliser really seemed to shake up the Old Lady. Nonetheless, Juve took their chances better and went back in front. Tevez spread down the left for Pogba, who rolled across for Morata to side-foot in from six yards with a delicate and precise finish. Juventus 2-1 Borussia Dortmund (Half-Time) Scorers: Tevez 13 (J), Reus 19 (B), Morata 43 (J) Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Marchisio, Pirlo (Pereyra 37), Pogba; Vidal; Tevez, Morata Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller; Piszczek (Ginter 32), Papasthatopoulos, Hummels, Schmelzer; Gündogan, Sahin; Mkhitaryan, Reus, Aubameyang; Immobile Ref: Lahoz (ESP)

Tevez: ‘Pleasure to play with Pirlo’ Feb 24, 2015 Carlos Tevez says it’s a ‘pleasure’ to have Andrea Pirlo as a teammate, but names Paul Scholes as the best he’s played with. The Argentinian striker has given a long interview to El Pais in his homeland where he discussed his upbringing, Juventus and the Champions League. “When I was a child I used to play with pebbles,” Tevez told the publication. “I never collected figurines of players, because I was very poor and I couldn’t afford them. Like all Argentinians I loved Diego [Maradona], but it’s impossible to equal God. “I also really liked [Gabriel] Batistuta, being like him was much more attainable. “I would not change my childhood for anything in the world, it helped me to become a righteous person and know what’s really important in life. “As a child I was afraid of being kidnapped, I lived in the barrio, where crimes and drugs were the norm, and I’ve always had the utmost respect for the police. “I learned by the rules of the street, that taught me how to be a man. School taught me very little, unlike the streets.” Tevez has spent the last two seasons in Turin with Juventus, and says it’s not true that Serie A is weaker than the other top European leagues. “We drew against the team which is second-last in the table [Cesena], it’s not easy for us to win games. “Our opponents get a lot of men behind the ball and it’s very difficult to score. Serie A teams are very tactical, they defend very tightly, with five people or more. “In England you don’t often see a defence with five men in it, the same is true of Spain. Here it’s different, it’s really difficult to score. You have to use your brains.“ "Juve is my second home, they’ve always treated me well, from the President right down, they’ve always made me happy. I’m doing well, and I feel like I’m in peak fitness as you can see from what I do on the field. “Wearing Del Piero’s shirt? It’s a big responsibility, but not particularly for me, because I’ve always felt at home here. “Adapting to Italy was difficult, especially in regard to the training, it’s very different here than in England, Brazil or Argentina. “They’re very professional in Italy, they live for football. In England I’d already be home by 12 [in the afternoon].” The former West Ham United man then discussed the differences between current Coach Massimiliano Allegri, and his predecessor Antonio Conte. “With Allegri, I have more freedom of movement than under Conte. Under the previous Coach, we played with two strikers, in fixed positions and close together," Tevez explained. “Under Allegri we only have a fixed position when we don’t have the ball, but we’re more free to play the way we want to play when we attack. “Conte was demanding, a winner. You couldn’t relax for a second with him, either in training or during the game. “Winning was everything for him, there was nothing else. Allegri is more relaxed, he gives us a rest, especially after a victory. “Conte was already thinking about the next game after a win. “This year, we play differently in the Champions League compared to last year; we’re mentally and physically prepared. “This team is ready to take on anyone. “Borussia? They’re a team with experience, they know these types of situations and how to play these games. “What emotions do I get from football? Everything: joy, sadness, hatred, anger despair… the last time I cried was this summer, when we [Argentina] lost the World Cup [final]. “Playing with Pirlo is such a pleasure, one day I’ll be able to say: ‘I played with Pirlo’. “The best I’ve played with, however, is Paul Scholes.”

ÁLVARO MORATA 2-1

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Marotta: 'Juve season at stake' Feb 24, 2014 Juventus director Beppe Marotta admits they are “gambling the entire season” against Borussia Dortmund. The first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 kicks off tonight in Turin. “This is a game that inevitably brings motivation and excitement,” Marotta told Sky Sport Italia. “The players know that there is an important prize up for grabs. Between the first and second leg, we are gambling the entire season. “Borussia Dortmund rediscovered their real worth recently and I am sure they will play their game. “We have top level players too. They need to find the extra motivation that can further improve their performances.” Arturo Vidal missed Friday’s 2-1 win over Atalanta due to injury, but starts tonight. “Vidal is a warrior and in that sense this could well be his game,” said Marotta.

Scivola Chiellini e pareggia Reus.

Giochiamo noi in casa e segnamo in contropiede. Geniale.

CARLOS TEVEZ 1-0

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Line-ups: Juventus-Borussia Dortmund Feb 24, 2014 Juventus start Carlos Tevez, Alvaro Morata and Arturo Vidal in the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund. It kicks off in Turin at 20.45 CET and is the first leg in the Round of 16. The Bianconeri have always struggled to match their Serie A success in Europe and last season went out in the group stage to Galatasaray. Vidal missed Friday’s 2-1 win over Atalanta due to a muscular problem, but the Chilean is back in the starting XI this evening with Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba. Morata gets the nod in attack alongside ‘Apache’ Tevez. Borussia Dortmund ended 2014 bottom of the Bundesliga, but have since rediscovered their form with three consecutive victories. Even during their worst domestic period, BVB were still hugely impressive in the Champions League and comfortably won their group. Ciro Immobile is the surprise pick to start in attack against his former club, though the ex-Torino Capocannoniere pointed out this week he never really played for the Bianconeri and felt closer to their arch-rivals. Marco Reus is still finding his form after a long injury lay-off, while ex-Genoa defender Sokratis Papasthatopoulos is picked ahead of Neven Subotic. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s extraordinary pace could cause serious problems for an ageing Juve back four. Juve’s unbeaten home run in all competition now stands at 38 wins and eight draws. Borussia Dortmund have faced Juventus seven times and never managed to keep a clean sheet. Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Marchisio, Pirlo, Pogba; Vidal; Tevez, Morata Juventus bench: Storari, Caceres, Ogbonna, Padoin, Pereyra, Coman, Llorente Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Papasthatopoulos, Hummels, Schmelzer, Gündogan, Sahin, Mkhitaryan, Reus, Aubameyang, Immobile Borussia Dortmund bench: Langerak, Ginter, Kirch, Kagawa, Kuba, Kehl, Ramos

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Lichtsteiner to return for Juventus Feb 24, 2014 Juventus have undertaken their final training session ahead of the match with Borussia Dortmund, with Stephan Lichtsteiner set to return. The Swiss right-back was rested for Friday’s win over Atalanta, coming off the bench for 25 minutes, but today’s training session at Juventus Stadium indicates he will return. Coach Massimiliano Allegri looks set to stick with his tried-and-trusted 4-3-1-2 formation, with Alvaro Morata partnering Carlos Tevez up front as expected. Patrice Evra is also set to return to the side, while Arturo Vidal is fit after sitting out the Atalanta game A capacity crowd will take in the action in Turin, with a spectacular fans’ display planned. The Juventus faithful will spell out the words, in English, “’Til The End”, a translation of the Bianconeri’s “fino alla fine” motto. Probable Juventus line-up: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Marchisio, Pirlo, Pogba; Vidal; Tevez, Morata.

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Immobile: ‘Beat Juventus for Torino’ Feb 24, 2014 Borussia Dortmund striker Ciro Immobile says he wants to beat Juventus for Torino and the people of Naples. Born in Torre Annunziata, a suburb of Naples, Immobile played five times for Juventus, but later starred for city rivals Torino. “My friends in Turin, and also the Neapolitans have asked me to beat Juventus.” Corriere dello Sport reports Immobile as saying. Immobile is unlikely to start in tonight's Champions League Last 16 first leg, but may feature from the bench against his former club.

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Lippi: Reus a danger but Juventus still favourites against Dortmund The ex-Juve and Italy coach has talked up the threat posed by BVB's ace attacker but is nonetheless backing the Serie A leaders to triumph in Turin. Feb 24, 2014 By Romeo Agresti Marcello Lippi has warned Juventus that they cannot afford to switch off for a split-second around Borussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus, but the former Bianconeri boss still feels that his old team have what it takes to win their Champions League last-16 tie wth the Bundesliga outfit. Lippi, who is now director of football at Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande, believes Juve could not be in better shape going into Tuesday's first-leg clash in Turin but is nonetheless advising caution. "Mentally, Juventus are in the best condition ever," the 66-year-old told Goal. "They have a nine-point advantage over Roma and we can say that they have no competitors in Serie A. "But I'm sure we’ll see a careful, concentrated, motivated team. Juventus have what it takes to beat Borussia Dortmund – the stadium, the players, the atmosphere. "Football can always confound predictions, but in my opinion Juventus are favourites. Of course, they must treat BVB with respect and prudence." Some bookmakers have Dortmund as favourites for the tie, even though last season's Bundesliga runners-up found themselves in a relegation battle for the first half of their current domestic campaign. They have since turned a corner with three wins in a row, but Lippi does not feel their league form reflected their true ability, and pointed to Reus as a player capable of producing something out of nothing at any moment. "Despite their recent poor form, BVB have regained shape and enthusiasm. They're definitely back to their usual level. Juventus must be careful of their very fast counter-attacks," Lippi added. "They have some good individuals, like Marco Reus who is a very gifted player, able to strike at any time. Juventus should be careful defensively, accurate in possession and play with great pace." Lippi won the Champions League with Juventus in 1996 and claimed the World Cup with Italy 10 years later. He has also triumphed in Asia’s premier club competition, winning the AFC Champions League with Guangzhou in 2013. While something of an expert on titles – 18 at club level and one with the national team – Lippi claimed there was no "recipe" for success, but a series of factors that combine to foster the perfect team. "First of all you need strong players, as they make the difference on the pitch. Then, you need many other things, but in my opinion it makes no sense to talk about a 'recipe'. "The Champions League is a special tournament, but your performance may be influenced by your shape, injuries, suspensions and some luck of course. "Those are the factors that can lead to a UCL triumph. And, of course, you need a mentally and technically strong group first."

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Morata given nod for Dortmund? Feb 24, 2014 Alvaro Morata looks set to start up front for Juventus against Borussia Dortmund tonight, in favour of Fernando Llorente. Carlos Tevez is a certainty to start the Champions League Last 16 tie, and is habitually partnered by Llorente in a “little and large” strike pairing. However, today’s newspapers are all running the line that Alvaro Morata will be preferred to the former Athletic Club man. Tuttosport states that Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri will look to use the striker’s pace to cause problems for the Dortmund defence, with Llorente taking a place on the bench.

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Ottavi di finale - Andata Martedí, 24 Febbraio 2015 - ore 20:45 Juventus Stadium - Torino Arbitro:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spagna) Confronti ufficiali 7 - 3 (Champions League) - 4 (Coppa UEFA) Vittorie Juventus 4 1 (Champions League) - 3 (Coppa UEFA) Pareggi 1 1 (Coppa UEFA) Vittorie Borussia Dortmund 2 - 2 (Champions League) Goals Juventus 15 - 5 (Champions League)- 10 (Coppa UEFA) Goals Borussia Dortmund 10 - 6 (Champions League) - 4 (Coppa UEFA) Juventus - Borussia Dortmund - Champions League a Torino Confronti ufficiali 1 Vittorie Juventus 0 Pareggi 0 Vittorie Borussia Dortmund 1 (Il 22.11.1995, 1-2) Goals Juventus 1 Goals Borussia Dortmund 2 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro il Borussia Dortmund 6 presenze Peruzzi Angelo 5 Carrera Massimo 5 Del Piero Alessandro 5 Di Livio Angelo 4 Baggio Roberto 4 Deschamps Didier Claude 4 Ferrara Ciro 4 Kohler Jurgen 4 Marocchi Giancarlo 4 Porrini Sergio 4 goal Baggio Roberto 3 Baggio Dino 3 Del Piero Alessandro 1 Conte Antonio 1 Kohler Jurgen 1 Moeller Andreas 1 Padovano Michele 1 Porrini Sergio Ultimi confronti diretti 05.05.1993 - Coppa UEFA - Borussia Dortmund-Juventus 1-3 19.05.1993 - Coppa UEFA - Juventus-Borussia Dortmund 3-0 04.04.1995 - Coppa UEFA - Juventus-Borussia Dortmund 2-2 18.04.1995 - Coppa UEFA - Borussia Dortmund-Juventus 1-2 13.09.1995 - Champions League - Borussia Dortmund-Juventus 1-3 22.11.1995 - Champions League - Juventus-Borussia Dortmund 1-2 28.05.1997 - Champions League - Borussia Dortmund-Juventus 3-1 Giocate 7 - Vittorie Juventus 4 - Pareggi 1 - Vittorie Borussia 2 - Goals Juventus 15 - Goals Borussia 10

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Andreas Moller and Lars Ricken: Impossible to call Juventus vs Dortmund The former BVB duo, who combined to score the famous final goal in the 1997 triumph, believe Tuesday's clash between the two sides could go either way. Feb 24, 2014 By Stefan Doring Former Borussia Dortmund midfielders Lars Ricken and Andreas Moller believe that the Bundesliga side's Champions League last-16 clash against Juventus on Tuesday is impossible to call. The encounter in Turin has evoked memories of the Champions League final between the teams from 1997 which ended in a shock 3-1 victory for Dortmund. It was Ricken who grabbed the headlines that night, emerging from the bench on 70 minutes and scoring BVB's third goal just 16 seconds later with a stunning long-range lob. "I always like to remember that final," the former Germany international told Goal. "For me to decide the match with my goal was special and incredibly nice." It was Germany legend Andreas Moller - also a former Juventus player - who assisted Ricken's goal and he considers that moment as one of the highlights of his career. "That was the most important pass of my life – of all my career as a football player," Moller told Goal. "Ricken only had to shoot. Juve pressured us hard and were close to equalising. That pass and that goal were very important to our victory. "The European title is the highest you can reach as a footballer in Europe. That title carried me over many, many years. It influences your life as a player and maybe it is the best thing you can experience." While both sides will be confident heading into Tuesday’s game, they find themselves in contrasting domestic situations. The Italians are nine points clear at the top of Serie A, but their German counterparts are having a miserable campaign and currently languish in 12th in the Bundesliga. Nevertheless, both Ricken and Moller are eagerly awaiting the reunion between the two teams. "It is nice to play Juventus. I expect a match between two equally-matched teams," Ricken said. "Of course we have many memories of matches against them and most of them are nice. "In the middle of the 1990s we played Juve several times. What has been Arsenal recently was the Italians back then. "We fought hard and thank God we won the most important game. This match has a tradition and it is something we are all looking forward to. "Like in the 90s Juve have a very experienced, smart team with some young talents. We can't just mention Paul Pogba and Andrea Pirlo. "I'm happy to watch Pirlo live in a stadium again as you don't know how long he will keep playing. He is an outstanding football player - one who is worth the ticket money alone." Moller is unsure which side to count as the favourites to progress, with BVB’s recent upturn in form after three straight victories making it a very unpredictable clash. "The situation is more comfortable for Juve, as they're the leaders in Italy. They are a settled group and only the coach is new. So they know each other well. They want to reach the top of Europe again and regain their international reputation. "Dortmund's circumstances are different as they are fighting against relegation in the Bundesliga. But they seem to have turned it around in the last few matches. It is a match where you can't name a favorite."

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Remembering the rich, crazy history of Borussia Dortmund versus Juventus Feb 24, 2014 The 1997 Champions League final was about 25 minutes old when I felt a tug on my sleeve. I looked down and noticed a steward trying to get my attention. "Excuse me, sir," he said. "Will you be standing on your seat for the entire game?" I looked around. In this part of Munich's Olympic Stadium, the north curve, by and large everybody was standing on the plastic seats. One of the few exceptions was the elderly couple directly to my left. They were sitting down and, consequently, couldn't see anything except the backs of the people in front of them. "I have never sat during a game," I replied, "and I'm certainly not going to start now." The steward smiled. "That's good," he said. "I was asking because we have a ticketing problem. These gentlemen don't have seats." He pointed toward two men standing in the aisle a few steps away from us. They wore scarves half black-and-yellow, for Borussia Dortmund, and half black-and-white, for Juventus. A few variants of such scarves, commemorating the final between these clubs, had been on sale around the ground all day long. The two men also carried plastic bags. "Would you mind," the steward continued, "if we put them in front of you, between the seat and the railing? You're quite tall, and you're standing on the seat, so you can still see everything." I told him that was fine, and he waved the two men over. After they had assumed their positions in front of me, one of them turned around and looked up. "Grazie," he said. It might seem strange today that a steward would put two Italians right in the middle of the German fan stand for such a huge game. But back in 1997, I wasn't surprised in the least. All day, supporters from Turin and Dortmund had mingled in downtown Munich peacefully and even amicably. Sometimes it was hard to tell the two sets of fans apart. Many Germans wore Juve paraphernalia; many Italians sported Borussia gear. The reason was simple: the two clubs had met each other so often in the preceding years that the final felt a bit like a semi-annual family reunion. In the four years between May 1993 and May 1997, Dortmund met a team like Fortuna Düsseldorf, traditional Bundesliga rivals, just four times. And Juventus contested only two matches during this period against a side like Bologna, their long-time Serie A opponents. But Borussia and Juventus played each other seven times over the same span. To make this sudden but intense spurt of clashes even stranger, the two clubs had never met before May 1993, and almost 18 years would pass until they'd meet again after May 1997. Finally, the good-natured rivalry was football's version of the Doppelgänger motif: by the time the two teams contested the 1997 Champions League final, Dortmund's squad included no fewer than five men who had once played for Juventus. The story of the epic clashes between Dortmund and Juventus began with the two-legged UEFA Cup final in 1993, which, to be honest, wasn't very epic. Not for long. Michael Rummenigge, younger brother of Karl-Heinz, put Dortmund ahead after less than two minutes of the first leg with an elegant first-time shot. That was as good as it got for the Germans. Yes, Dortmund were hit hard by injuries, but this was the Juve of Roberto and Dino Baggio, Fabrizio Ravanelli and Gianluca Vialli -- plus their Germans, Kohler and Andreas Moller. "We played Juventus at the wrong time," Dortmund's coach Ottmar Hitzfeld later said, "but we would have struggled even with a complete team." The two Baggios (who are unrelated) scored three goals in Dortmund, as Juve came from behind to win the away leg 3-1. This put the trophy out of Borussia's reach, especially when Vialli set up another Dino Baggio goal with a cheeky back-heeler after only five minutes of the second leg. Juve eventually won 3-0 at home and lifted the 1993 UEFA Cup by a commanding aggregate score of 6-1. Two years later, though, the tie was no longer so one-sided. In fact, the games in April 1995 were nail-bitingly close. Dortmund had signed two players from Juventus, defender Julio Cesar and Moller. Both would be on target as Borussia were drawn against the Bianconeri in the UEFA Cup again -- this time in the semifinals. However, the first man to put his name on the scoreboard in this meeting was Dortmund's Stefan Reuter. In the first leg, in Turin, sweeper Matthias Sammer released his teammate on the right wing with a tremendous pass, and Reuter found the target from a tight angle. Amazingly, he too had once been a Juventus player. A terrific match eventually finished 2-2 because Kohler scored one of his rare goals for Juve two minutes from time. What annoyed the Germans, though, wasn't the late equaliser but the referee. He booked no fewer than six Dortmund players; Moller, Sammer and Karl-Heinz Riedle would miss the second leg on account of his card-happy ways. In Dortmund, the goals kept coming at an astonishing rate. After half an hour, Juventus were 2-1 up, which made it 4-3 on aggregate after a mere 120 minutes of football. But there were to be no more comebacks. A depleted Borussia side, also missing the injured strikers Flemming Povlsen and Stéphane Chapuisat, finally succumbed to the Divine Ponytail's brilliance. ("Baggio beat brave Borussia," read an alliterative-minded Kicker magazine headline). In the second half, a Lars Ricken goal was disallowed for a foul on Ciro Ferrara in the buildup, while Paolo Sousa hit the post for Juve with a strike from almost 25 yards. Then it was over. The Italians had prevailed again. Following the postmatch press conference, a local journalist told Juventus coach Marcello Lippi: "Next time you'll lose." He was echoing a statement made by Dortmund's business manager Michael Meier, who had said, "In life, you always meet twice. But in football, you meet three times." Lippi listened to the reporter's challenge. Then he smiled and said nothing. Next time came quickly. A few weeks after the UEFA Cup games, both clubs won their domestic leagues. During the off-season, Dortmund signed their fourth former Juve player: Kohler. Almost inevitably, these seemingly siamese-twin teams were then drawn into the same Champions League group. The next round of their bout opened with a bang. In Dortmund, Möller scored in the first minute with a left-footed shot Angelo Peruzzi should have saved. But then it was 1993 all over again, as Juventus hit back to win 3-1. This time, Dortmund's nemesis was Alessandro Del Piero, who scored with a marvelous, swerving shot and set up the other two goals. The return match was 10 weeks later. "The pressure's off," Lippi said, "because we're already through to the quarterfinals and have secured first place in the group." Consequently, the coach made numerous changes to his starting XI. Dortmund's situation, meanwhile, was markedly different. They were only one point ahead of Steaua Bucharest, which meant they needed to return home from Italy with something. At first, it looked as if there would be no changes to their dramatic script. Dortmund's goalkeeper, Stefan Klos, was often called into action in Turin, saving from Vialli and miraculously parrying a close-range Michele Padovano header. Padovano then hit the post before Michael Zorc opened the scoring at the other end against the run of play. In the second half, Ricken made it 2-0 with a nice volley. Del Piero did score his customary goal against Dortmund, but it came deep into stoppage time, with only seconds left on the clock. "This is incredible, simply sensational," Borussia's Steffen Freund said after the final whistle. At the sixth try, Dortmund had finally broken the spell. The relief among players and supporters was so palpable it felt as if a curse had been lifted. But of course, doubts remained. Would the Germans be able to repeat this feat in a match in which more than just pride was at stake for Juventus -- for instance, the biggest European trophy? And so, back to the 1997 Champions League final. It was about 25 minutes old when the two Italian fans assumed their positions in front of me and opened their plastic bags. They were filled to the brim with Juventus stuff: scarves in all shapes and sizes, replica shirts, little and large pennants. Slowly and meticulously, they began building a Juve shrine right in the middle of the Dortmund fan stand. They put their shirts across the railing in front of them, then placed scarves across those shirts, then tied pennants to the metal bars. While this was going on, Dortmund's new signing, Paolo Sousa -- their fifth ex-Juve player -- set up Jorg Heinrich on the left wing. Heinrich won a corner directly in front of our stand. Moller took it. Peruzzi cleared it. Paul Lambert crossed. Riedle scored. In an instant, the two Italian supporters were wiped off their feet by ecstatic German fans, their whole lovingly prepared Juventus display soon scattered by surging, falling bodies. As soon as the celebrations died down, we picked the pair up and said we were sorry. Some people even helped them retrieve the shirts, scarves and pennants that had been dispersed across the steps below. They took it in stride. With admirable defiance, they started rebuilding their Juve shrine. They spread the shirts across the railings again and gently put scarves across them. While they were doing this, Chapuisat won another corner. Moller took it. Riedle headed home from 10 yards. I briefly saw the two Italians go down again, carrying the shirts and the scarves with them as they fell, then I lost my own footing and found myself a good 5 yards from where I had originally been, such was the force of the swaying mass of people. When all was calm again, relatively speaking, people helped the Italians pick up their gear once more. This time the two silently put everything back into their plastic bags. Then they took one last look at the pitch and left without a word. I never saw them again.

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Klopp: Borussia Dortmund Determined To Show Worth Against Juventus Feb 24, 2014 Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp is looking for his side to show its worth against Juventus in the Champions League Round of 16 on Tuesday. Dortmund travel to the Juventus Stadium for the first leg having won three successive matches in the Bundesliga after occupying the relegation places earlier this season. “We had troubles at the start of the season, mainly down to the injuries we suffered at the time,” the 47-year-old tactician said during his pre-match press conference. “We can keep improving. We still need to rediscover our consistency in the Bundesliga. We will soon be back at the top. “I know that Italian football is very tactically focused. We will see how the game goes and we will adapt. “The history of Juve is important. We are motivated to show our worth and it is time for us to pull out our claws. “Juventus possess plenty of experience and quality. We’ll require a big effort to get through to the next round.”

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Juventus vs. Borussia Dortmund: Team News, Predicted Lineups Feb 24, 2014 This week is undoubtedly the biggest of the season so far for Juventus, facing stiff competition in the Champions League and then squaring off against their closest domestic rivals. Before travelling to the Stadio Olimpico to battle AS Roma, the Bianconeri welcome a resurgent Borussia Dortmund to Turin. Having slumped to the foot of the Bundesliga before the winter break, Jurgen Klopp’s side have now won each of their last three outings and climbed into a slightly more respectable 12th place. In those games their attack looks to be in devastating form, outscoring opponents by 10 goals to four. While the reigning Italian champions will hope to exploit their defensive weaknesses, Dortmund will enter the match with renewed confidence, having already displayed much more impressive form in Europe this term. Massimiliano Allegri is well aware of the importance of this tie, telling Sky Italia on Friday (h/t Football Italia): We are in very good shape. Borussia are back on track and on Tuesday it’s the first of two games, so we have to play with balance and I am absolutely not worried by this match. I think they are going to be two great games and I expect qualification to be decided only in the final minutes of the second leg. It is arguably the most difficult tie to pick a winner from, with the two sides both capable of securing passage to the quarter-finals. The visitors certainly possess a far greater pedigree in Europe over the past few seasons, but the Bianconeri can lean on a vastly improved approach under Allegri. The coach has installed a system which is far better suited to Champions League football compared to the previous 3-5-2 framework, and supporters of Italy’s grand Old Lady will be hoping that is enough to help them emerge from this tough matchup. Form Lines Last five domestic results: Juventus 2-0 Chievo Udinese 0-0 Juventus Juventus 3-1 Milan Cesena 2-2 Juventus Juventus 2-1 Atalanta Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Borussia Dortmund Borussia Dortmund 0-1 Augsburg Freiburg 0-3 Borussia Dortmund Borussia Dortmund 4-2 Mainz 05 VfB Stuttgart 2-3 Borussia Dortmund Predicted Line-ups Player to Watch Perhaps no player is more central to this tie than Andrea Pirlo, with the midfielder arguably the one man who could decide the result either way. His match-winning performance on Friday—discussed at length here—was excellent, but those games have been all too infrequent this term. Indeed, in their previous Serie A outing, Pirlo was responsible for handing the initiative to Cesena, losing the ball in midfield and allowing the relegation-threatened minnows to take a surprise lead. That game ended in a draw, but committing such an error against Borussia Dortmund is likely to be far more costly. More than ever, the immediate future of Juventus may be decided by which Pirlo is on show over the two legs. If the 35-year-old can handle the constant pressing of the ball from this difficult opponent, he may write another chapter in the story of his truly great career. Key Battle While Pirlo’s influence could be the deciding factor, the key battle in this encounter could well be between his team-mate Arturo Vidal and Dortmund’s Marco Reus. The two will clash in midfield, and the Chilean must get the better of his direct opponent if the Bianconeri are to overcome Jurgen Klopp’s men. Like Vidal, many were surprised that Reus remained with his current club this past summer, with German newspaper Bild (h/t Yahoo Sport) reporting this week that he refused to take phone calls from potential suitors, including Manchester United. He has netted two goals and added one assist in the Champions League this term, also netting in each of his side’s last three domestic victories. In contrast, Vidal missed Friday’s clash with Atalanta and also failed to net a penalty which could have sealed a win against Cesena a week earlier. Odds (via OddsShark) Home win: 11/10 Away win: 12/5 Draw: 12/5

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Vidal: Dortmund's shocking season could work against Juventus The Chilean midfielder thinks the threat of Jurgen Klopp's men is even greater because of their struggles in the Bundesliga over the past few months. Feb 24, 2014 Arturo Vidal fears that Borussia Dortmund's shocking season so far could work against Juventus in Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first leg. Dortmund travel to Turin having endured an appalling first half of 2014-15 in the Bundesliga, with three successive wins having only recently lifted Jurgen Klopp's side off the bottom of the table. Vidal does not think the threat of the 2012-13 Champions League finalists has been dulled, though, and highlighted the speed and technical ability that he thinks Dortmund still possess in abundance. "Dortmund's league woes make them even more dangerous, because they will be focusing their efforts on the Champions League," the Chilean midfielder told Kicker. "They'll want to show that their Bundesliga place doesn't represent their enormous quality and is merely a deceptive snapshot. It will be a tough one for us. "The strength of Klopp's team isn't individual players, but the unity of the team, the pressing game they play out, their superior technique on the ball and the crazy pace they show." Serie A's standing on the continent has been in stark decline in recent years, with former Inter chief Massimo Moratti the latest to suggest Italian football is a long way behind the best in Europe. Vidal, however, does not agree. "In Italy, defence - and, more specifically, the tactical preparation of the teams - is much more important than in Germany," the former Bayer Leverkusen man added. "In Serie A even small teams are hard to beat; in this sense it is the hardest league in Europe." Vidal also said Juve boast one of the top three midfields in the world in himself, Paul Pogba and Claudio Marchisio, though he admitted it would be great to add Marco Reus to their options in attack. "Juve's midfield is definitely in the top three out there, but now we have to prove it on the field in the Champions League," he added. "This year we have a duty to do better. "If I could sign any Dortmund player it would be Reus. He's a really great footballer. But he just signed a renewal with Dortmund..." The Serie A champions host BVB in Turin this week before returning to Signal Iduna Park on March 18 for the second leg.

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) ‘Juve have Pirlo and Pogba, but...’ Feb 23, 2014 Borussia Dortmund defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos admits Juventus are the ‘strongest in Italy’, but sees their Champions League odds as ’50-50’. The German team face a challenging first leg as they travel to the Juventus Stadium for tomorrow's Champions League Last 16. Even so, the Bundesliga side’s Greek defender with previous Serie A experience expects his team not to be intimidated. “Our Coach Jurgen Klopp gives us all faith,” Papastathopoulos has said in an interview with La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “Our team was built around his directions and we always try to impose our own game. “That's exactly what we're planning on doing in Turin, even though Juventus are the strongest Italian team and they have some top players like [Andrea] Pirlo and [Paul] Pogba. “I crossed paths with [Carlos] Tevez with Greece, but I never played against him. “As for [his fellow striker Alvaro] Morata, I faced him last year against Real Madrid. Both of them are very strong.” The 26-year-old was also asked about the German team's odds heading into this midweek. “50-50 for us to earn a draw. We're back on track and we can do it. “I remember Pirlo. I know him from his last year in Milan. “One of the best of the decade in his role. “He's also a great man. I remember that in Milanello he was always happy to help everyone.”