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JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Aubameyang: Pirlo is an idol The BVB striker came through the youth team ranks at San Siro and got to know the former AC Milan playmaker during his time. Feb 23, 2014 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang says it will be an honour to go up against Andrea Pirlo when Borussia Dortmund play Juventus in Turin on Tuesday, admitting that midfielder is an idol of his. The Gabon international is a product of the Rossoneri's youth academy but while he was on the Serie A side's books for four years in total, he never made an appearance for the senior side, spending most of his stay out on loan. However, Aubameyang still has fond memories of his time at San Siro, thanks in no small part to Pirlo. "I got to know Pirlo at Milan and he is certainly an idol," the 25-year-old striker told reporters on the eve of Dortmund's Champions League last-16 first-leg clash with Juve. "So, it is an honour to me to face players like Andrea and [Juventus captain] Gianluigi Buffon." Dortmund currently sit 12th in the Bundesliga but have arrived in Turin with confidence restored after a run of three successive domestic victories. However, Aubameyang says Jurgen Klopp's men are well aware that beating the Bianconeri will a very different story, with Juve currently nine points clear at the summit of Serie A. "We have racked up three consecutive wins, and that's good for us," the attacker added. "But we know that it will be a tough game in Turin, because Juventus are the best team in Italy at the moment. They can beat any opponent."

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Allegri: Dortmund Are Not Superior To Juventus Feb 23, 2014 Massimiliano Allegri has tried to play down the importance of Tuesday evening’s Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund while insisting that he does not envy his opposite number Jurgen Klopp. The current fortunes of the Italian and German giants going into the first leg of their last 16 meeting in Europe’s premier club competition couldn’t be more different with the Bianconeri surging towards a fourth consecutive Scudetto while Dortmund are unexpectedly embroiled in an relegation fight. However, Allegri is keen to avoid any complacency. “No one could ever say that they are a superior team to us,” the 47-year-old told a press conference on Monday. “They have great speed and technique in their front four and they play good offensive football. Our goal playing at home is not to concede any goals although it will be difficult. Dortmund have already shown their quality when playing away in this competition. “This is not the most important game of the season as the outcome will be decided over both legs. It is not a final. Even after tomorrow there is still another game to play. It is however an important match against an in-form team and it will require patience, balance and technique. “I do not envy [Jurgen] Klopp. If anything he should be the one in envy of us given our league ranking. It’s a question of mentality. It is an anomaly that Borussia are so low in the standings, but in the end I think it will be a close contest between our teams.”

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Juventus must find a way to cope with Dortmund's pressure Feb 23, 2014 The greatest aspect of top-level European competition is the opportunity to witness contrasting footballing styles face one another; pleasingly, despite the globalisation of football and the increased movement of players and coaches across borders, obvious differences remain between Europe's best leagues. The obvious example from this week's set of Champions League fixtures is the clash between Borussia Dortmund and Juventus in Turin on Tuesday night. Whereas some of the second round ties are frustratingly familiar -- Manchester City vs. Barcelona, PSG vs. Chelsea, Schalke vs. Real Madrid -- these two sides haven't met since the European Cup final of 1997. The clash of styles should be fascinating. While Dortmund have been based around heavy, energetic pressing and rapid transitions in recent years, Juventus are much more accustomed to a slow, more languid style of play. Juve themselves play at a higher tempo than the majority of Serie A sides, but Italy is nevertheless still home to a much slower style of play than in Germany, Spain or England. There are many benefits to this: It means deep-lying playmakers like Andrea Pirlo, David Pizarro and Riccardo Montolivo have time to shine, while attackers like Francesco Totti and Antonio Di Natale can play well into their late 30s, because the game isn't so physically demanding and they can essentially play in bursts. "The pauses allow a player to display his technique," Gianluca Vialli once said. The downside, however, is that when Italian sides face top-quality opposition in European competition, they often struggle with the pace of the game, which has been a major reason Serie A has dropped to only the fourth-best league in Europe according to UEFA's coefficients. The most recent example of this problem was on Thursday night at White Hart Lane, where Fiorentina drew 1-1 with Tottenham. Vincenzo Montella's side were happy with that result, although the first half hour featured a Spurs onslaught. Mauricio Pochettino, a coach known primarily for the intense pressing style he's implemented at both Southampton and now Tottenham, told his team to play at a high tempo, close down in advanced positions, and make life uncomfortable for Fiorentina. Once they'd weathered the storm, the Italian side were fine. In truth, however, they could have been 3-0 down and out of the tie. After the game, Montella responded to questions about these struggles in great detail, and it was fascinating to hear him discuss the issue in relation to Italy as a whole, rather than simply speaking about the contest between two sides. "In the first 30 minutes we suffered because of the high-tempo, physical game, but we expected that and maybe [Tottenham] paid the price later," he said. "In Italy we play a more tactical game, the tempo is slow -- we [italians] train at a high tempo, then don't play at high tempo on matchday. Really, we should be doing the opposite!" Juventus, meanwhile, encountered this problem on their previous trip to Germany. When playing Bayern Munich two years ago, they were unable to cope with the whirlwind start to the game -- they were behind within a minute thanks to David Alaba's long-range strike, and spent the first half almost unable to get out of their own third. Bayern were simply so much more tenacious, more mobile and more energetic -- and the worrying thing, of course, is that Dortmund display that style to an even greater extent. Whatever their problems in the Bundesliga, Dortmund's Champions League performances this season have been consistent, and their demolition of Arsenal in the group stage shows how their tempo can completely unnerve opponents. In particular, Dortmund will attempt to pressure Pirlo. The Italian has become accustomed to being marked closely in Italy, but often this is simply one opponent, with the rest of the side sitting deeper. It's rare for Pirlo to face such concerted pressure from an entire team, and there's a danger he'll be surprised by Dortmund's energy. Pirlo certainly makes no secret of his irritatation when facing this style of play. In his autobiography, he memorably describes the attentions of Malta's Andre Schembri as "utterly exhausting ... I didn't enjoy it. Back in the day, coaches would have their best guy mark the opposition number 10 ... but things have changed, now it's guys in my position who have the toughest guy on the other team snapping at our heels. "All I'm after is a few square metres," Pirlo says. Dortmund will desperately attempt to deny him such space, and attack quickly. Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp once described his team's pressing as "the best playmaker around." Against Bayern in 2013, Juventus seemed genuinely shocked by the intensity of the Bayern press. But this time around against Dortmund, they'll expect a strong physical test. They must plan accordingly, and show they can cope in such high-tempo contests. A major solution is to not entirely rely on Pirlo. Dortmund will probably press in midfield rather than high up the pitch, which means Juventus should have opportunities to distribute the ball from defence. There, Allegri has two players who can start attacks: Giorgio Chiellini can move forward, albeit slightly clumsily, in possession, while Leonardo Bonucci is often capable of being Juve's vice-Pirlo, hitting huge accurate diagonal balls to the flanks from an even deeper position. Bypassing the midfield zone might be Juve's best bet. When Pep Guardiola faced Dortmund for the first time, he used Javi Martinez in a shadow striker position because he realised Bayern were completely unable to play through midfield against Dortmund, and decided using a tall player upfront as a target for long balls was an appropriate solution. Fernando Llorente, an orthodox striker, will play that role more naturally for Juve. However, perhaps Juve might also be capable of taking on Dortmund at their own game. The most fascinating aspect of Juve since Pirlo joined in 2011 is that the midfield is essentially flipped: Pirlo is the pure creator but plays at the base of the midfield trio, while Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba are far superior in terms of defensive effort, physical power and stamina. Few midfielders in world football are more dynamic than these two -- and therefore, rather than worrying about living with the pressing, Juventus might be able to turn it around on Dortmund. That would represent something of a breakthrough for Italian football. Back in the mid-1990s, when Serie A clubs dominated Europe, teams from other countries were forced play at a more relaxed tempo as Italian clubs dictated the play. But the tables have now flipped: Serie A is playing catch-up, and to compete with the best German, Spanish and English clubs, they must be capable of playing high-tempo football too.

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) UEFA Champions League Preview: Juventus vs. Borussia Dortmund, Leg 1 Feb 23, 2014 By now, we've figured out that Borussia Dortmund isn't having a good season in the Bundesliga. While they've gotten themselves out of the relegation zone and into the middle of the pack in recent weeks, there still aren't all those glistening and wonderful thoughts and feelings when it comes to how Dortmund — which just picked up its third straight league win on Friday night — are playing this season. A team that was in the Champions League final just two years ago has fallen so fast in its own domestic competition. But what we've come to discover about this Dortmund team is pretty remarkable, really. While they have struggled beyond belief — Klopp's and everybody else's — for a large part of the Bundesliga season, their form in Europe has almost been the complete opposite. In their six group stage games, Dortmund won the first four of them. Outside of their 2-0 loss to Arsenal in late November, Klopp's men allowed all of two goals in this season's group stage. That's not exactly how a team that is currently sitting mid-table in their respective league would be expected to play in Europe. I mean, the team sitting in 10th in Serie A entering this past weekend's set of games isn't doing much of anything in the Champions League this season, people. (This is where we take a moment to point and laugh at Inter. Why? Because it's never not appropriate.) There's no reason to think Euro Dortmund won't show up at Juventus Stadium with its Bundesliga form suddenly looking brighter these past few weeks. Juventus, on the other hand, has not been anything close to impressive over the same period of time. And we all know how "interesting" Juve's European form has been this season. There was the unwritten rule of starting the group stage slow, then a loss in Spain, and finally the mad scramble to qualify for the knockout stages. It's become the regular deal at this point — something we may never truly figure out as to why it happens. The No. 1 goal, as both manager Max Allegri and his players have said in recent days, is to keep Dortmund off the scoreboard in the first leg so they can head to Germany with a straightforward way of making it to the quarterfinals. With BVB possessing so much attacking depth, doing that will be the biggest challenge Juventus has over the court of the 90 minutes Tuesday night. Can the Juventus defense, which has been far from stellar in recent games, rise to the occasion? I really don't know, but I'm pretty sure Allegri isn't changing his tone as we are less than 24 hours away from kickoff in Turin. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@OfficialAllegri: "We must keep a clean sheet tomorrow. I believe we have an excellent chance of getting through to the next round." Then it's been decided! Now all that's left is to actually do it. What could possibly go wrong... GOOD NEWS The first leg is at Juventus Stadium. You don't need to remind me about the last time Juventus went to Germany for the first leg of a Champions League encounter. That wasn't very fun. BAD NEWS If it isn't obvious, it should be. Dortmund are starting to hit their stride right as they come to Juventus Stadium. No more last-place club here. Have they had a disappointing domestic season? Sure, but now they're actually starting to resemble the team that has been playing well in Europe this season. WHAT TO WATCH FOR 1. How Juventus handles Dortmund's lightning-quick counterattack. I'll be completely honest, thinking of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with even the slightest bit of open field in front of him scares the living daylight out of me. He is the living, breathing and all too real definition of the danger Dortmund has when it comes to speed to burn up top — and he's not the only one, too. Marco Reus is easily one of the best wingers in the game today and is capable of taking over a game without much hesitation. Dortmund switching back to a 4-2-3-1 has enabled them to get their mojo going once more, as well as playing a formation that truly fits their strengths. Dortmund has so much speed that they can go from defense to attacking third in a flash. It won't solely be on Juventus' defense to slow down the counter, either. It will be based on Juve's midfield and defense trying to be as cohesive unit to try and slow down an opposing team that is sooooo quick. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@gianluigibuffon: "We're up against one of the best teams in Europe. They can beat anyone and we have respect for them." 2. The health status and effectiveness of Arturo Vidal. You have to think that if Vidal is anywhere close to full strength, Allegri is going to give him a starting nod. While I don't necessarily like it, it's almost certain in my mind that he will be playing behind the strikers, too — a whole different matter that we've brought up a number of times already. Vidal returned to training with the main group on Sunday and is part of the 24-man squad that was called up by Allegri for tomorrow night's first leg. So, now what? Well, it's pretty simple. Vidal's season has been marred by disappointing game after disappointing game. It won't take too many fingers to count how many games where Vidal has looked like the Vidal of old. And there's no denying that if Juve want to advance past Dortmund, Vidal will have to resemble his former self. That's an easy thing to say, but as we've seen this season, not exactly something that happens a lot of the time. 3. The overall contributions from Andrea Pirlo. As much as I think a midfield three of Vidal-Marchisio-Pogba would work best of all against Dortmund, I don't see a situation where Allegri doesn't pick Pirlo — especially after how he played on Friday night against Atalanta. That means Pirlo will be the hub of the offense like he almost always is. And that also means it will dictate pretty much how Juventus will approach the game tactically. You might think that is a good thing because it's Pirlo and he's still capable of putting in a wonderful performance. You might think that's a bad idea knowing how Dortmund play and the likely defensive responsibilities that will come along with things Tuesday. Either way, Pirlo will have to be a two-contributor come tomorrow night. Maybe that same Pirlo that had the second-most amount of tackles Friday night will show his head once again. It will have lovely hair either way, you know. 4. The impact of Álvaro Morata. I would like to think that Fernando Llorente getting the starting nod against Atalanta was to give Mr. Morata a rest with the Champions League on the horizon. As much as I wanted to see Morata play, I can definitely support Allegri's decision if it means the young Spaniard is rested and raring to go come kickoff Tuesday night. Morata has been very, very good these last few weeks since he because a regular starter. Can he keep it going against a Dortmund defense that has been relatively solid in European play this season? That's why we're going to be watching. If Morata plays anywhere close to what he has done in the new year, then the scoring chances for both himself and Tévez will open up. And so on and so on and so on. As much as we want to talk about Juventus keep Dortmund off the scoreboard in the first leg, they're going to need to find the back of the BVB net to put things even more in their favor. My starting XI (4-3-1-2): Buffon; Cáceres, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Vidal, Marchisio, Pogba; Pereyra; Tévez, Morata OFFICIAL KICKOFF TIME: 8:45 P.M. IN ITALY; 2:45 P.M. ON THE EAST COAST; 11:45 A.M. ON THE WEST COAST

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Dortmund won't look like a relegation-threatened side against Juventus - Klopp The BVB boss believes his side have turned a corner and are more than capable of reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Feb 23, 2014 Borussia Dortmund won't look anything like a relegation-threatened side when they travel to Italy to face Juventus on Tuesday, according to the Germany club's coach, Jurgen Klopp. BVB arrive Italy on the back of three successive Bundesliga wins, but a terrible start to the campaign means last season's runners-up are well off the pace in 12th place. They will need to be on top of their game in Turin as they face Juve in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie, with the Bianconeri nine points clear at the top of Serie A. Klopp, however, is convinced of the quality within his side and is expecting them to rise to the occasion, just as they did in winning Group D to reach the knockout stages of the competition as a seeded side. "We had many problems in the first part of the season," the former Mainz coach said at the pre-match press conference. "But we knew that we could play much, much better if we get time to work on it. And now that has happened. "You will not think on Tuesday that we are fighting against relegation. "Juventus have a very experienced team, which brings much quality on the pitch. I think it will be tough for both teams and both have a chance to get through." The most famous meeting between the sides came back in 1997 when Dortmund beat Juventus 3-1 in the Champions League final, courtesy of two goals from Karl-Heinz Riedle and a Lars Ricken strike. However, when asked about one of the club's greatest nights, Klopp said it would have little significance for his current squad. "No, we haven't talked about it yet," he added. "The evening back then was a very important moment in the history of the club. But I don't think that may players would be even more motivated if we show something from then. "Today Juventus are not as far away from us as they were in 1997. Anyway it does not mean that we'll have an easy way through."

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Buffon: I hope Reus is rusty The goalkeeper is a big fan of the fit-again winger and offered a light-hearted response to the prospect of facing him in Turin on Tuesday. Feb 23, 2014 Gianluigi Buffon has joked that he hopes Marco Reus is "rusty" when Juventus face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. The pair will do battle in Turin on Tuesday night in the first leg of their last-16 tie, which, on paper at least, appears to be one of the most evenly matched draws of the round. Reus will be one of the first names on Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp's team-sheet after seemingly putting the fitness problems that plagued him in 2014 behind him and Buffon admits that he hopes that the attacker is still not at 100 per cent. "We're up against one of the best teams in Europe," the Juventus captain told reporters at the pre-match press conference. "They can beat anyone and we have respect for them. We're curious to see how we measure up with BVB. We won't have any regrets, though. Regardless of how the game goes, we'll give it all we've got. "Reus is a great talent. He's had a long injury lay-off, I hope he's a little rusty!" Juve are well placed to win more silverware this term, after building a nine-point lead at the top of Serie A, while they are also through to the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia, where they will meet Fiorentina. However, the Bianconeri have struggled in Europe in recent years, failing to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League in each of the past two seasons, and Buffon is thus desperate to go as far as possible this year. "I hope it's not the game of the season because that would mean we don't have any other important ones ahead of us," the goalkeeper added. "We want to try and keep our Champions League dream alive for as long as possible." Juve will hope to have Arturo Vidal back after he missed the 2-1 win over Atalanta on Friday with a groin injury, while the Bianconeri could face one of their former players in Ciro Immobile.

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Dortmund finding domestic form ahead of trip to Juventus Feb 23, 2014 The most important week yet of a still young 2015 lies ahead for Borussia Dortmund. A trip to Turin to play Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday is followed by the big Revierderby on Saturday against Schalke. Lucky for Dortmund they've picked up their form just in time, winning three games on the trot, but the big tests are on the horizon. "The Bundesliga stands above all," manager Jurgen Klopp said after the 3-2 win in Stuttgart, which illustrates the dilemma Dortmund find themselves in ahead of Tuesday. On the one hand, the Champions League is a nice diversion from uphill battle in the domestic struggle and a great occasion for the players to exhibit themselves on Europe's biggest stage. On the other hand, it's almost an inconvenience that will only hinder endeavours to regain a stable place in the Bundesliga table. Yet Juventus vs. Borussia Dortmund is a tie that contains history, including two finals. Juventus have the upper hand, winning four out of the seven meeting in the '90s. Juve won the two-legged UEFA Cup final in 1993, but ultimately BVB got their redemption by winning their most prestigious trophy in 1997 against the Bianconeri: the Champions League. On Tuesday, a trophy won't but up for grabs just yet, but there is much excitement to look forward to. After all, Dortmund go up against the side that has dominated Italy's Serie A for the past three years. But while BVB's atrocious domestic form has made cup competitions a mere accessory, Juventus have great aspirations and a lot to prove on the European stage. The Italian giants failed to get out of their group last term and they again failed to exert their superiority by coming second to Atletico Madrid. It might be now or never for Juventus in their chase for European glory, and their fans are demanding a lasting run in this competition. Dortmund, meanwhile, have fared well in the Champions League despite their domestic difficulties. The black and yellows don't see themselves as favourites going into the tie, but not as underdogs either. "It's a 50-50 match-up," was the refrain from Klopp, Marco Reus and CEO Hans Joachim Watzke; a self-belief that should BVB play to their potential, they can beat anyone. No doubt, Juventus have the same self-belief, and looking at their team sheet it becomes obvious why this is. A vastly experienced defence sits ahead of Gianluigi Buffon, a tough midfield strikes the right balance of steel and finesse and a potent attack is spearheaded by Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata. Klopp will find it tough to contain Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba in midfield, but those two extraordinary footballers won't be his only concern as Juventus have a nicely spread variety of goal scorers. The hopes on cracking Massimiliano Allegri's possession-based 4-3-2-1 is Dortmund's vibrant pressing. Juventus may be the best defence in Serie A, but they rarely go up against teams wielding such tenacious and relentless pressing as Borussia Dortmund practice. Considering BVB's pace up front and frailties at the back, this match should be exciting at both ends. And with one eye on the derby, Klopp is sure to rotate his squad ever so slightly on Tuesday night. Mats Hummels will return to after nursing a cold, partnering up with either Neven Subotic or Sokratis Papastathopoulos, and to add the necessary steel to his defensive midfield, Sven Bender will most likely make his first appearance in 2015 next to Ilkay Gundogan. Up front Jakub Blaszczykowski is a good call to replace Kevin Kampl, who had a slight muscular issue after the Stuttgart match. Blaszczykowski's experience might also prove vital in a match against a clever and cheeky Juve side. Yet those who were looking forward to see Ciro Immobile return to the place where it all started for him might be disappointed. Last season's top scorer in Serie A is struggling to get out of the shadow of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is riding a wave of good form. The Gabonese has scored four goals in his last three matches and pairs nicely with Reus. The Dortmund coach has a plethora of options on the bench at his disposal. After all, only a collective effort will leave Dortmund with something to play for when this tie moves to the Westfalenstadion on March 18.

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Juventus v Borussia Dortmund: Preview Feb 23, 2014 Juventus make their return to the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday night keen to see how far they have come in the two years since their last appearance at this stage. 2013 beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund, who shared the same fate as Juve that year in being beaten by Bayern Munich, are the guests to the Juventus Stadium for arguably the biggest game of the season for the Serie A leaders. ``I hope that, compared to two years ago, we've got more belief that we are a great side,'' said Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon at a press conference. ``I hope that, compared to two years ago, we've all improved, both in terms of our game and in our conviction. ``I don't know if we're stronger than Borussia or not, but I know that we're curious to see what we are worth. ``Everybody here wants to measure ourselves with clubs who have been at the top level in Europe for a few years, and Dortmund are one of those.'' That may not currently be reflected in the respective league tables. While Juventus could move another step closer to a fourth straight Serie A title by beating their nearest rivals Roma and moving 12 points clear next Monday, Dortmund find themselves still only three points clear of the bottom three in the Bundesliga. ``It's an anomaly,'' said Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri. ``I think at the end of the season, they will be among the leading clubs because the league's still tight, apart from Bayern Munich who are in a league of their own. ``They are very fast and technically strong up front, they are well organised and play good football. ``This is the first of two games against them and tomorrow, playing at home, the fundamental thing is not conceding.'' For Dortmund, Tuesday gives them an opportunity to put their domestic problems to one side and focus on a competition they went so close to winning two years ago. ``It's the last 16, we've won three in a row, it's a great situation, but we know that the day after tomorrow, our relegation battle goes on,'' said Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp. ``But tomorrow night, you're not going to see that we're in a relegation battle in the Bundesliga.'' He would not reveal what the fans inside the Juventus Stadium will see, however. ``As Pierre-Emerick (Aubameyang) said, tactics are important in Italy, but we also know a thing or two about tactics and one of those is that we don't reveal today the way we will play tomorrow,'' he added. Aubameyang was equally secretive, but he promised that the fans are going to see ``a great game'' between the sides, who met in the 1997 final with Dortmund coming out on top against the favourites Juve. This time, the tie appears to be too close to call. ``Both sides have a chance of going through,'' said Klopp. ``We remember 1997, but it has no relevance on this game.''

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Klopp aims to surprise Juve Feb 23, 2014 Jurgen Klopp is keeping Borussia Dortmund cards close to his chest against Juventus. “You’ll find out our game plan tomorrow.” The first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 kicks off on Tuesday at 20.45 CET. “We had troubles at the start of the season, mainly down to the injuries we suffered at the time. Our physical shape has improved,” he said in a Press conference in Turin. BVB had been bottom of the Bundesliga, but are now mid-table after three consecutive victories. “We can keep improving. We still need to rediscover our consistency in the Bundesliga. We’ll soon be back at the top. We weren’t in peak physical shape. It’s not a matter of motivation, more injuries and bad luck.” Klopp was asked whether Borussia Dortmund or Juventus were the favourites going into this clash. “Juve’s history is important. We’re motivated to show our worth in this Round of 16 tie. Juventus possess plenty of experience and quality. We'll require a big effort to get through to the next round.” However, the tactician was keeping his cards close to his chest. “I know that Italian football is very tactically focused. You'll find out our game plan tomorrow.” It’s safe to say Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will start. “Aubameyang is versatile and can score goals from anywhere. He’s very important and I'm happy to have him.”

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Vidal ready for Dortmund Feb 23, 2014 Arturo Vidal is back in the Juventus squad for the Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund. It kicks off on Tuesday at 20.45 CET in Turin, the first leg in a Round of 16. Vidal had missed Friday’s 2-1 win over Atalanta in Serie A with a muscular problem, but is available tomorrow. January signings Alessandro Matri, Paolo De Ceglie and Stefano Sturaro are also called up. Juventus squad for Borussia Dortmund: Buffon, Chiellini, Caceres, Ogbonna, Pogba, Pepe, Marchisio, Morata, Tevez, Coman, Llorente, Barzagli, De Ceglie, Bonucci, Padoin, Pirlo, Vidal, Lichtsteiner, Sturaro, Storari, Matri, Evra, Rubinho, Pereyra

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Klopp has rebuilt Dortmund - Allegri The Italian was fulsome in his praise of the man who will sit in the opposite dug-out to him on Tuesday night and described BVB's league position as "an anomaly". Feb 23, 2014 Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has hailed Jurgen Klopp's achievements at Borussia Dortmund, saying he has rebuilt the club and made them a powerful force in European football. The two sides meet in Turin in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie on Tuesday, but the pair have endured contrasting fortunes domestically so far this season. Klopp has been under intense pressure after a disastrous Bundesliga campaign that saw BVB bottom of the table until recently, having won just seven of their 22 matches this season. In contrast, Juventus appear untouchable in Serie A and are on course to win a fourth straight league title as they boast a nine-point lead ahead of second-placed Roma. That said, Dortmund have again impressed in Europe this season after winning Group D and Allegri paid tribute to Klopp's work in recent years. "Dortmund are a good, organised team who play good football, especially in the final third," he said at Monday's press conference. "They score a lot of goals. "Klopp has rebuilt Dortmund and made great strides in Europe. He's a great coach. Their position in the Bundesliga is an anomaly, they'll be near the top by the end of the season." Juve failed to make the knockout stages of the competition under Antonio Conte, but reached the last-16 at the first time of asking under Allegri after finishing second in Group A behind Atletico Madrid. The Bianconeri conceded just three goals in their six group stage games and the former AC Milan boss believes their defensive resilience will be key to their chances of reaching the quarter-finals. "It is an important game but not a final. We have 180 minutes to play against a team in a rich vein of form. Tomorrow's not a league game; it's the first of two legs against BVB. "We'll need to play with plenty of intensity because their four strikers are fast and dangerous. "We must keep a clean sheet tomorrow. I believe we have an excellent chance of getting through to the next round."

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) CHAMPIONS LEAGUE JUVENTUS V BORUSSIA DORTMUND PREVIEW Feb 23, 2014 Juventus So, it’s finally here. The yardstick by which so many will undoubtably measure the Bianconeri’s success this season. Juventus v Dortmund, the last-16 of the Champions 2014/15. It’s been 71 days since the draw was made; That’s 6,134,400 seconds or 102,240 minutes or 1704 hours….not that I’ve been counting. Naturally, a Champions League game in the 2010s for Juventus brings with it some nerves. Couple that with Borussia Dortmund’s success (both historically and currently, and especially against Juve) – and one can see why this isn’t just a game against a Bundesliga relegation dweller. In fact, though BvB are still in a low position in the Bundesliga, they have turned things around as of late. Luckily, Max Allegri has mostly a full squad to choose from. The only injured players are the long term injured guys, Kwadwo Asamoah and Romulo. This means we will likely see the 4-3-1-2 with Allegri’s preferred starters. Gianluigi Buffon in goal is a guarantee, as always. Stephan Lichtsteiner and Patrice Evra are our best full backs, so expect to seem them at right and left back, respectively. Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini are the starting centerbacks, but due to Dortmund’s pace and propensity to counter I wouldn’t be shocked if Martin Caceres gets the nod at centerback. Andrea Pirlo will reprise his regista role, while Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba will start in central midfield. Arturo Vidal is expected to be healthy and ready to play for this match, so barring any negative developments he will be in the semi-trequartista role. The only real area of mystery in this lineup is up top. And the mystery is: who will start alongside Carlos Tevez? Fernando Llorente did score vs Atalanta, but he had a poor game on the whole. Meanwhile, Alvaro Morata has seemingly replace Llorente as the preferred partner for Tevez, but this trend isn’t super concrete and there have been times where Llorente surprisingly gets the start ahead of Morata. The fact that this is a Champions League fixture, and Llorente has experience and a good record in Champions League for Juve, could push Llorente over Morata. However, based on recent form, Morata starts. Predicted Lineup 4-3-1-2: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Pirlo, Marchisio, Pogba; Vidal; Tevez, Llorente Injured Asamoah and Romulo (Recovering from surgery) Suspended None Borussia Dortmund Predicted Lineup 4-2-3-1: Weidenfeller, Piszczek, Sokratis, Hummels, Schmelzer; Bender, Gündogan; Błaszczykowski, Kagawa, Reus; Aubameyang Injured Großkreutz Suspended None Formation

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Buffon: 'Juve curious with BVB' Feb 23, 2014 Gigi Buffon said Juventus are “curious to measure ourselves up” against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. The first leg of the Round of 16 kicks off on Tuesday at the Juventus Stadium at 20.45 CET. “I hope this isn’t the game of the season, as that would mean there are few bigger ones in front of us! We all hope to have many more prestigious clashes,” replied the goalkeeper in a Press conference. “Depending on age, every player experiences the eve of a game differently. The younger player will have the eagerness to prove himself on the international stage. The more experienced player is proud that despite his age he can still compete for the top levels. “In the Juve locker room we have the desire to keep this dream going for as long as possible. We are also fully aware of the fact we are taking on a team that is very tough, that two years ago played in the Final and this season won their group with real authority. “So even if they’re not doing that well domestically, this shows that in competitions with one-off games and a big reward up for grabs, they can get the best out of themselves. “I am fully convinced Borussia Dortmund are one of the best sides in Europe and can beat anyone. At the same time, we are curious to see what progress we have made in this tournament.” Buffon was furious with his Juventus teammates after they fumbled a lead for their 2-2 draw at relegation candidates Cesena. “I got angry with myself at Cesena. With Atalanta it wasn’t our best performance, but that wasn’t the main issue. Tomorrow nobody can possibly lack commitment and focus from the first to the last minute. “If we win or lose, we will do it without regrets, because everyone gives the best they possibly can at that moment. I doubt anyone will hold back or risk getting complacent. Our aim is to play the second leg with the possibility of qualifying. “After a ‘sabbatical’ last year, we got back to our European journey. We are all curious and motivated to measure ourselves up against sides that have been challenging at the top of European football for a few years and Borussia Dortmund are one of them. “I hope that compared to two years ago many of us are more confident of our capabilities. I hope we have all made steps forward in terms of football, belief and awareness. We also have a few more individuals who have joined the squad and could give us an extra hand. “I don’t know if we are stronger than Borussia or not. I just know that I am curious to see how good we can be.” Buffon shot an ad with Borussia star Marco Reus, so was asked about his opinions. “He’s certainly a great talent and a player who can shake things up, as he has qualities above the norm. He is coming off a pretty long injury lay-off, so I hope he’s not at 100 per cent. If he were, it would be an extra problem for us.”

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Allegri: 'Borussia not a Final' Feb 23, 2014 Max Allegri warned that Juventus v Borussia Dortmund “is not a Final, so it requires patience, cool heads and technique.” The first leg of the Round of 16 kicks off on Tuesday at the Juventus Stadium at 20.45 CET. “It is certainly not the game of the season. It’s not a Final, it is the first leg of a Round of 16, so there are 180 minutes to go,” said the Coach in a Press conference. “Borussia are in great form, as are we, so it will require patience, cool heads and technique. It’s an important game, but not the most decisive of the season. “This is not a Serie A or Bundesliga tie. It is the first of two we have to face against Borussia, knowing they have great pace and technique in attack. Therefore we must try to limit their strengths and play a very intense game. “Nobody ever said Borussia are superior to us, but their four forwards are very quick and technical. They are organised and play good football, especially in attack. “Our objective is to reach the next round. Tomorrow we are playing at home, so the fundamental thing is not to concede, as Borussia are a side that score a lot. “We are fully aware that we have an excellent chance of qualifying, albeit respecting a Borussia side that did great things in recent years. “Jurgen Klopp did great things on the European stage, reconstructed Borussia from 2006 onwards and is a great Coach.” Allegri was asked to imagine how he’d have been treated if Juve suffered Borussia’s disastrous domestic results this season. “It’s an issue of mentality between Germany and Italy. I do think it’s an anomaly that Borussia are mid-table, so towards the end they will be close to the top. Apart from Bayern Munich, who basically have their own tournament, it’s a very tight League.” Allegri was asked about Paul Pogba’s ‘poor’ recent form amid talk of Barcelona interest. “I am not worried about his form because he has great physical characteristics. Of course there are going to be games he plays better and ones where he’s less impressive, you can’t play 50 matches per season all at the same level. “He has provided assists and gone close to scoring goals, so I see no problem.”

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Preview: Juventus vs. Borussia Dortmund Feb 23, 2014 Juventus have been waiting 18 years to gain revenge on Borussia Dortmund. Heading into the Champions League final between the two sides back in 1997, Juve were the big favourites to prosper, but they lost 3-1 to a Karl-Heinz Riedle-inspired Dortmund in Munich. Tomorrow evening, they meet for the first time since that night in the opening leg of their last-16 clash, which is being played in Turin. As far as domestic matters are concerned, the season to date could not have gone much differently for the clubs. Juventus are well on their way to winning a fourth straight Serie A title, while Borussia Dortmund have spent the last few months dangerously flirting with the Bundesliga's relegation places. To Dortmund's credit, their form has improved since their return to action from the winter break, with three wins being recorded on the bounce. In terms of team selection, Jurgen Klopp, who guided BVB to the final of the competition in 2013, will be without versatile midfielder Kevin Grosskreutz because of a hamstring injury. However, talisman Marco Reus is fully fit, while former Juve centre-forward Ciro Immobile and centre-back Mats Hummels could both return to the starting lineup. Meanwhile, Juve head coach Massimiliano Allegri may be tempted into handing recalls to Stephan Lichtsteiner, Patrice Evra and Arturo Vidal following their omissions last time out. In total, the Italian champions have played host to German clubs on 21 occasions, from which they have won 14 and lost on five times. Juventus Form in Champions League: W L L W W D Form in all competitions: W W D W D W Possible starting lineup: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Chiellini, Bonucci, Evra; Pirlo, Marchisio, Pogba; Pereyra; Llorente, Tevez Dortmund Form in Champions League: W W W W L D Form in all competitions: L D L W W W Possible starting lineup: Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer; Sahin, Kagawa, Gundogan, Reus; Immobile, Aubameyang Sports Mole says: 2-0

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Vidal set for Juventus return Feb 23, 2014 Arturo Vidal could make his return for Juventus against Borussia Dortmund, while Ciro Immobile will hope to get some playing time. The Bianconeri host the German side in the Champions League Last 16 tomorrow evening in the first leg of the tie. After missing out on the game against Atalanta due to a groin injury, Vidal may be handed a starting shirt for this match, having joined his teammates yesterday for regular training. The remainder of the Old Lady's midfield is likely to be comprised of the familiar names of Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba and Claudio Marchisio. Coach Max Allegri will be faced with a familiar dilemma as he has to choose between Alvaro Morata and Fernando Llorente to flank Carlos Tevez. Ilsussidiario.net suggests that the former holds a slight edge thanks to his speed, which may trouble the German defence. Dortmund Coach Jurgen Klopp is coming off three consecutive victories in the Bundesliga and is unlikely to change his habitual 4-2-3-1 system. Ilkay Gundogan and Nuri Sahin are fundamental to the mechanisms of the midfield and can be expected to start. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is in solid form and will almost certainly start, though Immobile is bound to be driven at the idea of playing against his former club, and may see some playing time in the second half. Probable Juventus lineup: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Pogba, Pirlo, Marchisio; Vidal; Tevez, Morata. Probable Borussia Dortmund lineup: Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer; Gundogan, Sahin; Kampl, Mkhitaryan, Reus; Aubameyang

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Pirlo Focused On Borussia Dortmund Test Feb 23, 2014 Juventus talisman Andrea Pirlo quickly turned his attention to Champions League action following a crucial winning goal against Atalanta. The 35-year-old play-maker hit a blockbuster from 35 yards on the stroke of half-time on Friday evening after Fernando Llorente hauled them level six minutes earlier, but didn’t dwell on his team’s 2-1 Serie A success for long when setting his sights firmly on Tuesday’s huge clash with a resurgent Borussia Dortmund. “It’s always nice to score important goals,” Pirlo tweeted on Monday. “Now maximum focus and commitment is on the game tomorrow.” Many observers believed that veteran Pirlo would be rested against Atalanta with a view to the Bianconeri’s round of 16 tie with Dortmund, but he instead featured for the entire 90 minutes and notched his first goal since scoring in the derby win over Torino on November 30 to put Juventus nine points clear at the top.

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Echoes of the 1997 Champions League final as Juve prepare for Dortmund Feb 23, 2014 The challenge is mouth-watering. The anticipation is growing. The favourite? There isn't one. Juventus versus Borussia Dortmund is one of the most eagerly awaited matches of the Champions League and it's not only because the mere thought of it conjures up the familiar scent of nostalgia. It was 1997 when the perennial German underdogs became winners of the Champions League against what was arguably Europe's best team, Juventus. While Corriere della Sera ran with the headline "Juve -- a night of tears and anger", Sportsmail's Jeff Powell wrote, "Juventus Old Boys beat up the Old Lady herself." "Beat up" was perhaps hyperbolic but the scenes could never be forgotten. The Old Lady had deployed an array of illustrious talent -- including soon-to-be World Champions Zinedine Zidane and Didier Deschamps -- and dominated the match, yet frustration was the only emotion to be felt as Karl-Heinz Riedle scored two goals in five minutes to shock the Bianconeri and stun onlookers. The Italian media raged against the injustice witnessed in the Olympiastadion. That same Corriere della Sera piece referred to the event as "an evening without God." Juventus struck the post twice but grew livid with referee Sandor Puhl's decisions that involved disallowing a Christian Vieri goal for what appeared to be an unintentional handball and for refusing to award Marcello Lippi's men two clear penalties. Among the chaos, Juventus made a fan out of this writer. Alessandro Del Piero's back-heel goal was an audacious moment of brilliance. It quickly became apparent that to not support a side that played with such elegance and appeared harshly penalised was both mystifying and inexcusable. Winners will always be cheered but then there were those who fell in love with the talented losers. Since then, fortunes have changed and both teams have experienced difficult moments and a return to glory. Juventus are back to dominating Italy with hopes of dominating Europe, while Dortmund, albeit experiencing a difficult season, have secured the role of Germany's second superpower in football. What makes the tie so interesting is that it's a clash of two teams who rose through the ranks because of a mutual belief in the value of intensity. While there are obvious differences in the philosophy and style of play between the two sides, neither club could have collected so many trophies had it not been for the belief that stamina, relentless running and gut-wrenching determination is, and perhaps always will be, the difference maker. Fortunate to have visionaries in charge, both Antonio Conte and Jurgen Klopp put their faith in the power of psychology. They didn't simply construct well-balanced sides with a specific style of play, but emotionally charged a squad and created a unit that sacrificed for one another and believed in the collective, adopting a warrior mentality. Each goal was celebrated with wild abandon, each victory cherished with passion. "If we don't go at 200mph then we're just an ordinary team," explained Antonio Conte when asked on what made his Juve so special. He wanted them to fight, to sacrifice and to respect themselves and the shirt. Mediocrity was not to be tolerated and with one speech, given in the gym in pre-season, Andrea Pirlo believed. As did the rest of the squad. "This squad, dear lads, is coming off two consecutive seventh-place finishes. It's crazy. Shocking. I am not here for this, so it's time to stop being crap." As for Klopp, he believed that to push yourself to the limit is to put one hand on the trophy. "I want us to go to the limit every time. There's a saying: a good horse only jumps as high as it needs to. I've put it differently for my team: a really good horse jumps as high as it can. To give everything on the pitch, that's what we train for." Intensity, passion and intelligence are what define the two teams yet the strategies differ entirely, at least on a superficial level. Juventus are obsessed with possession and always look to control the tempo of the game, relying on Pirlo's geometry and the players' technique and combinations to score. By contrast the Germans boast electric pace and transition with perfection. Masters of gegenpressing, they press ferociously to win back possession and minimise the space for the opponent before inflicting their strengths. So why the failure domestically? The real question is can we describe Dortmund's domestic performances as woeful or unlucky. Both. Statistics show that on average, Die Schwarzgelben are not as efficient at pressing as they once were, allowing the opponent one more pass than usual. However, barring that statistic, the team are still in good shape and one cannot help but feel for a side that still creates an abundance of chances yet is incapable of converting opportunities. It hardly helps that expectations are high and confidence is low, turning excellent players into average men on the pitch. Henrikh Mkhitaryan is now referred to as "Missataryan" on account of how incapable he has at scoring -- thanks, Mino Raiola, but Juve don't need him -- while the former king of passes, Nuri Sahin has seen his passing accuracy stats take a tumble. However, things are picking up and BVB have now accrued three consecutive victories. Klopp is attempting to achieve consistency by forcing his squad to train on a terrible pitch, that way the players maintain their concentration levels. It seems to have worked yet the German side still has a few weakness the Italians can exploit. Possessing a weak defence that surrenders when pressured, Juventus must play with maximum intensity so that they may overwhelm the opponent with their attacking game. Imprecision and sloppy behaviour will simply not be tolerated and it's time Massimiliano Allegri's men play a mature and intelligent game, keeping the ball and isolating the defenders in hopes of provoking mistakes. Out of 21 matches Juventus have played at home against German opponents, they have won 14. Can they make it 15 on Tuesday evening?

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Can Ciro shatter Juventus dreams? As Ciro Immobile returns to Turin, Luca Cetta recalls the list of players to have represented both Juventus and Borussia Dortmund. Feb 23, 2014 He had high hopes of emulating Robert Lewandowski, but life in Dortmund hasn’t exactly gone to plan for Ciro Immobile. As Borussia Dortmund prepare to face Juventus, Coach Jurgen Klopp joked Immobile’s recent illness may be in his head: “In his case, I have to determine if it’s really about his fitness or the fact that we are playing Juventus next week.” Battling ill-health last Friday was not exactly the ideal 25th birthday for Immobile, who watched on as his side won for the third time in succession. The striker is expected to be fine tomorrow, yet his participation from the first whistle is doubtful – sick or not. In a way, Immobile’s start to life in Germany mirrored that of the club. Like Dortmund, he’s experienced happier times in the Champions League, bagging four goals compared to three Bundesliga strikes. If Immobile felt more at home against Arsenal than Augsburg, it was a reflection of Borussia’s form. It took until December – 14 matches – to equal their four European victories. But where the team has picked up after the winter break, Immobile has not found his range. He’ll be hoping a meeting with Juve is the spark needed. Before December’s draw the Italian international stated a desire to face Juventus, but only in the semi-finals. The Round of 16 clash may be premature in Immobile’s mind, but his aim is to eliminate the Bianconeri. Immobile returns to the peninsula following his reported-€20m summer move, one that – indirectly at least, he last played for Torino in Serie A and was only co-owned by Juventus – was the latest in a list of transfers between the clubs. An occurrence which peaked during their frequent 1990s battles. Germans made their way to Serie A once the borders to foreigners reopened in 1980. Inter led the charge, responding to Milan’s Dutch trio with the West German trident of Lothar Matthaus, Jurgen Klinsmann and Andreas Brehme. West Germany’s Italia ’90 success led to further arrivals and Juventus grabbed a slice of the pie. It started with Thomas Hassler that summer, but his stay lasted only a season. That didn’t deter Juve, who signed a pair of world champions from Bayern Munich. Stefan Reuter only featured during 1991-92, while Jurgen Kohler became a defensive mainstay partnered by Brazilian Julio Cesar, signed alongside Hassler. Reuter was the first to make the move to BVB, but in stepped another German to fill Juve’s foreign quota. The exciting Andreas Moller – who had played for Dortmund earlier in his career – graced the Stadio delle Alpi and ended his first season with a UEFA Cup triumph over the Yellow and Blacks. When Marcello Lippi took charge in 1994, Portuguese international Paulo Sousa became the Old Lady’s midfield lynchpin. Cesar and Moller traded Turin for Dortmund. Kohler added to the list a year later. When he left, Juventus had ended their Scudetto drought and knocked Dortmund out of the UEFA Cup semi-finals. The battles would shift to the Champions League stage, where Ottmar Hitzfeld and his ever-growing army of ex-Bianconeri would slowly turn the tide. The next addition to the ranks was Paulo Sousa, who ended his Juventus stint on a high as a Champions League winner. He was one of the final pieces of the puzzle as Dortmund sought European glory. Such was the Bianconero tinge that when the pair met in the 1997 Champions League Final Borussia started four ex-Juventus players. Only Julio Cesar was not included in the 16-man squad on a night which ended with Dortmund – and those who traded white for yellow – celebrating a maiden European crown. Kohler highlighted his affection for his former club by draping a Juventus scarf thrown to him during the lap of honour around his neck. As if to make the journey come full circle, Hassler joined Borussia in 1998. Sunday Oliseh would end a short Juventus stint in 1999 to call the Westfalenstadion home, but there would be no further transfers between the clubs until 2007, with both enduring difficult years. Juventus were newly promoted following Calciopoli and Dortmund had survived the threat of bankruptcy when Robert Kovac signed. Now there’s Immobile. In four prior meetings with Juventus he has scored once. Starter or not tomorrow he can offer valuable insight about the Old Lady and her players as both a teammate and opponent. “Ciro gave us trouble when he was at Toro, and he can do the same for Borussia,” Gianluigi Buffon warned in December. Massimiliano Allegri has stressed the importance of Juventus not conceding at home in this first leg. But could Immobile join the group of Dortmund’s ex-Juventini to shatter Bianconeri dreams, while rekindling his own fortunes?

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Reus: Juventus tie is 50-50 The winger believes the two sides are evenly matched and predicts the contest will be decided by the finest of margins over the two legs. Feb 23, 2014 Marco Reus says Borussia Dortmund's last-16 Champions League clash with Juventus is a 50-50 tie with no clear favourite. While Dortmund have struggled domestically and sit 12th in the Bundesliga, they have impressed in Europe again after reaching the final and quarter-finals of the competition in each of the last two seasons. BVB finished top of Group D ahead of second placed Arsenal, while Juve qualified for the knockout stages having sealed the runners-up spot in Group A behind Atletico Madrid. Reus, who recently signed a new contract with the club until 2019, is expecting the tightest of contests but has drawn confidence from their efforts in Europe prior to Christmas. "Juventus are really a strong team," he told Kicker. "The chances of qualifying I think are about 50/50. We are proud enough to say that we can eliminate them if we deliver a top performance. On the top-level it is brutally difficult, though. "We have seen in the first round that we are different in the Champions League than in the Bundesliga. We have beaten Arsenal and Galatasaray in Istanbul. The top level has its own laws. It is certainly very interesting. For every player in the world the motivation is particularly high." The 25-year-old is yet to win a major trophy at Dortmund since joining the club from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2012, with just two DFL-Supercup medals to his name, but he is targeting league and European success in the years ahead. "Winning the league is still a major goal. I want to achieve it at least once more," he said. "I wil give everything to achieve that and I have a large and strong feeling that it will happen eventually. "We have already seen how beautiful it is to be in a Champions League final. And we are still hungry to win the Champions League sometime."

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Buffon tells Reus: We all know who the best goalkeeper of all time is The Juventus and Borussia Dortmund stars discussed their careers, playing styles and heroes before predicting who would win Tuesday's big Champions League game. Feb 23, 2014 Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and Borussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus met for a humorous one-on-one interview ahead of their clash in the Champions League - and both agree the Italian is the greatest goalkeeper of all time. Reus asked Buffon who the best No.1 ever is and he mischievously replied: "Well, we should speak about the second best because we all know who the best is..." "You, of course," the Germany star admitted. The PUMA-sponsored duo discussed Tuesday's game, with both predicting wins for their own teams, their favourite films, beard growth, and whether it is better to win 4-3 or 1-0. "Do you prefer shots to the left or the right side of the goal?" Reus cheekily asked, with Buffon replying, "Would I still be playing at the top level at the age of 37 years if I had any weaknesses?" You can watch the entire exchange between Buffon and Reus below.

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Borussia Dortmund Duo Confident Ahead Of Juventus Tie Feb 23, 2014 Borussia Dortmund star duo Marco Reus and Ilkay Gundogan are confident their side can overcome Juventus in their upcoming Champions League tie. The Bianconeri meet the German giants on Tuesday evening in what looms as a Champions League final rematch from 1999, as they look to make a serious run in Europe’s elite competition. “We are happy with how we have played in the last three league games, and now we are fully convinced we can play on par in Turin,” Reus told Tuttosport. “These three wins in a row have allowed us to come unstuck mentally and restore faith in our potential,” Gundogan added. “Much of the credit goes to our coach who always told us that, sooner or later, we would get back to being the true Dortmund. “We confirmed it in the Bundesliga, now we have to do it in the Champions League and playing against a good team like Juventus is even further motivation.”

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Dortmund are the favourites vs Juventus - Kohler The former defender, who won domestic and European trophies with both sides, gives the upper hand to Jurgen Klopp's side in the European clash. Feb 23, 2014 Borussia Dortmund are in good shape to progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League at the expense of Juventus, according to Jurgen Kohler. The German side have started to put their abysmal start to the season behind them ahead of Tuesday's last-16 clash with Juventus in Turin, having won each of their last three league games to climb from bottom of the Bundesliga to 12th. Juventus, though, have lost just once in Serie A this season and straddle the league by a comfortable nine points. Despite their inconsistency this season, former Juve and Dortmund defender Kohler suggests Jurgen Klopp's men still have the advantage heading into the tie. "Dortmund are still in the Bundesliga relegation battle, so the Champions League is seen as a bit of an inconvenience because the priority is the league. BVB are not out of the woods yet," he told Kicker. "Nevertheless, they have a good chance of progressing to the quarter-finals. Juventus are no longer a world class team. They have Paul Pogba, who is a huge talent, and the former Leverkusen midfielder Arturo Vidal - but it ends there. "Juve are solid and in Italy they are the outright top team, but they no longer have the talents of the old days. The entire Serie A is in a period of transition, lagging years behind economically and in a sporting sense. "The infrastructure is outdated, their own young players are not sufficiently promoted, instead there is a flood of average players from abroad. "Against Juve, Dortmund are therefore the favourites, although I do not necessarily expect a magnificent evening for them. They need time to develop self-confidence in the Bundesliga. "Until they return to their strength - with their own system and playing style - I don't think BVB will be as big a hit as they were in 2013 when they reached the Champions League final. But until then it's a long, hard road." Kohler was part of the Dortmund side which defeated Juventus - whom he played for before his BVB stint - in the 1997 Champions League final, which was the last time these two teams met.

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Juventus-Borussia Dortmund Betting: BVB to test Bianconeri backline in Turin Massimiliano Allegri's side rarely look as assured in defence in Europe as in Serie A and Al Hain-Cole expects them to come under pressure against a sharp attacking outfit. Feb 23, 2014 Juventus will be out for European revenge when they host Borussia Dortmund in Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 tie. The sides have not met since the Germans came out on top in the 1997 final, although the Bianconeri are favourites with Paddy Power to avenge that defeat by taking a valuable first-leg lead here. Having endured a disappointing domestic season at odds with their European efforts so far, Jurgen Klopp’s men will come into this match in reasonably high spirits after three consecutive league wins and are available at to secure a victory. Three of the last six matches at the Juventus Stadium have resulted in draws in this competition and you can get odds of on the sides cancelling each other out in this one. While Dortmund will be aiming to continue their recent form revival, Massimiliano Allegri’s team will be trying to finally translate their Italian dominance to the European stage. Despite winning the last three consecutive Serie A titles, the hosts have only reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League once since 2006 - a woeful record for such a prestigious club. One factor in this underperformance in recent seasons has been a failure to replicate the defensive excellence that has inspired their domestic supremacy in the Champions League. Having conceded just 60 goals in their last 100 league fixtures, the Italian champions have let in 17 in the previous 14 in Europe, keeping just two clean sheets in their last seven in front of their own fans. This potential weakness at the back is sure to be tested against Dortmund, who have forged a reputation as one of the most feared attacking outfits in Europe over the past couple of seasons, scoring 40 goals in their last 20 matches. With this in mind, odds of are not to be missed on both teams finding the net for the fifth time in seven Champions League matches at this ground, and third in four in Europe for Dortmund.

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA D. - Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) Chiellini: Juve can punish Dortmund The defender feels his side are the strongest they have been for years and believes his side can punish Dortmund if they give them space. Feb 23, 2014 Giorgio Chiellini is confident that Juventus can punish Borussia Dortmund for their "risky" style of play when they meet in their Champions League knockout tie. The Serie A champions are in good form heading into the last-16 meeting with Jurgen Klopp's men, who lie 12th in the Bundesliga having recently clawed their way off the bottom spot with three consecutive wins. While Chiellini admits that Dortmund's counterattacking style makes them a dangerous team to come up against, he feels they take a lot of risks and his side should be looking to punish them for it. "There is great respect and a desire to win, to go ahead and continue to dream in this European adventure," he told Rai Sport. "We feel stronger and more mature than in recent years. "Dortmund have important players back from injuries that held them back in the first half of the season, but over two games anything can happen. "We must not allow them to hit us on the counterattack, because they have players that are great when given space. But playing like that means taking big risks and, in the first part of the season, they conceded a lot of goals in open play because of it." The centre-back says his side are looking forward to playing in the knockout stages and hopes they put in a performance to be proud of. "Our team's strong and has developed steadily in recent years, we want to show that in Europe," he added. "But this should not be a chore, we must play with enthusiasm, like a dream, but without feeling the weight of responsibility of representing Italy in Europe."