Juve Look For Return To Form
Monday 22nd October 2001
Juventus will qualify for the second group stage of the Champions' League with victory over Porto on Tuesday, but go into the match with confidence on a low ebb after failing to win in Serie A for the fourth straight match on Saturday.
The goalless draw against Bologna saw another disappointing performance from Marcello Lippi's side, and Juve's problems were compounded by injury to Marcelo Salas who has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Alessandro Del Piero, David Trezeguet and Nicola Amoruso are Juve's remaining fit forwards, although del Piero will play with a bandaged hand, another inheritance of the draw in Bologna.
Amoruso, meanwhile, is still not match fit having only resumed training on Monday after spraining his left ankle.
More importantly, Lippi is still waiting for Pavel Nedved to show the form that prompted the Turin side to prize him from Lazio in the summer.
The Czech midfielder was again below par against Bologna, leaving Lippi with cause for concern on both flanks as Gianluca Zambrotta is also struggling to find his best form.
Juve's problems will be forgotten with victory over Porto, but Octavio Machado's side will be no pushovers as they look to make up for their shock defeat at home defeat against Belenenses on Saturday.
Porto trail Juve by a single point at the top of the group after their impressive 3-0 thrashing of Celtic last week, but Machado also has injury concerns.
Defensive midfielder Carlos Paredes broke his ankle at the weekend and will be the most important absence from the Porto side.
Sweden international, Frederik Sodestrom, who has been out with a broken toe, is likely to deputise.
Juventus (probable): Buffon, Tudor, Thuram, Montero, Pessotto, Zambrotta, Tacchinardi, Davids, Nedved, Trezeguet, Del Piero
Porto (probable): Ovchinikov, Hugo Ibarra, Mario Silva, Jorge Andrade, Ricardo Carvalho, Frederik Sodestrom, Costinha, Nuno Capucho, Clayton, Deco, Pena
