CHAMPIONS' LEAGUE: Juventus Gets Ready for Bilbao
Copyright � 1998 Nando.net
Copyright � 1998 Reuters
ROME (Nov 3, 1998 - 12:32 EST) - Italian champions Juventus meet Athletic Bilbao in a crunch European Champions' League group B clash in Turin on Wednesday in which the loser will almost certainly be eliminated from the competition.
Surprisingly, both Juventus and Basque side Bilbao trail the two other sides in the group with Norwegian side Rosenborg leading on five points, one clear of Turkish side Galatasary.
Juventus lies third on three points and Bilbao are bottom with two points.
The Italians, however, come into the game in a bouyant mood following a 2-0 home win against Sampdoria on Sunday which saw them go top of Serie A, one point clear of second placed Fiorentina.
Juventus badly need to show some of their Serie A form in the Champions League where, so far, they have picked up just three draws, the most recent being 0-0 against Bilbao two weeks ago.
Injured Frenchman Didier Deschamps, due to be replaced by Antonio Conte, is the only absentee in an otherwise full strength side that features Dutchman Edgar Davids, Angelo Di Livio, Alessio Tacchinardi and French World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane alongside Conte in midfield.
In attack, Juventus look to their normal first choice pairing of Alessandro Del Piero and Filippo Inzaghi, whilst Croat Igor Tudor returns to partner Uruguayan Paolo Montero and Mark Iuliano in a three man defence.
Looking forward to the Bilbao tie, Montero admits that the time has come for Juventus to start winning in the Champions' League, commenting: "This'll be a real match. A win is a must, both for them and for us, there's no two ways about it."
Those sentiments are reflected in the bullish attitude of Bilbao coach, Frenchman Luis Fernandez, who said: "We intend to break all their records and all their streaks including the fact that Juventus have not lost at the Delle Alpi for nearly three years.
"Some day all records have to come to an end and that day could be Wednesday."
Fernandez will be without injured Spanish international defender Rafael Akorta, due to be replaced by Francisco Ferreira, while club captain, international Julen Guerrero, may the start the game on the bench.
Guerrero came on as a halftime replacement for Josu Urrutia in Bilbao's 2-2 draw on Saturday but it is Urrutia who is expected to start against Juventus.
Probable teams :
Juventus - Angelo Peruzzi, Igor Tudor, Mark Iuliano, Paolo Montero; Angelo Di Livio, Alessio Tacchinardi, Antonio Conte, Edgar Davids; Zinedine Zidane; Alessandro Del Piero, Filippo Inzaghi.
Athletic Bilbao - Imanol Etxeberria, Jose-Maria Lacruz, Carlos Garcia, Francisco Ferreira, Aitor Larrazabal; Andoni Imaz, Josu Urrutia, Bittor Alkiza; Joseba Etxeberria, Ismail Urzaiz, Santiago Ezquerro.
