Formidable Juve defence face stern Tottenham test
MILAN: This is one defence even Harry Kane might struggle to breach.
The world’s leading scorer in 2017 comes up against one of Europe’s tightest back lines when Tottenham take on Juventus on Tuesday.
Only one goal has been conceded in the last 16 matches by the Italian champions. Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is hoping such a formidable record doesn’t spook his players heading into the first leg of the Champions League match in Turin.
“It’s better that I don’t tell them. That will be my psychology,” Pochettino quipped. “It will be a tough battle.”
There were questions over how the Juventus defence would cope following Leonardo Bonucci’s shock departure to AC Milan. For six years, he linked up with Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini and won six league titles. However, after an inconsistent start to the campaign, which saw Juventus concede 14 times in 13 league matches, the back line has settled down.
Medhi Benatia has stepped up to fill the void left by Bonucci and the Morocco international has formed a solid partnership with Chiellini, after both missed several matches through injury. “After the start of the season, when we had games ending 3-2 or even 6-2, like against Udinese, we went back to normal,” Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said. “You can control games simply by defending well and not affording your opponents any chances.”
The turning point
was their last Champions League home match — A 0-0 draw with Barcelona in November. After losing 3-0 at Barcelona earlier in the group stage, the return fixture was only the second time Juventus had not conceded in any competition since the end of September. It was the start of the impressive defensive run.
There was a caveat. Barcelona rested Lionel Messi for nearly an hour that night in Turin. There is little chance of Tottenham starting Kane on the bench on Tuesday. The 24-year-old England forward has scored 36 goals in 37 games for club and country this season and has netted at least one goal in six of his last seven matches. But Juventus is no slouch going forward either, having scored a Serie A-leading 61 goals this season while tussling with Napoli for the title.
The Bianconeri will almost certainly be without Paulo Dybala for Tuesday’s first leg. The forward hasn’t played since limping off at Cagliari on Jan 6 and is training apart from the rest of the team while recovering from a muscular injury.
However, Gonzalo Higuain is in fine form coming into the match, with six goals in four matches.