Dybala may be Juventus ace
Juventus hope the return of gifted Paulo Dybala from two months out with a hamstring injury will give them a real chance to win away at Wembley tomorrow and get past Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Champions League.
Dybala was back in the starting team for the Italian champions clash with Lazio in Serie A at the weekend and not only did he last the full 90 minutes, he also got the game's only goal in stoppage time at the end.
It has pushed Juventus into a morale-boosting top place in the Italian league and into a much more confident frame of mind for the return leg of their last16 tie against Spurs. They gave up a two-goal lead at home in the first leg last month, when held to a 2-2 draw.
The return legs in the first knockout round of the Champions League campaign start tonight with the keynote fixture between Paris St Germain and Real Madrid in the French capital. There’s also a routine assignment for Liverpool at home to FC Porto, who they thrashed away a fortnight ago.
Manchester City should progress to the last eight tomorrow, when they host Swiss club Basel after posting a 4-0 success away in the first leg.
But whether Dybala can save Juventus from elimination in London is a much tougher puzzle for TAB soccer punters as they mark their betting forms for these Champions League matches, which are all included in TAB soccer pools today and tomorrow.
Dybala is the star who is being touted as a future World Player of the Year, although this has been something of a burden for him since he left Argentina aged 18 to go to Serie A.
The comparisons with compatriot Lionel Messi are an adhesive left foot, dribbling acumen and a low centre of gravity.
Spurs will not be pleased to have to come up against him, even though they will fancy their chances at home.
PSG have spent plenty on top-class players in their bid to win a first European title, but their hopes took a nose dive when Neymar was injured. They are now far from sure to have the ability to come back from a 3-1 first-leg deficit when they host the holders tonight.
PSG had the lead in the first leg before Cristiano Ronaldo inspired a comeback for Real. Ominously, the Portuguese scored his 300th goal in La Liga at the weekend as Real warmed up for the trip to Paris by beating Getafe 3-1. He now has 14 goals from his last eight games.