Juventus vs PSG

Allianz Stadium forms the backdrop for a mouth-watering Champions League match-up between injury-crippled Juventus and star-studded Paris Saint-Germain.

Juventus needed a victory at Benfica in the previous round to hand their hopes of reaching the Champions League knockouts for a ninth successive season, but they lost 4-3. In addition to failing to qualify for the competition’s round of 16 for the first time since 2013/14, the record-time Italian champions could still miss out on the Europa League knockout playoffs. Unless they find a way to at least equal Maccabi Haifa’s result against Benfica, ‘I Bianconeri’ could end up empty-handed. Amid fans’ growing frustration over Massimiliano Allegri’s woeful second stint at the club, Juventus pulled off a 1-0 win at Serie A newcomers Lecce last weekend to set themselves up nicely for this revenge-poised fixture. A 2-1 defeat at the Parc des Princes on matchday one halted Juventus’ impressive eight-game unbeaten H2H record against PSG in major European competitions (W6, D2).

Unlike their hosts, high-flying Paris Saint-Germain have booked their tickets for the round of 16 in thumping fashion, dismantling Haifa 7-2 at home last time out. Christophe Galtier’s side moved on to pull off a come-from-behind 4-3 home win over Ligue 1 minnows Troyes at the weekend, stretching their winning streak in all competitions to four matches. But if they’re to ensure a favourable draw by capturing a top spot in Group H, PSG will have to work on their goal difference, as they sit level on points with Benfica going into the final round. That’s unlikely to dampen the enthusiasm in the travelling camp, with ‘Les Parisiens’ winning heir final group stage match in each of the last four Champions League seasons.