Juventus” data-scaytid=”4″>Juventus choose Mirko Vucinic and Carlos Tevez for their Europa League semi-final with Benfica.
It kicks off in Lisbon tonight at 20.05 UK time (19.05 GMT) and the decider is next Thursday in Turin.
Juventus choose Mirko Vucinic and Carlos Tevez for their Europa League semi-final with Benfica.
It kicks off in Lisbon tonight at 20.05 UK time (19.05 GMT) and the decider is next Thursday in Turin.
There were many doubts over who would start in attack alongside Tevez and the nod has been given to Vucinic, beating Fernando Llorente, Sebastian Giovinco and Daniel Osvaldo.
Arturo Vidal is out of action with a knee injury, so Claudio Marchisio completes the midfield, while Martin Caceres is chosen ahead of Andrea Barzagli.
Leonardo Bonucci and Stephan Lichtsteiner were able to rest last week, as they were suspended for the 1-0 Serie A victory over Bologna.
Benfica must do without the injured Silvio, Ljubomir Fejsa, Eduardo Salvio and star midfielder Nicolas Gaitan.
Hitman Oscar Cardozo is the main threat, supported by Rodrigo and Sulejmani, while ex-Roma goalkeeper Artur starts between the posts.
The Portuguese giants celebrated at the weekend after securing the League title with several rounds to spare.
It means they can now focus entirely on the Europa League, where they were beaten in the Final by Rafa Benitez’s Chelsea last season.
These sides have met twice before in Europe, as Juve lost 2-0 here in the 1968 European Cup, eventually exiting 3-0 on aggregate against Eusebio’s team.
They lost 2-1 in Lisbon in the 1993 UEFA Cup quarter-final, but qualified 4-2 on aggregate thanks to a 3-0 home result.
Benfica: Artur; Maxi Pereira, Luisao, Garay, Siqueira; L Markovic, Perez, Andre Gomes; Rodrigo, Oscar Cardozo, Sulejmani
Benfica bench: Oblak, Jardel, Andre Almeida, Ruben Amorim, Djuricic, Ivan Cavaleiro, Lima
Juventus: Buffon; Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Pogba, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Tevez, Vucinic
Juventus bench: Storari, Ogbonna, Barzagli, Giovinco, Llorente, Osvaldo