Juventus” data-scaytid=”1″>Juventus welcome back Gigi Buffon for their Champions League must-win game with Nordsjaelland, as Lucio Sebastian Giovinco and Alessandro Matri start.
Juventus welcome back Gigi Buffon for their Champions League must-win game with Nordsjaelland, as Lucio Sebastian Giovinco and Alessandro Matri start.
The match kicks off in Copenhagen at 19.45 BST and sees the Bianconeri looking for their first European victory of the season following draws with Chelsea and Shakhtar Donetsk.
Buffon missed both Italy-Denmark and Napoli” data-scaytid=”14″>Juventus-Napoli due to a thigh problem, but the goalkeeper is back in the starting XI tonight.
Mirko Vucinic has still not fully recovered from a bout of flu, so is on the bench along with Danish international Nicklas Bendtner, while Stephan Lichtsteiner and Kwadwo Asamoah were left behind in Turin to rest.
Paul Pogba had been expected to make a rare start, but Coach Antonio Conte and assistant Angelo Alessio – here making his Champions League touchline debut – opted to stick with the first choice midfield.
Lucio and Mauricio Isla are given the opportunity to shine as they recuperate from injuries.
Nordsjaelland have lost both their Group E games so far, conceding six goals, but could prove tough nuts to crack.
The 4-0 defeat by Chelsea was their first home defeat in 14, but three of those goals came in the final 11 minutes for a frankly harsh scoreline.
Ivan Runje and Mikkel Beckmann were carrying injuries going into this game, but are both risked in the starting XI.
Andreas Laudrup will be one to watch, as his father Michael played for Juventus from 1983 to 1989.
Nordsjaelland: J Hansen; Parkhurst, Okore, Runje, Mtiliga; Adu, Stokholm; Laudrup, Lorentzen, John; Beckmann
Nordsjaelland bench: Villadsen, Gundelach, Christensen, Ticinovic, Petry, Christiansen, Nordstrand
Juventus: Buffon; Lucio, Bonucci, Chiellini; Isla, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, De Ceglie; Matri, Giovinco
Juventus bench: Storari, Caceres, Pogba, Giaccherini, Marrone, Vucinic, Bendtner