Juventus have the slight advantage in their Champions League quarter-final against Ajax in that they kick off the second leg with an away goal, but know just how dangerous the Dutch champions are.
The first leg in Amsterdam looked to be going exactly to plan for the reigning Serie A champions as Cristiano Ronaldo put any doubts over his fitness to bed by scoring a first-half opener. But Ajax fought back immediately with a David Neres equaliser a minute after the restart, ensuring that the second leg begins with the match locked in a stalemate.
Juventus will hope that the second leg returns to being the Ronaldo show, given the Portuguese is looking to claim his sixth Champions League crown after four wins with Real Madrid and his first European triumph with Manchester United.
But with Ajax possessing one of the brightest young teams in Europe, the likes of Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt possess the talent to pull off what would be a major upset in Turin.
Ajax have not reached the last four of the Champions League since 1997 but know that scoring in Italy will negate the away-goal advantage that Juventus possess, and give them a chance of reaching the last four.
1/22 Onana 6
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2/22 Veltman 6
AP
3/22 De Ligt 7
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4/22 Blind 6
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5/22 Tagliafico 7
EPA
6/22 Schone 6
Getty Images
7/22 De Jong 8
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8/22 Ziyech 9
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9/22 Van de Beek 7
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10/22 Tadic 7
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11/22 Neres 8
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12/22 Szczesny 7
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13/22 Cancelo 5
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14/22 Rugani 6
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15/22 Bonucci 5
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16/22 Sandro 5
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17/22 Bentancur 6
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18/22 Pjanic 6
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19/22 Matuidi 7
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20/22 Bernardeschi 7
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21/22 Mandzukic 6
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22/22 Ronaldo 7
EPA
1/22 Onana 6
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2/22 Veltman 6
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3/22 De Ligt 7
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4/22 Blind 6
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5/22 Tagliafico 7
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6/22 Schone 6
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7/22 De Jong 8
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8/22 Ziyech 9
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9/22 Van de Beek 7
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10/22 Tadic 7
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11/22 Neres 8
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12/22 Szczesny 7
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13/22 Cancelo 5
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14/22 Rugani 6
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15/22 Bonucci 5
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16/22 Sandro 5
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17/22 Bentancur 6
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18/22 Pjanic 6
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19/22 Matuidi 7
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20/22 Bernardeschi 7
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21/22 Mandzukic 6
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22/22 Ronaldo 7
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Here’s everything you need to know about the match.
Prediction
Cristiano Ronaldo will score. It is inevitable these days in the Champions League, and perhaps the right question now is how many: one, two, a hat-trick? However, for the team normally so stable and sturdy at the back, they have not been as convincing this season. Manchester United scored twice at Allianz Stadium while AC Milan scored in their most recent outing at home, and Ajax could well give them a fight – but it won’t stop them from reaching a second semi-final in three years.
Juventus 2-1 Ajax (Juventus win 3-2 on aggregate)
Predicted teams
Juventus: Szczesny; Cancelo, Bonucci, Rugani, Alex Sandro; Emre Can, Pjanic, Matuidi; Bernardeschi, Dybala, Ronaldo.
Ajax: Onana; Veltman, de Ligt, Blind, Mazraoui; Schone, de Jong; Ziyech, van de Beek, Neres; Tadic.
How to watch in the UK?
The match will be shown live on BT Sport 3 from 7:30pm. Highlights will be shown on BT Sport 2 from 12:30am Wednesday 17 April.
