Juventus manager Antonio Conte would have given his players a simple-to-say-but-easier-said-than-done brief for when they host Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night: stop Cristiano Ronaldo, and we should have a really good chance to take all three points.
Ronaldo was the difference maker for Real in the reverse tie at the Bernabeu a couple of weeks ago, scoring both the goals in a 2-1 victory over the Italians. The Portuguese has been in quite stunning form in the Champions League this season, already scoring seven goals in his first three matches, all of which Real have won.
If Juventus can somehow quell the Ronaldo juggernaut, then they take away Real's biggest weapon and with it open up a really good door for them to run into and get their hands on that oh so essential three points.
Juventus desperately require a win on Tuesday in front of their own fans. After three games they have picked up just two points, and find themselves trailing Galatasaray by two points for second place in the group.
Real, with a perfect nine points from three matches, have all but sealed their passage into the last-16 and Group B is now about the second place, which seems to be a straight fight between Galatasaray and Juve, despite the fourth side in the group -FC Copenhagen - only lying a point drift of the Italian champions.
Juventus were a little unlucky not to come away with at least a point from the Bernabeu in the last matchday, despite going down to ten men. Conte will expect the same effort from his players in Turin, but with a different result.
With Galatasaray expected to pick up maximum points against Copenhagen, Juventus cannot afford to drop points.
"It's a crucial game and important for our future in the Champions League," Conte said. "We're very much looking forward to it. We've got to show on the field, as we did in Madrid, that we deserve to go through, otherwise we will be the first to kneel down and applaud those who make it through at our expense.
"It's an incredibly hard game against one of the top candidates to win the Champions League. Juventus vs Real Madrid is a classic, a very intriguing game. We need our fans both in the positive and not so positive moments because we're up against a strong team and there will be times when we're going to be up against it."
Real, on the other hand, will know a draw will most probably be enough for them to ensure they are in the hat for the knockout stages in February. The Spanish giants are on the back of a three-match winning run, and Carlo Ancelotti will want to keep the momentum intact when the final whistle goes on Tuesday.
"Conte has done an extraordinary job," Ancelotti said. "He is working at a club which he feels particularly strongly about and in these three years, he's done more than anybody could have possibly imagined, winning the title twice. He's got a very competitive side.
"Juve have more difficulties than us in the group -- this is a chance for us to seal qualification and the sooner you get that, the better. It's going to be an interesting game."
Team News: Juventus will have to do without the services of defender Giorgio Chiellini, who is suspended after being sent off in the reverse tie against Real. Stephan Lichtsteiner and Mirko Vucinic remain sidelined.
Fabio Coentrao is ruled out for Real, with Carlo Ancelotti, up against his former team on Tuesday, revealing he will be making a few changes to the side that beat Rayo Vallecano 3-2 at the weekend.
"We need to rotate our team to have the freshest players on the field, with the most physical strength, and I don't think rotating is a problem although sometimes we lose our balance as a result and we need to improve this," Ancelotti said.
Key men: Juventus: Carlos Tevez was a constant menace to Real Madrid in the match at the Bernabeu, and the Argentine will want to notch a couple of goals to help his side to three points.
Real Madrid: Ronaldo, of course, will be the main man, but Gareth Bale will also be keen to make an impression.
Where to watch
The game is scheduled for a 1.15 am IST start on Wednesday morning with live coverage on Ten Action. For the Live Blog, click HERE.
Expected lineups: Juventus: Buffon; Caceres, Barzagli, Bonucci, Ogbonna; Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba; Marchisio, Llorente, Tevez.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Arbeloa, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Illarramendi, Khedira; Bale, Isco, Ronaldo; Benzema.
Prediction: 2-1 to Juventus
