By Ian S. Palmer
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English Premier League club Manchester City heads to Turin, Italy this Wednesday, November 25 to take on Italian Serie A champions Juventus in a Group D matchday five showdown. City has already earned a berth in the round of 16 stage and Juventus will be attempting to join them. City leads Group D with nine points from three wins and a loss. They’ve scored eight goals and allowed five against. Juventus is behind them with two victories and a pair of draws with five goals scored and two conceded. Spanish side Sevilla is in third place with three points while German team Borussia Moenchengladbach is in the basement with two.
Juventus vs Manchester City – bet365 Soccer BETTING LINE:
- bet365 lists Juventus as the favorites at 5/4 with Man City 5/2 and a draw at 12/5
If City should win in Turin they’ll clinch first place in the group and Juventus will advance with a win or with any outcome if Sevilla loses at Borussia Monchengladbach. City beat Juventus 1-0 in the UEFA Cup in 1976 at home, but Juventus on the return leg 2-0. The teams then played to a pair of 1-1 draws in the 2010/11 Europa League tournament. Juventus is one of five clubs that are undefeated so far in this year’s Champions League group stage. They’ve won nine and drawn six in their past 15 European matches with their last loss coming in April of 2013 when Bayern Munich of Germany beat them 2-0.
Juventus last played an English team in the 2012/13 Champions League group stage when they downed Chelsea 3-0. Overall, they’ve won 12, drawn five and lost three against English sides. Juventus beat City in their first meeting back in Manchester in September, but the English club has won all three group games since. They’ve also won both of their road games up to now City has won just once in Italy when they beat Roma 2-0 last December. They’ve drawn two and lost two in their other four visits to Italy.
Juventus will be without the services of Hernanes as he’s been suspended for two games for a red card received against Borussia Monchengladbach on November 3. The Italian side lost three of their first seven Serie A games this season, but has lost just once in their past 10 matches in all competitions. City was beaten 4-1 at home by Liverpool on Saturday and that snapped their nine-match undefeated string at seven wins and a pair of draws. Sergio Aguero returned to the team and scored, but Wilfried Bony, Samir Nasri and David Villa are expected to miss the game while Vincent Kompany is doubtful. For Juventus, Sami Khedira, Pereyra, Caceres and Patrice Evra are all doubtful.