Juventus v Dinamo Zagreb: line-ups, where to watch, form guide
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Article summary
Massimiliano Allegri feels an early breakthrough could be key as Juventus look to clinch Group H by getting the better of a Dinamo Zagreb side still without a point or a goal of their own.
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Article body
- Juventus are through and will top Group H if they win or if Sevilla drop points
- Juve lost top spot to Sevilla on matchday six last season and could do so again
- Fourth-placed Dinamo still seeking their first goal and point of the campaign
- Maccabi Haifa are the only side to have finished a Champions League group with no points or goals
Possible line-ups
Juventus: Buffon; Sturaro, Benatia, Rugani, Evra; Lemina, Hernanes, Marchisio; Cuadrado, Mandžukić, Higuaín.
Out: Barzagli (shoulder), Bonucci (thigh), Dani Alves (fractured fibula), Pjaca (fractured fibula)
Doubtful: Dybala (thigh)
Dinamo: Livaković; Stojanovič, Sigali, Benković, Pivarić; Soudani, Knežević, Gojak, Pavičić, Ćorić; Fernandes.
Out: Jonas (suspended), Lovren (suspended), Antolić (knee), Gonçalo Santos (knee)
Doubtful: Măţel (broken nose)
Misses next match if booked: Pivarić
Where to watch
Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.
Massimiliano Allegri, Juventus coach
We will have to be aggressive from the start in order to score early and make our life easier. It won't be easy, however. Dinamo played well against Lyon and Sevilla. If we don't manage to score early we'll have to adapt and play with more patience. They'll try to close all spaces and it's never easy to score when you face ten players behind the ball.
Dybala will play in the second half. He has worked very well and is ready but he needs to get back to his best shape. Mandžukić and Higuaín will start in attack. Chiellini will not play, Khedira and Alex Sandro will also be rested. If I play with a back four, Sturaro will operate at right-back, otherwise Evra could play in a three-man defence. I still haven't decided which system I will use.
Higuaín is playing well even if he has not scored in the last few games. I remember when everyone was criticising Mandžukić when he failed to score for a couple of games ...
Ivaylo Petev, Dinamo coach
We are only too aware that we are up against a very strong team but we are curious to measure ourselves and see if we can compete with the best.
A few things have obviously changed since the last time Dinamo faced Juve. We have improved, partly by playing more games in the UEFA Champions League, which is an incredible experience for our players.
Unfortunately, we haven't managed to get any points but this is a great opportunity to show everybody how much we have improved.
Weekend results
Juventus 3-1 Atalanta (Alex Sandro 15, Rugani 19, Mandžukić 64; Freuler 82)
Juventus have won their last 24 home league matches – one victory shy of the Serie A record they set between 31 August 2013 and 30 November 2014.
Dinamo 1-1 Rijeka (Sigali 77; Gorgon 51)
Rijeka's Alexander Gorgon was sent off soon after scoring to give Dinamo a helping hand in extending their unbeaten domestic run to 12 fixtures.
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
Juventus: WLWWWD
Dinamo: DWWLDW
Reporter's view: Paolo Menicucci (@UEFAcomPaoloM)
Juventus are without several important players but have proved during this campaign that they have a strong enough squad to be competitive regardless. After losing top spot in Group H on the last matchday of last season, when they succumbed 1-0 at Sevilla, Allegri is determined not to be denied again. Juve won comfortably in Zagreb on matchday two and I think the Bianconeri are clear favourites again.
Did you know?
Mario Mandžukić was a Dinamo player from 2007 to 2010, lifting the Croatian title three times. Read more in our extensive match background.