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Juventus vs Villarreal preview: How to watch on TV, live stream, team news & prediction

ByJames Cormack|
VILLARREAL, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 22: Giovani Lo Celso of Villarreal CF passes the ball as he is closed down by Matthijs De Ligt and Alvaro Morata of Juventus during the UEFA Champions League Round Of Sixteen Leg One match between Villarreal CF and Juventus at Estadio de la Ceramica on February 22, 2022 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
VILLARREAL, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 22: Giovani Lo Celso of Villarreal CF passes the ball as he is closed down by Matthijs De Ligt and Alvaro Morata of Juventus during the UEFA Champions League Round Of Sixteen Leg One match between Villarreal CF and Juventus at Estadio de la Ceramica on February 22, 2022 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)

Juventus are hoping to avoid a third-straight Champions League round of 16 elimination when they host Villarreal on Wednesday with the tie locked at 1-1.

Dusan Vlahovic’s record-breaking opener in the first leg was cancelled out midway through the second half after a defensive breakdown from Juventus allowed Dani Parejo to saunter in behind, receive Etienne Capoue’s deft pass, and equalise.

That means it’s all to play for on Wednesday and there’s no doubting that Juventini will be fearing a repeat of recent European humiliations against Lyon and Porto.

However, Massimiliano Allegri’s side head into the contest with a ton of momentum. Despite their recent injury woes, they’ve been able to extend their unbeaten run in Serie A to 15 games and they were convincing in their 3-1 win over Sampdoria on Saturday.

Villarreal, meanwhile, have won two and lost one in La Liga since the first leg. Unai Emery’s Yellow Submarine are struggling with injuries, but they proved in the first leg that they have the capacity to trouble a resolute Bianconeri defence.

Juventus vs Villarreal Champions League preview

Here’s our preview of Wednesday’s Champions League round of 16 second leg between Juve and Villarreal.

How to Watch Juventus vs Villarreal

When is kick-off? Wednesday 16 March

What time is kick-off? 20:00 (BST)

Where is it played? Allianz Stadium

TV channel/live stream? BT Sport 3 (UK), Paramount+ (US)

Referee? Szymon Marciniak

Juventus Team News

Juve welcomed back Mattia De Sciglio and Alex Sandro from injuries at the weekend and they’re hopeful of both Giorgio Chiellini and Paulo Dybala making their comebacks on Wednesday. Dybala shouldn’t be expected to start, while Chiellini could replace Daniele Rugani, who was brilliant against Sampdoria, in the starting XI.

Leonardo Bonucci and Denis Zakaria are both out, however. Federico Chiesa, Kaio Jorge and Weston McKennie are all long-term absentees.

Dusan Vlahovic will replace Moise Kean after the Serb started on the bench on Saturday.

Villarreal Team News

Raul Albiol was forced off in Villarreal’s victory over Celta Vigo at the weekend, but manager Emery insisted that his substitution was only pre-cautionary. Thus, the veteran could yet partner Pau Torres at centre-back.

However, the Yellow Submarine do have several other injury concerns heading into Wednesday’s game.

Gerard Moreno, Etienne Capoue and Juan Foyth are all doubts, while Ruben Pena, Paco Alcacer and Alberto Moreno are all sidelined.

Juventus vs Villarreal Predicted Lineups

Juventus: Szczesny; Danilo, De Ligt, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Arthur, Locatelli, Rabiot; Cuadrado, Vlahovic, Morata.

Villarreal: Rulli; Aurier, Albiol, Torres, Pedraza; Chukwueze, Coquelin, Parejo, Trigueros; Lo Celso; Danjuma.

Juventus’ Recent Form

Sampdoria 1-3 Juventus (12/03) – Serie A

Juventus 1-0 Spezia (06/03) – Serie A

Fiorentina 0-1 Juventus (02/03) – Coppa Italia

Empoli 2-3 Juventus (26/02) – Serie A

Villarreal 1-1 Juventus (22/02) – Champions League

Villarreal’s Recent Form

Villarreal 1-0 Celta Vigo (12/03) – La Liga

Osasuna 1-0 Villarreal (05/03) – La Liga

Villarreal 5-1 Espanyol (27/02) – La Liga

Villarreal 1-1 Juventus (22/02) – Champions League

Granada 1-4 Villarreal (19/02) – La Liga

Prediction

Dusan Vlahovic is poised to have a big say on whether Juventus progress into the quarter-finals. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
Dusan Vlahovic is poised to have a big say on whether Juventus progress into the quarter-finals. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

Recent history means it’ll be tense in the Allianz Stadium on Wednesday, but Max Allegri will try his utmost to bring about serenity in the Bianconeri ranks. They’re a better side than Villarreal and they could’ve ended the tie in the first leg had Allegri’s conservatism not crippled the Old Lady in attack.

The Bianconeri, while traditional, cautious and reliant on efficiency, are firing on all cylinders right now. They’ve had their fair share of luck, and there’s no doubting that Allegri will be risking his side’s status in the Champions League should his defence-first approach prove overbearing.

Nevertheless, containing the visitors and attempting to counter-attack is a wise ploy. The Yellow Submarine are vulnerable in defensive transition and Allegri will back his defence, which has emerged as one of the stoutest in Europe in recent months, to shut out a Villarreal attack that could once again be without Gerard Moreno.

Overall, I think Juve edge their way into the quarter-finals in typical Juve fashion.

Prediction: Juventus 1-0 Villarreal

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