Juventus are waiting to meet Lyon as a big favorite.
Lyon has not been brilliant in recent weeks, and Rudi Garcia has problems with absences.
In Lyon, at the beginning of the season, they decided to gamble by placing inexperienced Sylvinh in the position of coach, without saying that the move paid off the club is best illustrated by the fact that he was fired early in October leaving the team just above the relegation zone in the championship standings. Sylvinh's successor, Rudi Garcia, stabilized the championship results and returned the team to the race for third place, and in the very even Champions League group he managed to win the knockout stage of the competition. The current form of Lyon fans can not be thrilled with, as last Friday's away game against Metz was interrupted by a series of four games without a win, but it should be noted that two weeks ago in the Cup recorded a victory against former club Rudy Garcia, currently runner-up Olympique Marseille.
Rudi Garcia believes Lyon is not without chances against one of the favorites to win the title:
- Juventus play the same way Napoli and Empoli did when led by Sarri. He is a coach dedicated to tactics, there is no doubt about that. We all thought Liverpool and PSG would win the first games of the eighth finals, so it didn't happen, and now it's time for us to take our chance and show our best form. We all need to do this to do a good job against Juventus, and with that we have to hope that they will not play to one hundred percent of their potential. We won't win if we just defend ourselves. We will also need fan support to find the extra energy and be at our best.
In Lyon, the key striker is Depay, who, like the great young midfielder Reine-Adelaide, is tormented by a knee and defenseman Kona, who has an ankle problem. Rudi Garcia against Juventus is also not expected to use a Rafael back who has not been training at full intensity in recent days. Lyon are expected to play in a 3-4-3 formation with Ekambi and Terrier alongside central striker Dembel.
Juventus are not brilliant this season, but despite this Sarri can not complain about the results achieved so far, since his team is the leader in the championship table after 25 rounds of Serie A, he only shares in the Cup final in return against Milan, while in the Champions League achieved the primary goal of going into the knockout phase of the competition where she is waiting to meet Lyon as a big favorite. Although Lyon was the wish of many in the draw of the eighth finals of the Champions League, in Juventus the French representative should not be underestimated, as Sarri's team in recent games against Napoli, Verona and Milan proved to be very vulnerable.
Sarri announced a guest appearance in France: - Lyon is a technical team with elements of high speed and physical strength. They are a dangerous team, so we need great performance. Cristiano Ronaldo is a player who is respected around the world. His statistics say enough about the state of his form. He is an exciting player who is good both physically and mentally. In Italy, we have an obligation and responsibility to win, and in Europe we are only one of ten other teams to that end.
Guests in France will miss the longer absent young stopper Demiral and wing striker Douglas Costa due to injuries, and Sarri is not expected to use midfielder Khediru, who has just returned from training after a long break and the Higuain striker, who has been training at a reduced intensity in recent days due to back problems . Given Higuain's problems, Dybala is again expected to top Juventus' attack from the first minute with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Décines-Charpieu (FRA)
Olympique Lyonnais (FRA) - Juventus (ITA)
Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano (ESP)
-Juventus have won their last 5 matches in Champions League.
-Juventus have scored at least 2 goals in 83% of their last 6 matches in Champions League.
-Juventus are undefeated in their last 6 matches in Champions League.
-Juventus are undefeated in their last 5 matches against Lyon in all competitions.