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It's come down to this, my friends. Juventus' run in the Champions League could very go on a couple hours from now. However, at the same time, Max Allegri's squad could very well be wondering what the heck happened after 90 or so minutes on the field if things go the opposite how we want them to.
This is the business we have chosen, folks. Or maybe something else, I don't know.
No matter what, though, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund each have one thing on their respective minds tonight — advance to the quarterfinals of the Champions League. That's the ultimate goal no matter how they get there. It doesn't matter if it's a 2-1 aggregate or 3-2 scoreline or whatever. Juventus gets through and we get to have a rooting interest when we watch more bouncing balls be plucked out of a bowl in a couple of days from now.
Match Preview
Juventus don't need to win. It sure would be nice if they order up an Allegri Special and win 1-0, but they don't neeeeed to beat Dortmund to advance. The more important issue is Juventus not letting Dortmund take full advantage of that away goal the Germans claimed at Juventus Stadium back in late February.
There's plenty to play for with one of the final quarterfinal spots still completely up for grabs.
If it were up to me, I sure would like Juve to grab said place in the final eight like Gigi Buffon snags a cross in the six-yard box, but that's just me. Maybe grabbing the spot in the quarterfinals like Stephan Lichtsteiner wants to wring the beck of every opponent and/or referee he comes across during the course of the season. Whichever one works best.
And just one more thing...
Happy 31st birthday to #Padoin! RT to wish our midfielder many happy returns. pic.twitter.com/Aaoc4TJ5ZT
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) March 18, 2015
I mean, they have to win now, right? I can see it now, the stars lining up on Simone Padoin's birthday...
Starting lineups for both Juventus and Borussia Dortmund will be posted RIGHT HERE when they become available. Well, technically right under this here paragraph, but you know what I mean. Let the anticipated become an actuality, and let Juventus celebrate the birthday of Padoin with a giant part because they've advance to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
UPDATE: LINEUPS ARE IN! AND NO 3-5-2!
Juventus XI (4-3-1-2): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Vidal, Marchisio, Pogba; Pereyra; Tevez, Morata
Juventus bench: Storari, Barzagli, Ogbonna, Padoin, Pepe, Llorente, Matri
Borussia Dortmund X( (4-2-3-1): Weidenfeller; Sokratis, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer; Bender, Gündogan; Kampl, Mkhitaryan, Reus; Aubameyang
Borussia Dortmund bench: Langerak, Kehl, Kagawa, Blaszczykowski, Kirch, Immobile, Ramos
