UEFA Champions League Game Time Thread: Juventus vs. Manchester City

Sometimes the timing just doesn't seem all too wonderful for some things in life. And with Juventus playing the way they are, the last thing you probably want to have roll around on the fixture list is a big-time European showdown against a former league champion who just so happen to be playing some pretty good ball these days.

If there ever was a time for Juventus to try and turn the table on its season's success, this would be it. Juve have gone 0 for 3 when it comes to claiming wins in Serie A this season. They've got one point through three games — something that not many people expected even though the squad has undergone massive changes over the course of the summer.

Now it's the time for the Champions League to get going. And at the same time, it's the chance to kick-start Juventus' season in an opening game against a team that many are tipping to win the group.

To do that, Max Allegri has switched to a 4-3-3 formation, unleashing one of Juve's early-season bright spots, Juan Cuadrado, to team with Mario Mandzukic and Álvaro Morata from the opening whistle. So much for all of those 3-5-2 formation rumors, huh? At least now the Internet can rest easy knowing that Allegri went with a back four, I guess.

Above all else, Good Juventus, one we haven't seen much of at all this season, needs to show if they want any chance of coming back from Manchester with a point or three. It's a pretty simple thing to figure out.

.@OfficialAllegri: "We'll need to put an intense display, show plenty of courage and also be at the races from a technical standpoint." #UCL

— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) September 14, 2015

Sounds good to me, Max. Now where do I sign up to see Juventus play like that?

Lineups

Juventus XI (4-3-3): Gianluigi Buffon; Stephan Lichtsteiner, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Patrice Evra; Stefano Sturaro, Hernanes, Paul Pogba; Juan Cuadrado, Mario Mandzukic, Álvaro Morata

Juventus bench: Neto, Andrea Barzagli, Alex Sandro, Mario Lemina, Roberto Pereyra, Simone Zaza, Paulo Dybala

Manchester City XI (4-2-3-1): Joe Hart; Bacary Sagna, Vincent Kompany, Eliaquim Mangala, Aleksander Kolarov; Yaya Toure, Fernandinho; Samir Nasri, David Silva, Raheem Sterling; Wiilfried Bony

Manchester City bench: Willy Caballero, Nicolas Otamendi, Martin Demichelis, Fernando, Jesus Navas, Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero

How to watch

TV: Fox Sports 2, Fox Deportes (United States); PremiumSport HD (Italy); BT Sport Europe (United Kingdom); TSN1 (Canada)

Online: Fox Soccer 2GO, Fox Sports Go (United States)

Other live viewing options can be found here, and as always, you can also follow along with us live on Twitter. If you haven't already, join the community on Black & White & Read All Over, and join in the discussion below.