Game Time Thread: Juventus vs. Chievo

In just a couple of hours, Juventus’ full attention will be turned toward Barcelona’s visit to Turin on Tuesday night. In the very least, that’s what Max Allegri’s hopes what happens. He wants his club to be thinking of Chievo now, Barcelona later. Simple as that. Nothing more, nothing less.

It’s easier said than done. Much, much easier said than done.

But Juventus still has a game to play before their MASSIVELY IMPORTANT CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTERFINAL game against Barcelona on Tuesday. (I hope you guys realize that the words in all-caps means that Juventus playing Barcelona is important.) There are only a few days in between, but you must finish one before you get to the other.

That first game is now upon us in a matter of minutes from this post going live to the world wide web. Juventus, closing in on a sixth straight and record-setting Scudetto, return home after spending what seemed like the last week in Naples. (Probably because it was.) Chievo comes to town looking to end a string of four losses in their last six games. Juve, on the other hand, want to continue just chugging along and get momentum going again after the quite interesting pair of results against Napoli.

So we get to see just how many eyes are focused on tonight’s game rather than on who’s coming into town on Monday and walking around the Juventus Stadium turf shortly after they touch down on Italian ground. If they go through and execute what their manager wants them to do, then a quality showing could very well follow. Or they could just slog along and barely hit second gear against Chievo.

Maybe we can see a little more of the former rather than the latter. Either way, Juventus are about to play a game that is an appetizer for the main course a few days from now. That is about as simple as a way to describe it, folks.

MATCH INFO

Location: Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy

Kick-off time: 8:45 p.m. local time in Italy; 7:45 p.m. in the United Kingdom; 2:45 p.m. on the East Coast; 11:45 a.m. on the West Coast

STARTING LINEUPS

Juventus starting XI (4-2-3-1): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Rugani, Alex Sandro; Khedira, Marchisio; Cuadrado, Dybala, Sturaro; Higuain

Juventus bench: Neto, Audero, Dani Alves, Chiellini, Bonucci, Benatia, Pjanic, Mattiello, Lemina, Asamoah, Rincon, Mandragora

Chievo starting XI (4-3-1-2): Seculin; Cacciatore, Spolli, Cesar, Gobbi; Castro, Radovanovic, Hetemaj; Birsa; Pellissier, Meggiorini

Chievo bench: Sorrentino, Confente, Frey, Dainelli, Izco, Kiyine, Depaoli, De Guzman, Gakpe, Inglese

WATCH IT

TV: RAI International (United States); RAI International (Canada); BT Sport ESPN (United Kingdom); Sky Sport 1 HD Italia, Sky Calcio 1, Sky Supercalcio HD, PremiumSport HD (Italy)

Online: fuboTV, beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A. (United States); beIN SPORTS CONNECT Canada (Canada); BT Sport Live Streaming (United Kingdom); SKY Go Italia (Italy)

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