Champions League Game Time Thread: Juventus vs. Olympiacos

We have seen Juventus have some pretty wonderful performances in the Champions League on their home turf at Juventus Stadium over he years since its doors opened. We have seen Juventus win games they were supposed to win. We have seen Juventus win games in which their opponents on the night were perceived to be the better side.

On paper, Juventus are the better side compared to Olympiacos tonight.

But here’s the catch: Juventus aren’t guaranteed three points when they step onto the field for the first Champions League game under the Allianz Stadium name. That’s not any kind of a surprise to anybody here. We’re smart people here.

Isn’t everything just so much easier on paper?

The task is simple for Juventus, though: You win, you at least keep pace with Barcelona and/or Sporting for the top spot in the group. You draw and see one of Sporting or Barcelona win in Group D’s other game tonight, and then the three-point difference at the top of the table becomes five. And a loss? Well, I just don’t want to think about that right now.

Juve needs points. They can’t suddenly jump to the top of the group tonight, but they can take a step toward getting out of the cellar. No matter who else is in your group, when you lose 3-0 in the group stage opener, it’s never a good way to begin a European campaign.

And as we know, Juventus have certainly had some interesting beginnings to the group stage. I’m pretty sure we don’t want to go down that frequently-visited road again.

So, Juventus, please win tonight and get some damn points by your name. Let me remind you, it’s “points,” not “point.” Three points will help. One point? Yeah, I dunno about that one.

MATCH INFO

Location: Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy

Kick-off time: 8:45 p.m. local time in Spain; 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; Sturaro, Barzagli, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Pjanic, Matuidi; Cuadrado, Dybala, Douglas Costa; Mandzukic

Juventus bench: Szczesny, Benatia, Rugani, Asamoah, Bentancur, Bernardeschi, Higuain

Olympiacos starting XI: Proto; Figueiras, Engels, Nikolaou; Koutris, Zdjelar, Romao; Pardo, Odjidja, Sebá; Emenike

Olympiacos bench: Choutesiotis, Botia, Tachtsidis, Fortounis, Marin, Elabdellaoui, Ben Nabouhane

WATCH IT

TV: BT Sport Extra (United Kingdom); PremiumSport (Italy)

Online/Mobile: ESPN3 USA, Fox Soccer Plus, WatchESPN, FOX Soccer Match Pass (United States); Premium Play (Italy)

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

And don't forget to like our page on Facebook, either!