Champions League Game Time Thread: Juventus vs. Atlético Madrid

For over two months, Juventus-Atlético Madrid has been circled on our calendars. For over two months we’ve been counting down until this day, one where Juve’s massive Champions League ambitions will once again be tested as the first step in the road to make a third final in five years under the watch of Max Allegri.

And that final just so happens to be at the same Estadio Wanda Metropolitano where this season’s Champions League final will be held.

Ain’t that somethin’.

Juventus’ first leg against Atlético Madrid is, at last, here in the present. No more waiting. No more counting down the days and the hours until we can even consider this fixture something to being close. The countdown is over. The wait is over. Juventus’ latest step in hopefully making another Champions League final is here again.

Hooray, hooray.

Now hopefully this will be a good day.

We’ve seen Juventus play like absolute crap in recent weeks. We’ve also seen Juventus win its past two games against Serie A opposition by identical 3-0 scorelines and look relatively dominant while doing so. Sure, Sassuolo and Frosinone aren’t in the same class — or anything close to it, really — as Atlético Madrid, but to see Juventus look like a competent and overall complete team once again was a refreshing sight to see.

The hope is that those good times continue and that the Juventus from the beginning of the year doesn’t show its face again for any remaining part of this current season.

Another hope: Juventus returns to Turin for the second leg in a couple of weeks with more than just a fighters’ chance of making it to the Champions League quarterfinals.

That sure would be nice, wouldn’t it?

MATCH INFO

When: Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019

Where: Estadio Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain

Official kickoff time: 9 p.m. local time in Spain and around Europe; 8 p.m. in the United Kingdom; 3 p.m. Eastern Time; 12 noon Pacific Time

STARTING LINEUPS

Juventus starting XI (4-3-3/4-3-1-2): Szczesny; De Sciglio, Bonucci, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Bentancur, Pjanic, Matuidi; Dybala, Mandzukic, Ronaldo

Juventus bench: Perin, Caceres, Cancelo, Can, Rugani, Bernardeschi, Spinazzola

Atlético Madrid starting XI (4-4-2): Oblak; Juanfran, Gimenez, Godin, Filipe Luis; Saul Niguez, Thomas, Rodri, Koke; Diego Costa, Griezmann

Atlético Madrid bench: Adan, Arias, Kalinic, Correa, Lemar, Savic, Morata

HOW TO WATCH

Television: TNT USA, UniMás, Univision Deportes (United States); BT Sport 3 (United Kingdom); Sky Sport Uno, RAI Uno, Sky Calcio 2 (Italy)

Online/mobile: Watch TNT, B/R Live, Univision Deportes En Vivo (United States); DAZN (Canada); BT Sport Live (United Kingdom); RAI Play, SKY Go Italia (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.

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.