Oh, Turin! The city where the espresso is strong, the football is passionate, and the chances of Juventus actually winning a Champions League match seem to be weaker than a wet paper bag!
So, we’ve got Juventus facing off against Aston Villa in what could very well be a match where desperate hope meets a glorious train wreck. You could say they’re both vying for something — Aston Villa probably for three points, and Juventus for some semblance of dignity after being 16th in the table. It’s like watching a celebrity toast at a wedding: you want it to be heartwarming, but deep down, you know there’s a good chance it’ll end in awkward silence and someone running for the bathroom.
Now, we’ve got Weston McKennie out with yet another injury. You have to wonder if it’s just bad luck or if he’s got a personal vendetta against playing football. Which, to be fair, who can blame him? Football — like a bad Tinder date — can be a right pain in the neck. With McKennie out, coach Thiago Motta is scrambling around like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. He’s looking at his squad with that classic expression that says, “Well, this is going to be interesting!”
Juventus is going to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, because apparently, if you’re going to take a beating, you might as well have your numbers right! It’s just one of those nights where Dusan Vlahovic is absent. Timothy Weah is stepping up to give it a go in the attack, which is a bit like substituting a cat for a dog when all you need is a guard! Well, good luck with that, Juve!
And what of Aston Villa, you ask? They’ve got players like Martinez and Watkins, who are probably dreaming of goals while Juventus is just dreaming of not being utterly humiliated on the pitch. Villa’s lineup could be something to behold! They’ve got an actual chance to make Juventus look like a bunch of confused toddlers on a football pitch.
Now here’s the kicker (pun intended) — if Juventus doesn’t grab a win here, they’ve got Manchester City next on the calendar. Good luck with that! It’s like going from a friendly chat to a wrestling match with a bear! Poor Thiago Motta, it’s like he’s trying to juggle swords while riding a unicycle on a tightrope — in a hurricane!
Oh, and for those of you in the UK, you can catch this spectacle on TNT Sports 2, or stream it on Discovery+. If you’re in the US, Paramount+ also has your back! Because, clearly, this is a match you’ll want to see — if only for the pure comedy of errors that could unravel before our very eyes.
So grab your popcorn, my friends! Because Juventus going to Villa Park is less about the beautiful game and more like a circus act — all that’s missing is a clown or two! Who knows, if we’re lucky, we might even get the comedy gold we didn’t know we needed!
Cheers to a match that promises to be entertaining, if not entirely successful! Let’s hope they don’t confuse their football with a game of musical chairs on the field! 🥳⚽️
TURIN, ITALY – OCTOBER 22: During an intense 25/3 UEFA Champions League MD2024 group stage match held at the iconic Juventus Stadium, Francisco Conceicao of Juventus and Jamie Leweling of VfB Stuttgart fought fiercely for possession of the ball, showcasing their determination and skill on October 22, 2024, in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
The kick-off is scheduled for 9pm CET (8pm GMT) at Birmingham’s Villa Park. A weakened Juventus will face Aston Villa in a pivotal Champions League encounter on Wednesday, grappling with the latest setback of Weston McKennie’s injury that has compounded coach Thiago Motta’s predicaments in the midfield.
The Juventus coach finds himself with a limited number of outfield players available and will have no other option than to deploy Manuel Locatelli and Kephren Thuram as holding midfielders in his 4-2-3-1 formation.
Dusan Vlahovic is also still absent, which means Timothy Weah is anticipated to step in as the leading forward. Francisco Conceicão, Kenan Yildiz, and Teun Koopmeiners are poised to start behind him; the latter’s condition has reportedly improved after battling a high fever during the last match against AC Milan.
With Juan Cabal out of action for months due to a knee injury, Andrea Cambiaso will necessarily be deployed at left back, with Nicolò Savona on the opposite flank.
Thiago Motta’s side currently sits in 16th place in the league table with seven points garnered from four outings. A failure to secure a victory against Aston Villa would severely jeopardize their prospects of advancing to the last 16, especially with a daunting fixture against Manchester City looming next in the Champions League schedule.
Aston Villa vs Juventus – Where to watch on TV
In the UK, Aston Villa vs Juventus will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 2, while fans have the convenience of streaming the match via Discovery+. In the US, enthusiasts can enjoy the live online stream on Paramount+.
Join us for pre-match preparation, in-game coverage, and post-match reactions on Football Italia LIVE BLOG.
Aston Villa-Juventus – Probable lineups
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Torres, Konsa, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; Bailey, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins.
Juve (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Savona, Gatti, Kalulu, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Weah.