Juventus ready for tough test against Barcelona, says Massimiliano Allegri

Juventus ready for tough test against Barcelona, says Massimiliano Allegri

by Joseph Anthony
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Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said that his team must be firing on all cylinders when they face Champions League Group D rivals Barcelona who are one of the strongest teams in the world alongside European champions Real Madrid.

Allegri steered his side past the Spaniards in the quarter-finals of last seasonโ€™s competition but despite that, and Barcaโ€™s loss of forward Neymar to Paris St Germain for a world record fee, he believes the Catalans remain tough opponents.

Juve visit Ernesto Valverdeโ€™s Barca in their opening group match on Tuesday and Allegri said it would be โ€œextraordinaryโ€ if his team could keep a clean sheet against them for the third time in 2017 following their 3-0 aggregate victory in April.

โ€œI know Barcelona well, this will be the twelfth time playing against them,โ€ Allegri told a news conference on Monday. โ€œTo try again against (Barca forward Lionel) Messi will be a huge stimulus.

โ€œDespite losing Neymar, Barcelona are, along with Real Madrid, the strongest team in the world. To go three games against them without conceding a goal (this year) would be extraordinary.

โ€œI repeat, along with Real Madrid they are favourites to win the Champions League.โ€

Juventus lost last seasonโ€™s Champions League final 4-1 to Real Madrid in Cardiff and Allegri urged his team to start their new European campaign with a bang.

โ€œItโ€™s the first game of the Champions League after last yearโ€™s run and the disappointment of defeat. We have to return and start with great enthusiasm and desire,โ€ he said.

โ€œWinning the Champions League canโ€™t be an objective, it is a dream.โ€

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