Italian giants Juventus travel to Greece to take on Olympiakos next week, with the visitors looking to confirm their place in the knockout phase of the Champions League with a win. The home side have just a single point to their name in Group D, meaning that it is Massimo Allegri’s men who are the firm favourites for victory.
Champions League – Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus – Tuesday 5th December – 19:45 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 11/2 at William Hill |
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Olympiakos Piraeus
Juventus TurinMatch Preview
Despite having lost just one of their opening five matches in Group D, Juventus are yet to confirm their place in the knockout phase of this seasons Champions League, with the Italian side looking for all three points when they take on Olympiakos as a result. Allegri’s men are the firm favourites for victory given the form of their Greek opponents in Europe so far this season, however there are still a variety of appealing betting markets for those still unsure of who to back. Before looking at such markets, let’s take a closer look at the two teams, starting with the home side.
Olympiakos Team News & Form
Olympiakos were defeated 3-1 in Portugal by Sporting CP last time around, leaving them on just a single point in Group D. The Greek giants have scored just four times from their five matches so far, while eleven goals conceded has severely effected Takis Lemonis’ side. Former Chelsea midfielder Marko Marin could well line up for the home side, alongside the likes of Captain Alberto Botia and striker Emmanuel Emenike. The Greek side returned to winning ways in the Greek Super League against Kerkyra at the weekend, meaning that they sit a point clear at the top of the standings.
Juventus Team News & Form
A goalless draw with rivals Barcelona last time around means that a win for Juventus in Greece will secure their place in the knockout phase of this seasons Champions League. Despite having only scored five goals in Group D, the Italian side are a team capable of finding the back of the net from a variety of areas, with striker Gonzalo Higuain set to return to the starting line-up, having been rested for his sides recent Serie A win over Crotone. The former Real Madrid man could well start alongside international team mate Paulo Dybala, with the duo having caused the Olympiakos defence all sorts of problems earlier on in the campaign.
Head to Head
The two teams have met three times in the past, with Juventus having two wins to their name from such meetings. However, having defeated Juventus in front of their home fans in the same competition back in 2014, Olympiakos will be confident of causing anther shock.
Betting Odds and Predictions
Despite being the home team next week, their performances in Group D so far means that it comes as little surprise that it is Olympiakos who are the underdogs for victory with the majority of bookmakers. The hosts can be backed at odds of 18/1 with William Hill, while those looking to bet on an away win for Juventus can take advantage of 2/9 odds with Skybet.
Top Betting Tip
However, our top betting tip for the match is to bet on Juventus keeping a clean sheet in Greece, which can be found at a best price of 4/11 with Ladbrokes.