José Mourinho’s Benfica travels to Turin this Wednesday (Jan 21) for a “life-or-death” clash against Juventus, with their Champions League future hanging by a thread.
Currently sitting in 28th place with just six points, the Portuguese giants are on the brink of elimination. A defeat at the Allianz Stadium could mathematically end Benfica’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages, especially with a final-round fixture against Real Madrid looming on the horizon.
“Another Final” for Mourinho
Speaking in the pre-match press conference, José Mourinho struck a defiant tone, emphasizing his team’s ability to perform under pressure.
“It’s another final for us,” Mourinho stated. “When we faced Ajax, we knew it was decisive and we won. Against Napoli, it was life-or-death and we won. Now, we enter these final two games knowing we must fight for every point.”
Juventus Eyeing the Top 8
While Benfica fights for survival, Juventus (currently 17th) is looking to climb into the direct qualification zone. A victory at home would solidify their place in the playoffs and keep their hopes of a Top 8 finish alive. The Italian side, now led by Luciano Spalletti, arrives with a strong lineup featuring the inform Jonathan David.
Juventus Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Francisco Conceição, McKennie, Kenan Yildiz; Jonathan David.
Benfica Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Trubin; Dedic, Otamendi, Araujo, Dahl; Barreiro, Aursnes; Prestianni, Sudakov, Schjelderup; Pavlidis.
Match Information
- Fixture: Juventus vs Benfica
- Competition: UEFA Champions League (Matchday 7)
- Kick-off: 20:00 GMT / 21:00 CET
- Venue: Allianz Stadium, Turin (Italy)
- Referee: Serdar Gözübüyük (NED)
- Where to Watch: Live on Paramount+ (USA), TNT Sports (UK), and local UEFA rights holders.
Laurinda Jocias is a football writer covering English women’s football, including the Women’s Super League. Her work focuses on players, clubs, and the continued development of the women’s game in the UK.
