UEFA Champions League Betting Preview: Juventus vs Stuttgart
Italian giants Juventus will look to continue their flawless run in the Champions League as they face Stuttgart for the first time ever this Tuesday night in Turin. Following a dramatic win against RB Leipzig, Juve will be confident on home turf, while Stuttgart arrive with just one point from their opening two matches.
Juventus Aim to Maintain Perfect Champions League Start Against Struggling Stuttgart
The Bianconeri, who pulled off a thrilling 3-2 victory in Leipzig earlier this month despite being reduced to 10 men, have shown immense fighting spirit under new coach Thiago Motta. Juventus twice came from behind, thanks to Dusan Vlahovic’s double, before substitute Francisco Conceicao sealed the win with a late goal.
Having also defeated Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven 3-1 in their opener, Juventus sit comfortably within the top eight of the Champions League table. Motta could now become just the third Juve manager to win his first three Champions League matches, joining legends Fabio Capello (2004) and Marcelo Lippi (1995). Such an achievement would underline Motta’s growing reputation among Europe’s elite coaches.
Juventus’ unbeaten run stretches back 16 matches across all competitions, a streak dating to Max Allegri’s last season in charge. Meanwhile, their recent hard-fought 1-0 win over Lazio ended a three-game winless home streak in Serie A.
As Juve prepare for Sunday’s crucial Derby d’Italia against Inter Milan, they must first handle Stuttgart, who already trail by five points in the 36-team Champions League league-phase table.
Stuttgart Struggling to Find Form in the Champions League
Stuttgart, on the other hand, have historically struggled against Italian teams, with just one win in 11 attempts. That lone victory came against Torino in the 1979 UEFA Cup. Now facing Italy’s most successful club for the first time, Die Schwaben sit near the bottom of the group after a 1-1 draw with Sparta Prague and a narrow loss to Real Madrid.
Despite dominating possession – averaging 65% across their first two matches, including a Champions League-high 76.5% against Sparta – Stuttgart have been unable to capitalize on their chances.
In their 1-1 draw with Sparta Prague, Enzo Millot’s opener was canceled out, and the Germans missed several opportunities to secure all three points.
Stuttgart’s domestic form has also taken a hit, as they head to Turin winless in four matches following a heavy 4-0 defeat to Bayern Munich last weekend. They’ve won only three of their last 19 Champions League games over the past two decades, making their task against Juventus even more daunting.
Juventus’ Injuries and Key Players
Thiago Motta will have to navigate several key absences, including long-term injury victims Bremer and Arkadiusz Milik, both recovering from knee surgeries. Summer signings Teun Koopmeiners and Nico Gonzalez are also sidelined, while first-choice goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio is suspended. On the plus side, USA midfielder Weston McKennie could return after a minor injury, and Francisco Conceição is back from a domestic suspension.
In attack, Dusan Vlahovic continues to shine, having contributed either a goal or an assist in his last three Champions League games. He’ll aim to become the first Juventus player since Cristiano Ronaldo to extend that streak to four consecutive matches. Supporting Vlahovic will likely be Turkish teenage sensation Kenan Yildiz, as Juve continue to integrate younger talents like Nicolo Savona into the squad.
Stuttgart’s Key Men and Injury Concerns
Stuttgart winger Jamie Leweling, fresh off scoring the winner on his Germany debut against the Netherlands last week, has been frustrated in Europe this season, tallying the joint-most shots (8) without scoring, alongside PSG’s Achraf Hakimi and Ousmane Dembele. Leweling will link up with Deniz Undav and Enzo Millot behind striker Ermedin Demirovic, who has already netted five Bundesliga goals this season.
However, Stuttgart must also overcome their injury problems, with Germany midfielder Chris Fuhrich, as well as Dan-Axel Zagadou, Justin Diehl, Leonidas Stergiou, and Nikolas Nartey all sidelined.
Juventus’ Dominant Home Form Gives Them the Edge
Juventus’ resurgence has been particularly evident at home, where they’ve gone 14 games unbeaten and kept several clean sheets. In contrast, Stuttgart have won only twice on the road this season, and one of those victories came against lower-league opposition in the German Cup (DFB-Pokal). Given their poor away form, Stuttgart will face an uphill battle to take any points from Turin.
Possible Starting Lineups of Juventus vs Stuttgart
Juventus: Mattia Perin – Nicolo Savona, Pierre Kalulu, Federico Gatti, Juan Cabal – Manuel Locatelli, Nicolo Fagioli – Andrea Cambiaso, Kenan Yildız, Samuel Mbangula – Dusan Vlahovic. (4-2-3-1)
Stuttgart: Alexander Nubel – Maximilian Mittelstadt, Jeff Chabot, Anthony Rouault, Pascal Stenzel – Atakan Karazor, Angelo Stiller – Enzo Millot, Deniz Undav, Jamie Leweling – Ermedin Demirovic. (4-2-3-1)
Spooky Express Betting Prediction
With Juventus in top form and Stuttgart struggling both domestically and in Europe, Tuesday’s clash at the Allianz Stadium heavily favors the hosts. The Bianconeri’s young stars and seasoned veterans will look to make another statement in their bid for Champions League glory, while Stuttgart will need a near-perfect performance to avoid a fifth straight winless match between Juventus vs Stuttgart.