Juventus v Borussia Dortmund: Old Lady won't trip up

Carlos Tevez is Serie A's leading goalscorer this season

Michael Lintorn trusts Juventus to prove in Turin that they are a better team than Borussia Dortmund...

Juventus v Borussia Dortmund
Tuesday, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 5

Juventus

The Old Lady have six fewer Serie A points than after 24 games last term, but are cruising to a fourth straight scudetto - and first with a coach other than Antonio Conte since 2006's Calciopoli scandal - assisted by Roma and Napoli not being able to measure up to their 2013/14 tallies.

The winning mentality hasn't changed since Max Allegri was surprisingly named Conte's successor, though plenty of other things have. The most significant adjustment is that they now play with two centre backs rather than three, having initially retained the Italy coach's favoured 3-5-2.

Injury-wise, they are missing long-term absentee Kwadwo Asamoah, who arguably isn't as integral in the current formation as he was at wing back before. The date is expected to be too soon for Andrea Barzagli, who is yet to feature this season, while Luca Marrone and Alessandro Matri are doubts.

Borussia Dortmund

From the wretched low of moving two points adrift at the bottom of the Bundesliga three weeks ago, Borussia Dortmund have somehow found some long overdue form, earning three victories in a row for the first time since mid-September. They had been winless in six prior to that.

Explaining the transformation is difficult. Theories include the benching of recent signings who aren't judged a perfect fit for their unique style like Ciro Immobile and Henrikh Mkhitaryan for sidelined old favourites such as Shinji Kagawa, or that Marco Reus extending his contract has lifted them.

A less positive reading is that this is simply a reaction to hitting rock bottom, aided by playing three bottom-half clubs in far from stellar form (Freiburg, Mainz and Stuttgart).

Their struggles in previous campaigns to marry strong displays in the Bundesliga and Champions League - not an issue before now because they were so poor domestically - is a valid concern again.

Kevin Grosskreutz, Sven Bender, Sebastian Kehl and Kevin Kampl are all at risk of sitting out injured, though winter recruit Kempl was the only one to have featured in the present winning streak, starting all three successes.

Match Odds: Juventus 2.111/10, Borussia Dortmund 4.216/5, The Draw 3.412/5

None of Dortmund's last nine Champions League away fixtures finished level. With the exception of a 2-1 win at Arsenal in 2013, they always beat clearly inferior sides (Marseille, Zenit, Anderlecht and Galatasaray) and lose to those on their level or beyond (Real Madrid - twice - Napoli and Arsenal).

Your approach to this market should therefore be dictated by your assessment of whether Juventus are on or above their level. This writer rates them as deserving of their favourite status, and points to their home record in this competition - two defeats in 30, both to Bayern Munich - as proof.

They haven't lost any of the six since the start of 2013/14, despite welcoming last year's finalists Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in that period.

In all competitions, the Bianconeri are unbeaten in 22 months and 46 matches as hosts, prevailing in 38 of those, including 31 of the most recent 36 and all of the latest five. Dortmund's past nine road trips delivered a mere two triumphs compared to five defeats.

Both Teams To Score? No

Backers of both teams to score were disappointed in six of Juventus' last seven Champions League encounters and six of Dortmund's previous eight, as well as all of the German club's latest four journeys overseas.

Best Bet: Back Juventus to win @ 2.111/10
Other Recommended Bet: Back both teams to score? No @ 2.0621/20