Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Juventus will look to record their first win of the process when they face Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League group stages round 3. The Bianconeri failed to impress in back-to-back losses to PSG and Benfica, but they will not have a better chance than this to get back on course. Midfielder Angel Di Maria is back from a domestic ban, while all Fabio Miretti, Paul Pogba, Kaio Jorge, and Federico Chiesa remain in the recovery room.
The Israeli outfit, on the other hand, do not seem to be competitive at this level, with the team losing to both Benfica and PSG in the first two group games, and given the importance of Wednesday’s clash for Max Allegri’s men, we predict that the visitors are going to return to Haifa empty-handed. There are no fresh injury worries in the away team ahead of the trip to Turin.
Highlighted Player (Leonardo Bonucci):
Over the years Leonardo Bonucci has established himself as one of Juve’s key defenders. The 190-cm-tall centre back, who is capable of playing as a right back as well, was born in Viterbo on 1 May, 1987 and he started his senior career at Inter. However, he made no more than one league appearance for the Nerrazzurri between 2005 and 2009.
After ending his loan spells with the likes of Treviso and Pisa, he joined Bari in 2009 and he scored one goal in 38 league games for the club. Juventus signed him in July, 2010 for a fee of €15.5 million. Leonardo Bonucci won his fifth Scudetto with Juve in the 2015/2016 season and he played in the 2014/2015 Champions League final against Barcelona. However, the Bianconeri were beaten by Barca in the title game.
Bonucci made his Italy debut on 3 March, 2010 and two years later he participated in the Euro 2012 final against Spain. The Azzurri were hammered by Vicente del Bosque’s troops 4-0 in the Olympic Stadium clash.