Juventus Must Top Group After Kind Champions League Draw

Dreaming of finally winning the trophy again, Juventus took their place in the draw for the UEFA Champions League group stage on Thursday.

Among those drawing the balls were Ian Rush and Thierry Henry, the two men combining to hand the Bianconeri some favourable opponents when the competition begins in earnest in September.

If the fact the two men’s stints in Turin were both relatively poor was somewhat ironic, then so too were the names of the teams they drew against the Old Lady. New signings Marko Pjaca (Dinamo Zagreb), Dani Alves (Sevilla) and Miralem Pjanic (Olympique Lyonnais) will all face trips to their former clubs in Group H.

Group H: #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/jMqq2zKaNR

— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) August 25, 2016

While qualification for the knockout rounds is imperative, last season showed Juventus the pitfalls that await sides who finish second, as Bayern Munich dispatched them in the last 16.

They will certainly be looking to avoid a repeat of that in 2016/17, with director general Beppe Marotta in little doubt as to what he expects from the Italian champions in Europe this time around. He told Premium Sport (h/t Football Italia) shortly after the draw:

We know what our role is, namely to win qualification regardless of our opponents. We have an obligation to win. The opponents might be less tough on paper, but Sevilla often win the Europa League and Dinamo and Lyon are dangerous.

Are Juventus among the favourites? We feel ready for a challenging journey that could give us satisfaction, we want to do our best to get to the end. We’ve strengthened for that, to improve upon what we’ve done in recent years.

While Paul Pogba’s return to Manchester United this summer was undoubtedly a blow, La Madama has—as the club official noted—clearly taken a step forward. Gonzalo Higuain guarantees a regular supply of goals, while Alves, Pjanic and Medhi Benatia bring experience, depth and tactical options to the squad.

Those matters were discussed in detail throughout a previous post, but what about the three teams they are set to face in the Champions League?

Sevilla

The Spanish side were in Juve’s group last year, their 1-0 win at home securing a place in the UEFA Europa League, which they went on to win, but it also denied the Turin giants top spot on the final day.

That led to the ill-fated meeting with Bayern, something coach Massimiliano Allegri’s men will be hoping to avoid repeating. Yet it is a different Sevilla side that awaits them this term, the club having lost a number of key men since their victory over the Bianconeri back in December 2015.

2 – #Juventus and #Sevilla have met twice in European cups so far: one win apiece in the past Champions League campaign. Draw. #UCLdraw

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) August 25, 2016

Coach Unai Emery moved to Paris …

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