Juventus V Manchester City: Champions League match preview

25 November 2015 14:34

Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio is wary of a potential Manchester City backlash in Turin this week.

City were knocked off the top of the Barclays Premier League as they were thrashed 4-1 by Liverpool on Saturday.

It was a humiliating result for a side that had been clear title favourites and Marchisio is expecting a strong reaction as they face the Italian giants in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The Italy international said: "We know it is not going to be easy. We are playing a team that has suffered a very heavy defeat in the Premier League. When these things happen and they come to the next match, in the Champions League in this case, they probably want a backlash and want to react.

"And that is in addition to all the skills and qualities of the Manchester City players, that are also very important."

City go into the matchday five encounter having already secured their place in the last 16. Juventus can join them in the knockout stages with a victory and a defeat would even be sufficient if Sevilla fail to overcome Borussia Monchengladbach in their match.

But despite that Marchisio is aware Juve's job is not done yet and he also knows City, after their past struggles in the competition, are keen to go through as group winners this time.

The 29-year-old said: "Manchester City is a team full of great champions. In their history they have not progressed so much but it is not easy to make progress in this competition. We know they want to get first place and we also want to be first. We are two teams that could take it easy but we will play hard to get first place."

City are without a number of key players, including Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Pablo Zabaleta and Samir Nasri but Marchisio does not expect that to be a factor.

He said: "They have such a great selection of big players that it won't make any difference."

In terms of Juventus team news former Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra has been passed fit but strikers Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala are doubtful and will be assessed.

City boss Manuel Pellegrini insists the Liverpool loss is already out of their system as they look to secure top spot in Group D.

He said: ''I think that we finished with the game - that very bad game that we played on Saturday - on Sunday morning.

''This is a different competition and a different game. We are thinking of playing here against Juventus at home and trying to beat them.

''It was a strange and fake game that we played, and that is the past. It is more important to think about the future. I hope we will return to our normal performance.''

Source: PA-WIRE