Juventus vs Borussia Dortmund preview - Buffon keen to measure progress

Posted Tuesday, February 24, 2015 by PA

Juventus make their return to the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday night keen to see how far they have come in the two years since their last appearance at this stage.

2013 beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund, who shared the same fate as Juve that year in being beaten by Bayern Munich, are the guests to the Juventus Stadium for arguably the biggest game of the season for the Serie A leaders.

"I hope that, compared to two years ago, we've got more belief that we are a great side," said Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon at a press conference.

"I hope that, compared to two years ago, we've all improved, both in terms of our game and in our conviction.

"I don't know if we're stronger than Borussia or not, but I know that we're curious to see what we are worth.

"Everybody here wants to measure ourselves with clubs who have been at the top level in Europe for a few years, and Dortmund are one of those."

That may not currently be reflected in the respective league tables.

While Juventus could move another step closer to a fourth straight Serie A title by beating their nearest rivals Roma and moving 12 points clear next Monday, Dortmund find themselves still only three points clear of the bottom three in the Bundesliga.

"It's an anomaly," said Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri. "I think at the end of the season, they will be among the leading clubs because the league's still tight, apart from Bayern Munich who are in a league of their own.

"They are very fast and technically strong up front, they are well organised and play good football.

"This is the first of two games against them and tomorrow, playing at home, the fundamental thing is not conceding."

For Dortmund, Tuesday gives them an opportunity to put their domestic problems to one side and focus on a competition they went so close to winning two years ago.

"It's the last 16, we've won three in a row, it's a great situation, but we know that the day after tomorrow, our relegation battle goes on," said Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp.

"But tomorrow night, you're not going to see that we're in a relegation battle in the Bundesliga."

He would not reveal what the fans inside the Juventus Stadium will see, however.

"As Pierre-Emerick (Aubameyang) said, tactics are important in Italy, but we also know a thing or two about tactics and one of those is that we don't reveal today the way we will play tomorrow," he added.

Aubameyang was equally secretive, but he promised that the fans are going to see "a great game" between the sides, who met in the 1997 final with Dortmund coming out on top against the favourites Juve.

This time, the tie appears to be too close to call. "Both sides have a chance of going through," said Klopp. "We remember 1997, but it has no relevance on this game."