Juventus vs Dinamo Zagreb - Allegri expecting Dinamo to make life tough for Juventus

Posted Wednesday, December 07, 2016 by PA

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri wants a fast start from his side against Dinamo Zagreb as they chase first place in Group H - but admits goals may not be easy to come by.

Juve are already assured of a place in the Champions League knockout stages following their 3-1 win against Sevilla a fortnight ago but need a victory to guarantee finishing in top spot.

That would appear a foregone conclusion, with Dinamo rock-bottom of the group without a point or goal from their five games so far. They have also conceded 13 times - including four goals at home to Juve back in September - but Allegri does not believe that means things will be easy for his side in Turin on Wednesday.

He said at his pre-match press conference: "At this stage of the competition we said we wanted to finish first at all costs, and that is the case tomorrow.

"We want to win against Dinamo, and to do that we have to be aggressive from the start, given that presumably our opponents will close ranks, and scoring goals is not easy if your opponents have 10 men behind the ball.

"We need to be full of attacking intent from the first whistle tomorrow in order to build an early lead that will then enable us to preserve our energies later in the game."

Allegri's side are unbeaten in 19 home games in European competition but an injury crisis has left Allegri short of defenders and is threatening to undermine Juve's season.

Dani Alves broke his leg in the recent 3-1 defeat at Genoa and Leonardo Bonucci sustained a thigh injury in the same match.

Juve are already without Andrea Barzagli (dislocated shoulder), while Giorgio Chiellini has been struggling with a recurring calf problem and may not be risked, while Medhi Benatia has only recently returned from a knee injury.

Allegri's problem is compounded by the fact that Stephan Lichtsteiner, back-up for right-back Alves, is not eligible.

Winger Marko Pjaca, who joined Juve from Dinamo in the summer, is also out, due a leg injury sustained while on recent international duty with Croatia, but Paulo Dybala is set to return for the first time since October following a thigh strain.

Allegri added: "Paulo Dybala will definitely feature for either all or at least some of the second half against Dinamo. He's been training very well, but isn't quite in the ideal condition yet to play a full 90 minutes, so we need to ease him back into action gradually. That means Mario Mandzukic and Gonzalo Higuain will be partnering one another in attack again."

Dinamo coach Ivaylo Petev is not without selection problems either as his side chase their first point in Group H.

Brazilian midfielder Jonas is suspended, Marko Leskovic, Goncalo Santos and Domagoj Antolic are all sidelined through injury and Alexandru Matel is doubtful.

"I am not afraid of a heavy defeat in Torino," Petev said. "I'm sure that all my players will fight for every ball on the pitch.

"I'm positive we will play a good game. Our goal was to play in the Champions League. It won't be easy, but we have to try to score our first goal in the last match in the group stage."