Juventus will kick off their Champions League campaign with an away tie at Valencia in Group H on Wednesday, with Cristiano Ronaldo eager to make an immediate impact as the Italian side aim to clinch the European Cup.
After being eliminated in the quarter-final stage in last year's competition at the hands of eventual winner Real Madrid – and a wondergoal by none other than Ronaldo – winning the tournament was the Italian side's main motivation for signing the Portuguese superstar.
The Italian champions face tough tests against the likes of Manchester United and Young Boys in the rest of Group H, however, with an away trip to the Mestalla Stadium the first hurdle.
| Game | Valencia vs Juventus |
| Date | Wednesday, September 19 |
| Time | 8pm BST / 3pm EST |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
In the United States (US), the game will be shown on Univision Deportes and streamed on B/R Live.
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| Univision Deportes | B/R Live |
In the United Kingdom (UK), the game can be watched live BT Sport Extra 2 and livestreamed through BT Sport Live.
| UK TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| BT Sport Extra 2 | BT Sport Live |
Squads & Team News
| Position | Valencia players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Domenech, Neto |
| Defenders | Miguel, Murillo, Gabriel, Diakhaby, Gaya, Lato, Piccini, Garay |
| Midfielders | Guedes, Soler, Parejo, Cheryshev, Coquelin, Wass, Torres, Racic |
| Forwards | Gameiro, Rodrigo, Santiago, Batshuayi, Fernandez |
Geoffrey Kondogbia is still suffering from an ankle injury and is unlikely to feature. Rodrigo and Kevin Gameiro are preferred in attack to Michy Batshuayi, who is named on the bench.
Valencia XI: Neto, Piccini, Gabriel, Gayà, Diakhaby, Soler, Wass, Parejo, Guedes, Gameiro, Rodrigo.
| Position | Juventus players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Szczesny, Pinsoglio, Perin |
| Defenders | De Sciglio, Chiellini, Benatia, Sandro, Barzagli, Bonucci, Rugani |
| Midfielders | Pjanic, Khedira, Douglas Costa, Cuadrado, Can, Bentancur, Bernardeschi |
| Forwards | Ronaldo, Dybala, Mandzukic, Cancelo |
Douglas Costa has been included in Juventus' Champions League squad after receiving a four game ban in Serie A following his dismissal on Sunday after he elbowed, headbutted and spit in Federico Di Francesco's mouth.
He is not included in the starting XI, with Federico Bernadeschi and Mario Mandzukic playing alongside Ronaldo in the front three.
Juventus XI: Szczesny; Cancelo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Khedira, Pjanic, Matuidi; Bernardeschi, Mandzukic, Ronaldo
Betting & Match Odds
Juventus are priced at odds of winning 17/20 according to bet 365, while a draw is available at 13/5. A win for the Foxes is priced at 15/4.
Match Preview
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Ronaldo brought his three-game drought for Juventus to an end when he netted twice in Sunday's 2-1 win against Sassuolo.
Questions were being raised about the Portuguese international's price tag and the transfer of Gonzalo Higuain to AC Milan following his first few goalless games, but being able to opt out of international duty and remain in Turin must have rejuvenated Ronaldo – as he finally got off the mark for his new club.
Ronaldo remains the Champions League's all-time top-scorer ahead of rival Lionel Messi and it is his experience and success in winning the Champions League that prompted Juventus to make the massive swoop to sign the sensational striker.
Ronaldo's overhead wondergoal against Juventus for Real Madrid was one of many highlights of the two-legged fixture – not to mention the ban given to former goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon following his comments about referee Michael Oliver, when he conceded a penalty in stoppage time.
Real Madrid were in danger of going out of the competition until Ronaldo stepped up to the plate and converted the crucial penalty, thus ending Buffon's dreams of lifting the Champions League trophy with his long-term club.
It would be an interesting twist of fate, then, should Ronaldo successfully guide Juventus to a Champions League win this year – though it will ironically be without Buffon in the squad as the Italian transferred to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer after 17 years with the side.
Valencia have not competed in the Champions League for the last two years, instead featuring in the Europa League, and have been handed an unfortunate 'Group of Death'.