16 September 2024
The start of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League is upon us, with Juventus preparing to host Dutch outfit PSV Eindhoven at the Allianz Stadium in their League Phase opener in Turin.
Ahead of the 18:45 CEST kick-off, here's five pre-match facts to get you into stride ahead of the Bianconeri's continental return.
FIRST-TIMERS | This will be the first-ever match between Juventus and PSV Eindhoven; the Old Lady's last match against a Dutch side in the Champions League was in the quarter-finals with Ajax in the 2018/19 campaign.
DUTCH DUEL | Juventus have only lost two of their 11 matches against Dutch teams in the Champions League (6W, 3D), while PSV have never won in six away games against Italian teams in the competition (2L, 4D), scoring just two goals in those six away matches.
HISTORY MAKERS | This will be Juventus' 38th different season in the Champions Cup/Champions League, a record for an Italian team. Overall, only Real Madrid (55), Bayern Munich (41) and Benfica (41) have more.
NEW LEADER | Thiago Motta will be the 10th different coach to lead Juventus in the Champions League, with all 10 coaches being Italian: Lippi, Ancelotti, Capello, Ranieri, Ferrera, Conte, Allegri, Sarri, Pirlo and Motta.
STAR IN THE MAKING | Kenan Yildiz (19 years and 136 days on Matchday 1) could become the second-youngest player to play a Champions League match for Juventus as a starter (after Fabio Miretti, 19 years and 34 days) and, should he score, he would become the youngest player to score for the Bianconeri in the competition, overtaking Alessandro Del Piero (20 years and 308 days).
