Both pointless and adrift at the bottom of Group H, Juventus and Maccabi Haifa resume their Champions League campaigns with a must-win fixture on Wednesday.
Having given Paris Saint-Germain and Benfica a six-point head start, the teams convene in Turin for the first game of a double-header which could effectively decide their fate in Europe.
Match preview
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For the first time, Juventus have lost both of their opening group games, following successive defeats to PSG and - just before the international break - their expected rivals for second spot in Group E, Benfica.
Understandably second-best for long spells in Paris, their humbling at home to the Lisbon club came amid another spell of strife at the Allianz Stadium, as Juve endure a sluggish start to the 2022-23 campaign.
Soon after being held to a domestic draw by lowly Salernitana, the Bianconeri then threw away a lead against Benfica to remain without a point and slip six behind their Portuguese counterparts in the standings.
Things then got worse before getting any better back in Serie A, when Max Allegri's men were humbled by rock-bottom Monza in their final fixture before the break.
On a run of one win from eight matches, Juventus hosted Bologna upon their return to action, and a fortnight away seemed to have done the Old Lady a certain amount of good, as Serbian duo Filip Kostic and Dusan Vlahovic struck either side of the interval before Arkadiusz Milik provided a finishing flourish by slamming home the third just after the hour mark.
With early signs of a productive partnership between the latter pair raising hopes among Juve's disgruntled fanbase, Allegri must surely steer his side to successive victories if they are to remain in the race for a spot in the Champions League's knockout phase.
Across a crucial 10-day period, Juve will now tackle Maccabi Haifa twice, either side of a visit to Scudetto holders Milan - and then they contest the Turin derby.
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In their only previous encounter with Italy's most decorated club, Maccabi Haifa lost 1-0 both home and away to Juventus in the 2009-10 group stage, with the Bianconeri's now-departed defender Giorgio Chiellini getting the only goal in Turin.
Some 13 years later, Maccabi return to Piedmont, sitting alongside their hosts on zero points from two Group E fixtures so far.
They may have lost 3-1 to PSG on the second matchday, but Barak Bakhar's side took an unexpected lead and caused their illustrious opponents plenty of problems - only strikes from the superstar triumvirate of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi proved the difference in an entertaining contest.
Though the Greens finally ended a 702-minute-long goal drought in the Champions League group stage, via Tjaronn Chery's first-half effort, they have now been beaten in each of their last eight matches at this rarefied level.
Having joined the qualifying process in the second round, thanks to claiming a second successive Israeli Premier League title last season, Haifa have already come a long way to compete among Europe's elite. However, if they are to prolong their stay at the top table until 2023 they must now turn positive performances into results.
Team News
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After injured quartet Adrien Rabiot, Alex Sandro, Manuel Locatelli and Wojciech Szczesny returned to action on Sunday, Juventus can also welcome back Angel Di Maria in midweek, following a domestic suspension that kept him out of the win over Bologna.
Rabiot and Locatelli could again join forces in the hosts' midfield, but Leandro Paredes and teenager Fabio Miretti are on standby if Max Allegri opts to shuffle his pack.
Long-term absentees Paul Pogba and Federico Chiesa remain sidelined, but the latter recently made his first foray into full training and will hope to feature later in Juve's Group E campaign.
Di Maria should support Dusan Vlahovic up front, as Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik - who opened the scoring against Benfica and has registered three goals in his last four games - misses out with a minor injury.
Following a 2-0 victory over Maccabi Tel-Aviv at the weekend - which saved some face after their shock 3-0 reverse at the hands of Hapoel Jerusalem last month - Maccabi Haifa are expected to name a similar starting XI in Turin. Therefore, Omer Atzili should start up front, with Tjaronn Chery and Mohammad Abu Fani pulling the strings in midfield for the Israeli Premier League leaders.
Meanwhile, Israel international Mahmoud Jaber may be absent from the visitors' squad again, with Suf Podgoreanu - currently on loan from Serie A side Spezia - once more ruled out by injury.
Juventus possible starting lineup:
Szczesny; Danilo, Bremer, Bonucci, De Sciglio; Locatelli, Paredes; Cuadrado, Di Maria, Kostic; Vlahovic
Maccabi Haifa possible starting lineup:
Cohen; Sundgren, Goldberg, Batubinsika; Haziza, Fani, Lavi, Chery, Cornud; Atzili, Pierrot
We say: Juventus 2-0 Maccabi Haifa
Competing above their weight class in the ever-demanding Champions League, Maccabi Haifa have an uphill struggle to even claim third spot in the group, despite Juve's woes.
Next week's reverse fixture may be a closer affair on Israeli soil, but the home side are under a little less pressure after beating Bologna convincingly and will win.
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Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
