Juventus vs Bayer Leverkusen UCL Matchday 2 Odds, Picks & Betting Preview
- Both clubs will be looking to kick-start their Champions League campaigns after stumbling on Matchday 1
- Juventus gave up a two-goal lead over Atletico Madrid away from home and were forced to settle for a draw
- Bayer Leverkusen fell to a home loss against Lokomotiv Moscow and have now won just twice in their last 14 Champions League games
After less-than-auspicious starts to their Champions League campaigns, both Juventus and Bayer Leverkusen will be looking to right their respective ships on Matchday 2 with a win.
Juventus vs. Bayer Leverkusen Odds
| Team | Spread | Odds | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juventus | -1.0 (-130) | -220 | O 3.0 (+115) |
| Bayer Leverkusen | +1.0 (+110) | +650 | U 3.0 (-145) |
| Draw | N/A | +345 | N/A |
* Odds taken on 09/27/19
Moving On
Though undoubtedly disappointed to concede two second-half goals and turn what seemed a likely victory into a draw, Juventus have the opportunity to make amends on Tuesday.
The Italian champions certainly are glad to be playing back at home, where they have won three of five Champions League games last season. On top of that, since moving into the Allianz Stadium in 2011, the two-time Champions League winners have lost just four of their 38 European matches at the venue, though three of those defeats have come in their previous six contests.
Ronaldo Returns
After missing Juventus’ 2-1 win at Brescia on Tuesday with an adductor injury, Cristiano Ronaldo returned to training this week and will be back in contention for a starting spot next Tuesday.
Cristiano Ronaldo has decided 17% of the games he has played for Juventus – It is the best record of the club's goalscorers.. Baggio & Sivori have 16%, While Higuaín has 14%.
Another record for Cristiano. Icon. ? pic.twitter.com/boGkLrco9v
— Cristiano Ronaldo Fans (@TheRonaldoTeam) September 26, 2019
While the Portuguese will be an important part of the Juventus gameplan, he will be returning to a team that’s currently employing a different formation. Former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has impressed so much in the few games he’s played since arriving in Turin that coach Mauricio Sarri is deploying a 4-3-1-2 formation to get the best out of the Welshman.
Maurizio Sarri is gonna set up a new system at Juventus and giving Ronaldo a new role. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/T5ATrzBF4c
— Zeeshan⁷ (@FutbolZEE) September 26, 2019
Ramsey has certainly justified his inclusion in the starting lineup so far. In Serie A action, Juventus have scored four goals in 131 minutes with the Welshman on the pitch, but have scored just five in the 353 minutes they’ve played without him, and are currently unbeaten and sitting second in Serie A.
Turin Test
Bayer Leverkusen haven’t played Italian opposition in Europe all that often, and the results away from home haven’t been overly encouraging. The German club has registered just a solitary win in Italy in six visits, and that was back in the 1999-2000 UEFA Cup campaign when it won at Udinese.
Since then they’ve visited Italy on five occasions, with just one draw and four losses to show for their efforts. In addition, Matchday 1’s 2-1 loss to Lokomotiv Moscow means the club has won just twice in its last 14 Champions League games.
Borussia Dortmund are prepared to break their transfer record to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz next summer if Jadon Sancho leaves the club. (Kicker) pic.twitter.com/XJxs8llDYa
— Transfer News Central (@TransferNewsCen) September 24, 2019
However, the team, currently eighth in the Bundesliga, has lost just two of its last 11 European away games and is unbeaten in its last five Champions League away games, having not lost since a 3-2 defeat at Roma in 2015.
Stacking Them Up
The two teams have met just twice, back in the second group stage of the 2001-02 Champions League. Juventus registered a 4-0 victory in Turin, before Leverkusen turned the tables with a 3-1 win at home, and ultimately reached that season’s Champions League final.
Juventus vs. Bayer Leverkusen Head-to-Head
| Team | Won | Lost | Drawn | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juventus | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
There are some encouraging signs for Leverkusen in the fact that Juventus have won just one of their last five home games against German clubs, and haven’t beaten a German team in their past four attempts. Their last win came in a 3-0 win at Borussia Dortmund in the 2014-15 Champions League knockout stages.
Pick: Juventus to take advantage of home field and pick up their first Champions League win of the season
For the last 20 years, Paul Attfield has worked in sports media. Starting out in his native Britain with the likes of The Independent, he eventually switched continents, with his work appearing in the likes of the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and Yahoo Sports since.
