Juventus will be aiming to record back-to-back wins in this season’s Champions League when they play host to Pafos on Wednesday night.
The Old Lady claimed their first continental success of the season at the fifth attempt when defeating Bodo/Glimt 3-2 a fortnight ago.
The victory lifted Juventus into the all-important top 24, and another win this midweek would put them in a strong position to reach the knockout stages.
However, the hosts will have to lift themselves off the canvas after falling to a 2-1 defeat away at Napoli on Sunday night, a setback that has left the Turin giants sitting seventh in Serie A.
Meanwhile, Pafos have been one of the surprise packages in this season’s Champions League, with their solitary defeat thus far coming against Bayern Munich.
Juan Carlos Carcedo’s side come into this clash fresh from a comfortable 4-0 win over Akritas Chlorakas on Friday night, a victory that means Pafos continue to occupy top spot in the Cypriot First Division.
How the bookies view it: Light work for the Old Lady
Despite being held to a draw in each of their previous two Champions League home games this season, Juventus have been priced up as heavy odds-on 2/11 favourites with bet365.
Three of Pafos’ five Champions League games this season have ended all square, and another stalemate here can be backed at 6/1 with bet365, while the same firm make the visitors a whopping 14/1 to emerge from the Allianz Stadium victorious.
Head to head: History book blank
Juventus and Pafos will cross paths for the first time ever on Wednesday night.
The Italian hosts last came up against Cypriot opposition way back in 1999, defeating Omonia by an aggregate score of 10-2 in a UEFA Cup tie.
Players to watch: Keep an eye on Kenan
Having hit three goals across his last two Serie A appearances for Juventus, Kenan Yildiz offers anytime goalscorer value on Wednesday night at 21/20 with bet365.
David Luiz scored during Pafos’ 2-2 draw with Monaco on matchday five. The veteran defender is as big as 11/8 with bet365 to attempt a minimum of one shot during this contest.
Predicted line-ups
As was the case against Napoli on Sunday night, Juventus are again expected to be without Bremer, Daniele Rugani, Dusan Vlahovic, Federico Gatti and Mattia Perin due to injury.
With one eye on this week's trip to Turin, Pafos boss Carcedo opted for some squad rotation at the weekend, so he should revert back to his strongest starting XI here, which will not include long-term absentee Pedrao.
Juventus: Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Kelly, Koopmeiners; Cambiaso, Locatelli, Thuram, Kostic; Conceicao, Yildiz; David
Pafos: Michail; Felipe, Luckassen, Luiz, Sema; Sunjic, Goldar, Pepe; Jaja, Dragomir, Quina
Anything else catch the eye?
Given how well Pafos have performed in this season’s Champions League to date, the visitors look well worthy of support to score at least once on Wednesday night at even money (1/1) with bet365.
The Cypriot outfit have struck in three of their five league phase fixtures thus far — one of which was against star-studded Bayern Munich.
With that in mind, the Light Brigade could land a blow on a Juventus backline that has failed to keep a clean sheet on the continent in five attempts this season.
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