One goal for Juventus against Benfica on Thursday could
prove enough to see them contest the UEFA Europa League final on home turf.
A stunning Lima strike six minutes from time at the
Estadio da Luz handed Benfica a slender advantage ahead of Thursday's second
leg in Turin, but Carlos Tevez's away goal for Juve could potentially prove
crucial.
Tevez's 73rd-minute strike, which equalised Ezequiel
Garay's early opener, means a 1-0 win for Antonio Conte's team at the Juventus
Stadium this week would put them through to the Europa League final at their
own stadium on May 14.
However, Juve have struggled to keep clean sheets at home
in European competition this term.
Although the Italian champions, who are on course for a
third straight domestic title, have not been beaten in their six continental
outings at home in 2013-14, they have managed just one shutout.
And Conte's side will face a buoyant Benfica outfit, who
followed up their Primeira Liga title success last week by sealing their place
in the Taca da Liga final with a win over rivals Porto on penalties at the
weekend.
Benfica also have fine pedigree in the Europa League, and
are the only unbeaten team left in this season's competition following the
disappointment of losing last year's final to Chelsea.
Jorge Jesus' charges have won their last four European
away fixtures, but Conte is confident they can be put off their stride by a
vocal Juventus Stadium crowd.
"We are going to play with 12 men on Thursday, I am
convinced of it, and Benfica had better beware because the fans are going to
enter the fray," he told Sky Sport Italia.
"What excites me is these three years in charge of
Juventus. This has been a truly incredible journey, if we think that three
years ago we overcame all the odds.
"I reiterate I want on Thursday for the supporters
to create a fiery cauldron in the stadium, just as Benfica’s fans did in
Lisbon."
Juve have won 21 and drawn three of their home games in
all competitions this season, and could be crowned Serie A champions again this
weekend.
Benfica, though, are on course for a quadruple, as they
are in the finals of both the Taca da Liga and the Taca de Portugal and have
won their last eight games including the Sunday's shootout success over Porto.
And first-leg hero Lima feels his team-mates have the
quality to make a third final of the season in Italy this week.
"We will go to Turin as a united team to try to go
through with humility. We have the quality and the ability to achieve
that," he told UEFA.com.
Arturo Vidal is a doubt for Juve with a knee injury while
Ljubomir Fejsa (foot), Silvio (leg), Eduardo Salvio (arm) and Nicolas Gaitan
(thigh) could all miss out for the visitors.
Culled from Soccerway
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