Juventus' Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt, centre, and manager Andrea Pirlo, right, during the players' training session on the eve of the UEFA Champions League Group G match against Barcelona. AFP
Juventus' Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt, centre, and manager Andrea Pirlo, right, during the players' training session on the eve of the UEFA Champions League Group G match against Barcelona. AFP
Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo with club president Andrea Agnelli. Reuters
Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo with club president Andrea Agnelli. Reuters
Juventus' Argentinian forward Paulo Dybala. AFP
Juventus' Argentinian forward Paulo Dybala. AFP
Juventus players attend a training session at the Juventus Training Centre, Turin. Reuters
Juventus players attend a training session at the Juventus Training Centre, Turin. Reuters
Juventus' Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci. AFP
Juventus' Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci. AFP
Paulo Dybala and manager Andrea Pirlo. AFP
Paulo Dybala and manager Andrea Pirlo. AFP
Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo watches on. AFP
Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo watches on. AFP
Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo with Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata during training. Reuters
Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo with Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata during training. Reuters
Andrea Pirlo with Paulo Dybal. Reuters
Andrea Pirlo with Paulo Dybal. Reuters
Juventus players attend a training session at the Juventus Training Centre, Turin. Reuters
Juventus players attend a training session at the Juventus Training Centre, Turin. Reuters
Juventus' Spanish striker Alvaro Morata. Reuters
Juventus' Spanish striker Alvaro Morata. Reuters
Juventus players attend a training session at the Juventus Training Centre in Turin. Reuters
Juventus players attend a training session at the Juventus Training Centre in Turin. Reuters
Juventus' Spanish forward Alvaro Morata. AFP
Juventus' Spanish forward Alvaro Morata. AFP

Football

No Cristiano Ronaldo as Juventus president watches players prepare for Barcelona test - in pictures

Juve striker has been isolating after returning a positive Covid-19 test on October 13

Steve Luckings
Steve Luckings
Abu Dhabi

October 27, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Juventus president Andrea Agnelli joined manager Andrea Pirlo to oversee a training session ahead of Wednesday's Champions League match against Barcelona.

While the likes of Paulo Dybala, Adrien Rabiot and Alvaro Morata took part in the session at Juventus Training Centre, one notable absence was star striker Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese tested positive for the coronavirus on October 13 and has been in isolation. He will have to return a negative Covid-19 test 24 hours before the match if he is to lock horns with longtime adversary Lionel Messi in Turin.

Both Juve and Barca began their Group G campaigns with victories, with the Italian champions dispatching Dynamo Kiev 2-0 while Barca hammered Ferencvaros 5-1.

_________________________

Juventus v Barcelona - past meetings

April 9, 2003 - Champions League quarter-final first leg - Juventus 1 (Montero 16') Barcelona 1 (Saviola 78'): Honours even at the Stadio Delle Alpi. Uruguayan defender Paolo Montero had given Marcello Lippi's side an early lead only for another South American, the Argentine Javier Saviola, to score with 12 minutes left to seemingly put Barca in pole position for the return leg in Spain. Getty
April 9, 2003 - Champions League quarter-final first leg - Juventus 1 (Montero 16') Barcelona 1 (Saviola 78'): Honours even at the Stadio Delle Alpi. Uruguayan defender Paolo Montero had given Marcello Lippi's side an early lead only for another South American, the Argentine Javier Saviola, to score with 12 minutes left to seemingly put Barca in pole position for the return leg in Spain. Getty
April 22, 2003 - Champions League quarter-final second-leg - Barcelona 1 (Xavi 66') Juventus 2 (Nedved 53' Zalayeta 114'). Juve win 3-2 on aggregate AET: Midfielder Pavel Nedved and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon were at the heart of 10-man Juve's win in Catalonia. Barca's Xavi Hernandez had cancelled out Nedved's opener only for Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids to receive a second yellow with 10 minutes left. But in extra-time, two brilliant Buffon saves and a winner from substitute Marcelo Zalayeta took the Italians through. Juve would go on to lose to AC Milan on penalties in the final. Getty
April 22, 2003 - Champions League quarter-final second-leg - Barcelona 1 (Xavi 66') Juventus 2 (Nedved 53' Zalayeta 114'). Juve win 3-2 on aggregate AET: Midfielder Pavel Nedved and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon were at the heart of 10-man Juve's win in Catalonia. Barca's Xavi Hernandez had cancelled out Nedved's opener only for Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids to receive a second yellow with 10 minutes left. But in extra-time, two brilliant Buffon saves and a winner from substitute Marcelo Zalayeta took the Italians through. Juve would go on to lose to AC Milan on penalties in the final. Getty
June 6, 2015 - Champions League final - Juventus 1 (Morata 55') Barcelona 3 (Rakitic 4', Suarez 68', Neymar 90 +7'): Barca's third European crown in six years was sealed thanks to their magnificent attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. In a thrilling game in Berlin, Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic gave the Spaniard's a flying start only for Alvaro Morata to level the scores in the second half. But goals from Suarez and then, deep in injury time, Neymar meant Luis Enrique's side completed the treble after winning domestic league and cup competitions. Getty
June 6, 2015 - Champions League final - Juventus 1 (Morata 55') Barcelona 3 (Rakitic 4', Suarez 68', Neymar 90 +7'): Barca's third European crown in six years was sealed thanks to their magnificent attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. In a thrilling game in Berlin, Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic gave the Spaniard's a flying start only for Alvaro Morata to level the scores in the second half. But goals from Suarez and then, deep in injury time, Neymar meant Luis Enrique's side completed the treble after winning domestic league and cup competitions. Getty
April 11, 2017 - Champions League quarter-final first leg - Juventus 3 (Dybala 7' & 22', Chiellini 55') Barcelona 0: Juve took full control of the tie with a superb display less than two years after their beating in Berlin at the hands of Barca. Argentine forward Paulo Dybala's two early goals put Massimiliano Allegri's side in the driving seat before a Giorgio Chiellini header looked to have booked the Italian's semi-final spot, barring a remarkable turnaround in Spain. Getty
April 11, 2017 - Champions League quarter-final first leg - Juventus 3 (Dybala 7' & 22', Chiellini 55') Barcelona 0: Juve took full control of the tie with a superb display less than two years after their beating in Berlin at the hands of Barca. Argentine forward Paulo Dybala's two early goals put Massimiliano Allegri's side in the driving seat before a Giorgio Chiellini header looked to have booked the Italian's semi-final spot, barring a remarkable turnaround in Spain. Getty
April 19, 2017 - Champions League quarter-final first leg - Barcelona 0 Juventus 0: There was to be no stunning fightback from Barca as Juventus produced a defensive masterclass, led by Italian defender Chiellini, at Camp Nou. Messi, Suarez and Neymar came up against a black and white wall this time round as Barca were restricted to just one shot on target. To make matters worse for the Spaniards, arch-rivals Real Madrid would go on to win the competition, battering Juve 4-1 in the final. Getty
April 19, 2017 - Champions League quarter-final first leg - Barcelona 0 Juventus 0: There was to be no stunning fightback from Barca as Juventus produced a defensive masterclass, led by Italian defender Chiellini, at Camp Nou. Messi, Suarez and Neymar came up against a black and white wall this time round as Barca were restricted to just one shot on target. To make matters worse for the Spaniards, arch-rivals Real Madrid would go on to win the competition, battering Juve 4-1 in the final. Getty
September 12, 2017 - Champions League Group D - Barcelona 3 (Messi 45' & 69'), Rakitic 56') Juventus 0: Just five months after their last meeting, the two European giants clashed again, this time it was Messi and Barca who were firmly in charge. The Argentine genius hit two brilliant goals, with a Rakitic strike sandwiched in the middle, to earn Ernesto Valverde's side a convincing group stage win at Camp Nou. Getty
September 12, 2017 - Champions League Group D - Barcelona 3 (Messi 45' & 69'), Rakitic 56') Juventus 0: Just five months after their last meeting, the two European giants clashed again, this time it was Messi and Barca who were firmly in charge. The Argentine genius hit two brilliant goals, with a Rakitic strike sandwiched in the middle, to earn Ernesto Valverde's side a convincing group stage win at Camp Nou. Getty
November 22, 2017 - Champions League Group D - Juventus 0 Barcelona 0: Messi was surprisingly left on the bench for the return match in Turin as the match finished goalless - although Barca dominated possession and created the game's better chances. Barca finished top of their group, with Juve also qualifying for the knockout stages. Both would fall at the quarter-final stage, though. Barca would throw away a 4-1 first-leg lead against Roma by losing the second leg 3-0 and going out on away goals. Juve would narrowly lose 4-3 on aggregate to Real Madrid, who would again go on to win the final. Getty
November 22, 2017 - Champions League Group D - Juventus 0 Barcelona 0: Messi was surprisingly left on the bench for the return match in Turin as the match finished goalless - although Barca dominated possession and created the game's better chances. Barca finished top of their group, with Juve also qualifying for the knockout stages. Both would fall at the quarter-final stage, though. Barca would throw away a 4-1 first-leg lead against Roma by losing the second leg 3-0 and going out on away goals. Juve would narrowly lose 4-3 on aggregate to Real Madrid, who would again go on to win the final. Getty
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