Will Juve make it to the next round?

Who would have thought you would ever find Juventus Turin in the Europa League? The former Italian serial champions, Champions League winners and multiple finalists in Europe’s top division are still stumbling mightily at the moment.

They are only seventh in the league due to a 15-point deduction and in that very Europa League, they couldn’t get past a 1-1 draw with Nantes in the first leg in front of their home crowd. The second leg is also expected to be a close game. The Nantes vs. Juventus odds see the visitors as favourites despite the disappointing first leg. There are also many good reasons for this.

Nantes are only 13th in the French league as reigning cup winners. They have already been eliminated in the national cup this year and the fact that they have a reasonably reassuring nine-point lead over the first relegation place brings a big advantage: full focus on the Europa League!

They already tickled Juve in the first leg and now they want to create a sensation at home. Nantes vs Juventus is blessed with very lucrative odds for a bet on the hosts. However, anyone opting for this must be aware that they are betting on the underdog.

Because Juve, even if the table says otherwise, are in good form. Slowly but surely, the team is stabilising under coach Allegri and has already fought a few battles since the restart of the World Cup and also won them.

Without the points deduction in the league, they would be in second place in Serie A! So now the clash between Nantes and Juventus, where a prediction on the old lady must of course be taken into consideration. Simply because the Italian record champions bring a lot of quality with them. Kick-off for the hot second leg at the Stade Louis-Fonteneau is on Thursday evening at 18:45. A progress of the hosts would be a medium sensation.

Nantes – Statistics & current form

Nantes fought their way into the knockout stages of the Europa League in a group with SC Freiburg, leaving Qarabag Agdam and Piraeus behind. The second leg between Nantes and Juventus now provides odds in the region of 4.50 for a win and thus a progression of the French team.

In the top games of the group, they lost 4-0 and 2-0 to SC Freiburg and the 1-1 draw in the first leg in Turin was a big surprise. In itself, Nantes is simply much weaker than the old lady and also than the current Bundesliga fourth-placed team from Breisgau.

More than 300 million less market value

The figures also speak for themselves, the visitors’ squad is worth more than 300 million euros more than that of the home side. The most valuable man for the hosts is goalkeeper Alban Lafont with 16 million. By comparison, Juve’s top striker Vlahovic is worth 80 million. And yet Nantes is where it is. After the draw in the first leg, everything is now possible at home.

The away goals rule no longer counts in the European Cup, so the second leg is a clear “do or die” story. If Nantes win, they will be through. They can also count on the relatively recently loaned Andy Delort and Joao Victor. They are stumbling in 13th place in the league and the Europa League could be an important mood-setter. In the clash between Nantes and Juventus, a tip on the hosts is something for all those who believe in big surprises. On a sober basis, Juve are clearly stronger.

Last games of Nantes:

Ligue 1
19/02/2023 – Lens 3 – 1 Nantes

Europa League Final Stage
17/02/2023 – Juventus FC 1 – 1 Nantes

Ligue 1
12/02/2023 – Nantes 1 – 0 Lorient

Coupe de France
08/02/2023 – Angers (2)1 – 1(4) Nantes

Ligue 1
05/02/2023 – AC Ajaccio 0 – 2 Nantes

Juventus – Statistics & current form

“It’s all very simple!” That’s the book title of top coach Massimiliano Allegri, who is currently back in charge on the touchline at Juventus Turin. But the situation at the old lady is not simple at all. Juve are currently not even in a European Cup place in their own league and are now fighting to progress in the second leg after a meagre 1-1 draw at home to Nantes.

Allegri’s men, however, have been performing well, especially this month, and were also highly superior in the first leg. The Nantes vs Juventus match brings betting odds in the 1.80-1.85 range for an away win to the table. Definitely worth considering.

Bitter decisions in the first leg

A referee decision caused a stir in the first leg when Juve were denied a potential penalty. In addition, they were once unlucky with the goal-line technique, which, however, rightly prevented a goal by Chiesa. At the same time, Nantes equalised with their only attack and now the Italian team has to deliver on Thursday! In the league, they have won all four games this month and actually their form is right.

Especially compared to the team that was relegated to the Europa League with only one win from five CL games, Juventus has clearly improved. Di Maria is playing up front as if inspired by the World Cup victory, Kostic and Vlahovic have slowly stabilised and Chiesa is actually working his magic week after week. They are still a long way from their own aspirations, but they are developing.

If Juve show normal form and a stable chance conversion on Thursday in France, there is little in the way of a place in the next round. The defence and the defensive midfield around Rabiot must not allow themselves another mistake like in the first leg.

Should Juve actually triumph in the Europa League, the Champions League would be secured again for next season. In fact, it would probably be much easier than in the league. It would be the seventh European Cup victory ever for the traditional Italian club.

Last games of Juventus:

Series A
19/02/2023 – Spezia 0 – 2 Juventus FC

Europa League Final Stage
17/02/2023 – Juventus FC 1 – 1 Nantes

Series A
12/02/2023 – Juventus FC 1 – 0 AC Florence

08/02/2023 – Salernitana 0 – 3 Juventus FC

Coppa Italia
03/02/2023 – Juventus FC 1 – 0 Lazio Roma

Nantes – Juventus Direct comparison / H2H balance

There has been only one clash so far in the glorious history of the Europa League between these two clubs. The first leg, which anyone serious about betting on Thursday’s game should have seen, ended 1-1, with Nantes vs Juventus odds at 6.50 for the exact same result.

All nostalgics will also fondly remember the Champions League semi-final in 1996. Here, Juve narrowly prevailed in two games and later won the trophy for the first time in a penalty shootout against Ajax Amsterdam!

Nantes – Juventus Tip

Everything screams for a prediction on the visitors in Nantes against Juventus. The inherently good form, the dominant first leg and the significantly higher quality in the squad are clear pro-argumnts. In addition, the competition will be taken extremely seriously in Turin, as it is virtually the last chance to qualify for the Champions League.

And this is truly important for sponsors and also for the calm mind of the bosses. Although Nantes have home advantage on their side and Juve have wobbled in every game internationally so far this season, we are going with the Italian record champions in our tip. Juventus will prevail on Thursday to remain in the narrow favourites to win this year’s Europa League

Even though Juve have yet to put any glaring exclamation marks on their record this season, they are clear favourites against Nantes. Allegri’s men will tighten up and also snatch victory away in France. We bet on the Italian record champions and invest in our tip very offensive seven units.