Good evening! The fifth matchday of the
Champions League group stage continues with plenty of spots in the last 16 up for grabs. Group A is far from decided and our focus will be on events in Sweden, as
Malmo take on
Juventus.
Malmo are in the group stages for the first time, but anything other than a victory this evening will put them out of the competition. They suffered consecutive defeats against Atletico Madrid in their last two European outings and the margin for error is slim today.
Visitors to the Swedbank Stadion are a Juventus side in outstanding form. They are cruising at the top of Serie A and will be in a good position to make it through to the last 16 with a win tonight. It hasn't been an easy group campaign for them, but their destiny is still firmly in their own hands.
As things stand, Atletico Madrid lead the table on nine points and will make it through to the knockout stages if they beat Olympiacos in this evening's other Group A fixture. The Greek side are on six points with Juventus, while Malmo prop up the table on three points.
The various head to head records between the teams could come into play in the final group matches, but that will all become clearer at the end of this evening. Right, the team news has filtered through so let's take a look at the lineups for each side.
MALMO XI: Olsen, Tinnerholm, Helander, Ricardinho E Johansson, Halsti, Eriksson, Adu, Forsberg, Rosenberg, Kiese Thelin
JUVENTUS XI: Buffon, Padoin, Lichtsteiner, Chiellini, Bonucci, Padoin, Pogba, Marchisio, Pirlo, Vidal, Tevez, Llorente
MALMO SUBS: Azinovic, Concha, Konate, Thern, Cibicki, Rakip, Mehmeti
JUVENTUS SUBS: Storari, Ogbonna, Evra, Pereyra, Coman, Giovinco, Morata
Malmo have stuck with the same team that were beaten by Atletico Madrid in their last Champions League match. It means that recently capped Swedish forward
Isaac Kiese Thelin continues to partner
Markus Rosenberg in the attack.
Meanwhile,
Fernando Llorente leads the line for Juventus, with
Carlos Tevez and
Arturo Vidal playing in behind him.
Paul Pogba,
Andrea Pirlo and
Claudio Marchisio make up the midfield, while
Simone Padoin fills in at left back once again.
When the draw for the group stages was first made, many people expected Malmo to struggle. Their campaign started with a 2-0 defeat against Juventus, but they pulled off a shock to beat Olympiacos by the same scoreline in their next fixture.
They were then brought back down to earth as they travelled to Spanish champions Atletico Madrid. The game was actually goalless at half time, but eventually Diego Simeone's side showed their class to win 5-0. They met again two weeks later and once more Atletico triumphed with a 2-0 victory in Sweden.
Although things haven't gone too well for Malmo in Europe, they won their 21st Allsvenskan title last month. Due to the fact their league season has now finished, they might be slightly rusty, with their last game in the Swedish cup taking place 11 days ago.
If Malmo are hoping to pull off a shock, then they will have to do it against a Juventus side who have been in great form this month. The Bianconeri have won their last four games and have scored a massive 15 goals in the process.
They haven't always managed to find their best form in Europe and after their opening day victory against Malmo, they suffered back-to-back defeats away to Atletico and Olympiacos. When they faced the Greeks again it seemed as if their hopes of reaching the last 16 were over, as they trailed 2-1 after an hour of play. However, a great comeback saw them win the match 3-2 and provide a huge boost to the players and the fans.
If they have struggled at times in Europe, then the same can't be said of their domestic form. They are top of the Serie A table after winning 10 of their opening 12 games and have a three point lead over second-place Roma. They have been playing some stunning football recently and followed up a 7-0 win over Parma before the international break, with a confident 3-0 victory against Lazio at the weekend.
Juventus have only played Swedish opposition three times, but they are yet to lose. On their last visit to the country ten years ago, they picked up a 4-1 win over Djurgardens in a Champions League qualifier. Malmo have won two and lost four of their nine games against Italian clubs, but both of those victories came at home against AC Milan and Inter Milan.
You get the feeling that Malmo will need a big performance from
Markus Rosenberg this evening. The forward scored both goals in their 2-0 win against Olympiacos and he will have to be at his best against the likes of
Giorgio Chiellini and
Leonardo Bonucci.
Down the other end of the pitch, there are a number of players from the Juventus attack that make the difference at any given moment. Carlos Tevez has been in sparkling form this season and has scored 11 goals, including two the last time these teams met. Paul Pogba is another who has been at his best and he produced a wonderful display against Lazio at the weekend.
PREDICTION: I really can't see anything other than a win for Juventus this evening. They have been playing some great football recently and will be desperate to make it out of the group, following last year's disappointment.
Massimo Allegri's side have the experience and quality to see this one out and I am tipping them to claim a 2-0 win.
The teams are on the pitch and the Champions League anthem is ringing out around the stadium. We are now just three minutes away until the start of the match.
KICKOFF! We are underway at the Swedbank Stadion!
As expected, the visitors are seeing plenty of possession in the opening matches. There is a lot of space for them in the midfield and it should suit the likes of Pogba and Pirlo, who can get the ball down and really influence the play.
We have seen the first shot on goal and it comes from the home side. Following a good break, Thelin is found in space just outside the box. He then lets the ball run across him and fires in a strike, but he ends up slicing the ball wide of the post.
Juventus haven't been able to test out the Malmo keeper, but they are looking very sharp on the ball. Tevez has not been too involved up front, but whenever he gets into the match the defence are working hard to shut him down.
The hosts have started to grow into this match and are looking more confident with each passing minute. Thelin has found a decent amount of space by dropping off the centre backs and he looks to be his side's main threat at the moment.
SAVE! Juventus work their first real opening of the match. Lichtsteiner does brilliantly to drive down the right wing, before delivering a ball into the box. It ends up running through to Vidal, who smashes in a low strike, but Olsen gets everything behind it and palms the ball away.
Pirlo scored a stunning free kick against Olympiacos last time out and he goes for goal from a set piece that is slightly further out. He hits the ball well enough, but it is straight at the keeper, who ends up making a comfortable save.
Malmo have produced a couple of dangerous moments and Rosenberg is just a few yards away from latching onto Thelin's header into the box. The two strikers have linked up well and Chiellini and Bonucci could have a tricky night ahead of them at the back.
At the midway stage in this first half, it is Juventus who have a measure of control, but they have only seriously tested Olsen once. Malmo can be happy at their start and the longer they are in the match, then they will fancy their chances of snatching something.
CHANCE! Juventus can create a moment of magic out of nothing and Pirlo plays a delightful ball over the top looking for Marchisio. He then tries to volley the ball past Olsen, but can't quite stretch enough and ends up poking it into the hands of the keeper.
The game is starting to become very stretched and the more that Malmo push forward, there are gaps appearing for Juventus exploit. The hosts certainly look buoyed by their strong home support, but should be wary of committing too many men forward.
Juventus still haven't got in behind the home side's defence, with their front two looking relatively quiet at the moment. They have also managed just three attempts on goal with the latest from Lichtsteiner fired high over the bar from the edge of the box.
SAVE! What a chance this is for Juventus to take the lead. Vidal floats a brilliant ball over the top that picks out Marchisio. The midfielder again goes for goal with a first-time volley, but this time his well-struck effort is tipped wide of the post by the keeper.
Malmo have enjoyed a good spell of pressure on the Juventus defence in the past few minutes. A succession of long throws is dealt with by the visitors, before a strike from just outside the box by Thelin is comfortably saved by Buffon.
CHANCE! This is a big opening for the visitors. Rosenberg does well to look up and see Forsberg moving into space ahead of him on the left-hand side of the box. The midfielder charges onto the ball, but he is forced slightly wide and can only guide his effort into the side-netting.
CHANCE! Malmo have another great chance right at the end of the first half. Juventus win a free kick in a good position, but Pirlo smashes his effort into the wall. The Swedes then break quickly with Forsberg charging through the middle. He ends up getting to the edge of the box and goes for goal, but he fires his strike wide of the post.
There is going to be one minute of added time at the end of the half.
HALF-TIME: Malmo 0-0 Juventus
That just about does it for the first half, with the score goalless between Malmo and Juventus. There weren't too many chances for either team, with Vidal and Marchisio's efforts that were stopped by the keeper the closest either team came to a goal.
Juventus probably edged the opening 45 minutes and saw more of the ball, with 57% of the possession. They also had eight attempts on goal, finding the target four times. Malmo have had seven shots, but they were only able to force Buffon into one save.
I can tell you that in this evening's other Group A match Atletico Madrid are 2-0 up against Olympiacos, thanks to goals from
Raul Garcia and
Mario Mandzukic. It means that Atletico will go through on 12 points, while Juventus currently have seven, one above the Greek champions.
The two teams are now back out on the pitch and we should be getting back underway in a few moments.
We are back underway in Sweden!
CHANCE! Juventus almost break the deadlock within seconds of the restart. It's Marchisio with the chance as he latches onto a flick just inside the box, before firing in a strike that the keeper once again saves.
CHANCE! It's all Juventus and they have another big opportunity to go ahead. Vidal whips a teasing ball towards the back post that Tevez is inches away from getting a touch on, but the ball ends up heading behind for a goal kick.
GOAL! Malmo 0-1 Juventus (Fernando Llorente)
The visitors have started this half strongly and they get their reward. Llorente easily gets in behind the defence to latch onto Marchisio's pass and has just Olsen to beat. He then manages to keep his composure and rounds the keeper, before sliding an effort into the unguarded net.
Juventus look a different team since the break and you sense that a second goal is not too far away. They are carving open the Malmo defence and Tevez tries his luck from a tight angle, but can only smash the ball into the side-netting.
That goal from Juventus has certainly quietened down the home crowd, who were so vocal in the first half. Their team is starting to look a bit ragged and they will hope that they can weather the huge amount of pressure that they are coming under.
SAVE! Marchisio has been involved in an individual battle with Olsen all evening and he sees another effort saved by the keeper. He was set up by Vidal's lay off on the edge of the box, but drove his low shot down the middle, enabling the keeper to get down and beat the ball clear.
Llorente may have found the net, but he makes a bit of a hash of a good chance here. Pirlo whips in a curling free kick from the right, that the striker meets, but he doesn't make clean contact with the ball and guides it wide of the post, with Chiellini unable to get a touch.
SHOT! We haven't seen much of a threat from the hosts in this second half, but they manage to test Buffon here. From a long throw, the ball is eventually laid off to Adu, but his low strike is hit straight at the keeper.
Down the other end of the pitch Malmo give the ball away cheaply and allow Juventus to hit them on the break. Following a decent move, Marchisio ends up finding Tevez on the edge of the edge of the area, but the Argentine's sidefooted effort lacks the power to trouble Olsen.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Malmo have made their first change of the match, with Cibicki coming on for Thelin.
CHANCE! Yet another good scoring opportunity goes to waste for the visitors. Padoin does well to get down the left and whips in a fine ball that Llorente rises to meet, but the Spaniard can only power his header straight down the middle and into the gloves of the keeper.
SUBSTITUTIONS: It's the visitors' turn to make a change, as the goalscorer Llorente heads off to be replaced by Morata.
Juventus have been completely dominant in this second half and they really should have added to their lead. They have tested the keeper plenty of times and Allegri will be hoping that they are not made to pay for their profligacy.
It's pretty comfortable for Juve at the moment and they are passing the ball around with ease. Malmo just look to have run out of steam and since conceding they have looked bereft of any ideas in the attacking third.
SUBSTITUTION: Juventus make their second change of the evening, as Pereyra comes on for Marchisio.
YELLOW CARD! Pereyra has only been on the field for a couple of minutes, but he is the first player to be booked this evening for a foul on Eriksson.
SUBSTITUTION: Rakip is on for the hosts, with Tinnerholm the man to make way.
OFF THE BAR! I have no idea how Morata has not scored here. Tevez plays a low ball across the box to the Spaniard, who has the simplest of finishes from just a couple of yards out, but he somehow turns the ball onto the crossbar.
GOAL! Malmo 0-2 Juventus (Carlos Tevez)
They've wasted a number of chances, but finally Juventus have scored a second to clinch the points. Pogba latches onto a long ball and sees Tevez running ahead of him. He then slides the Argentine through, who doesn't make clean contact with the ball, but it ends up bobbling into the bottom corner.
RED CARD! Malmo find themselves down to 10 men, with Johansson the man sent off for arguing with the referee following Tevez's goal. There was also a couple of bookings in there for Olsen and Rosenberg.
There are going to be three minutes of stoppage time.
SAVE! Malmo almost pull a goal back as Rosenberg latches onto Forsberg's pass, before firing in a low strike that Buffon tips around the post.
FULL-TIME: Malmo 0-2 Juventus
It's all over at the Swedbank Stadion and Juventus have claimed a 2-0 win over Malmo. Their strikers were on the mark this evening, as Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez found the net to earn them their first away win in the Champions League in seven attempts.
In this evening's other group match, Atletico Madrid have stormed to a 4-0 win over Olympiacos. The Spanish champions are now through to the knockout stages on 12 points. Juventus' victory leaves them on nine points, while Olympiacos trail behind on six. Malmo cannot progress to the last 16, but if they win against Olympiacos in their last match then they will enter the Europa League in the new year.
That just about does it here. We'll be bringing you all the reaction from every Champions League match that took place this evening, including analysis and player ratings from across Europe. I hope you have enjoyed our coverage. Until next time, goodbye!