Italian champions Juventus will know nothing but a victory will do against FC Nordjaelland if they are to stay alive in the Champions League.
Juve have looked shaky in Europe this season, despite their dominance domestically, even if their 49-match unbeaten run might have been ended by Inter Milan at the weekend. Three draws in three games see them third in the table with just three points, with the final 1-1 result at Nordsjaelland particularly disappointing.
"Of course, we have to win to have hope of going through," Juve assistant coach Angelo Alessio said. "If we are good, we will go through -- if we aren't, amen. The team are creating chances, lots of them, but at the moment, particularly the attackers need to start scoring more frequently.
"We want to go through, but we have to grow. We have lots of debutants in this competition and we have to win at all costs, but let's not forget where we have come from."
Alessio revealed the Italians will start the game with striker Alessandro Matri, with either Sebastian Giovinco or Fabio Quagliarella partnering him up front. "Alessandro Matri will start tomorrow and one of Fabio Quagliarella and Sebastian Giovinco will partner him," he added. "We are happy with our forwards and their class will show.
"We are creating a lot and when a team create a lot, it's normal that you miss more chances as well. Nicklas Bendtner has settled in well, he played against Catania and Bologna, and we certainly expect him to improve and that he'll start scoring a few goals. (Manager) Antonio (Conte) selects his strikers from game to game and, for this game, he has chosen Matri. It's not an insult to the other attackers."
Mirko Vucinic is ruled out after suffering a calf injury during Juve's 3-1 loss to Inter on Saturday, while Simone Pepe is also missing.
Nordsjaelland manager Kasper Hjulmand believes his side are capable of causing an upset. "We saw their game on Saturday and noticed that they gave the ball away a lot in midfield, and we saw how we could cause them problems, he said. "Juve are not a side who concede much and we are going to have to make the most of the few chances we get.
"Of course, Juve are going to be very aggressive -- they are at home and will put us under pressure from the start, so we are going to have to cling on to begin with and then, over the course of the game, we will have chances to score.
"They rotate their side a lot, which is common in Italy. We have analysed all of their strikers and will be ready for whoever plays in attack. It is a big match but we are well prepared for it. Even if we lose, there is still a lot we can learn."
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Expected lineups: Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Giovinco, Matri.
Nordsjaelland: Hansen; Parkhurst, Okore, Runje, Mtiliga; Adu, Christensen; Nordstrand, Lorentzen, John; Beckmann.
Prediction: 2-0 to Juventus
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