Champions League matches in Group D
Team news and probable lineups for Wednesday's Champions League matches in Group D.
Team news and probable lineups for Wednesday's Champions League matches in Group D.
JUVENTUS v OLYMPIAKOS PIRAEUS
A draw against Olympiakos on Wednesday will be enough to assure Juventus of the top spot in group D.
With the Greeks already out of the competition, Juve coach Marcello Lippi looks set to rest a number of first team regulars, including defenders Lilian Thuram and Gianluca Zambrotta, midfielder Pavel Nedved and striker Alessandro Del Piero.
That still leaves plenty of quality, however, with the experienced Antonio Conte in midfield while up front David Trezeguet will hope to make amends for his anonymous display in the weekend Serie A defeat by Lazio.
Olympiakos will be without key Ieroklis Stoltidis for the trip to Turin after the midfielder missed Saturday's 1-0 win over Halkidona with a thigh injury. Pantelis Kafes, who stood in for Stoltidis the league, will keep his place.
Captain Predrag Djordjevic returns from suspension while goalkeeper Dimitris Eleftheropoulos is back after a lengthy injury spell for his first European outing this season.
Probable teams:
Juventus: 12-Antonio Chimenti, 15-Alessandro Birindelli, 13-Mark Iuliano, 4-Paolo Montero, 7-Gianluca Pessotto, 25-Marcelo Zalayeta, 8-Antonio Conte, 5-Igor Tudor, 14-Enzo Maresca, 17-David Trezeguet, 9-Fabrizio Miccoli.
Olympiakos: 31-Dimitris Eleftheropoulos, 14-Dimitris Mavrogenidis, 19-Thanasis Kostoulas, 32-Giorgos Anatolakis, 1-Pantelis Kafes, 5-Christian Karembeu, 11-Predrag Djordjevic, 30-Tassos Pantos, 8-Giorgos Georgiadis, 7-Neri Castillo, 10-Giovanni.
Referee: Konrad Plautz (Austria).
REAL SOCIEDAD v GALATASARAY
Sociedad need only a draw to reach the last 16, but they could struggle after a morale-sapping 4-0 home defeat by Real Betis sent them into the relegation zone last weekend.
They will also be without striker Darko Kovacevic, who is suspended after his sending off in the 2-2 draw against Olympiakos last time out, while winger Javi de Pedro is still out injured. Oscar de Paula should start alongside Turkish forward Nihat Kahveci up front.
Goalkeeper Sander Westerveld, who has been in poor form in recent matches, is doubtful with a twisted ankle and may be replaced by Alberto, and coach Raynald Denouiex could ring the changes in defence after the poor performance against Betis.
Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim is not expected to change his line-up despite Galatasaray's disappointing 3-1 loss to Istanbulspor in domestic league action at the weekend. Midfielder Ovidiu Petre is expected to replace suspended Ayhan Akman. Romanian striker Florin Bratu is ineligible to play in Europe and his place in the starting line-up will probably be taken by Gokhan Berkant, who made his Champions League debut in last week's win over Juventus. Midfielder Volkan Arslan, just back from long-term injury, has travelled to Spain but is not expected to start.
Probable teams:
Sociedad: 25-Sander Westerveld or 1-Alberto, 14-Aitor Lopez Rekarte, 2-Bjorn Tore Kvarme, 6-Gabriel Schurrer, 3-Agustin Aranzabal or 22-Lionel Potillon, 17-Igor Gabilondo, 4-Xabi Alonso, 18-Bittor Alkiza, 8-Valery Karpin, 15-Nihat Kahveci, 21-Oscar de Paula.
Galatasaray: 1-Faryd Mondragon, 29-Cesar Prates, 5-Frank de Boer, 3-Bulent Korkmaz, 4-Orhan Ak, 55-Sabri Sarioglu, 24-Ovidiu Petre, 67-Ergun Penbe, 11-Hasan Sas, 7-Berkant Goktan, 10-Hakan Sukur.
Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway).