Juventus can cause Real Madrid trouble, says Nedved

Rob Lancaster

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Juventus can cause Real Madrid trouble, says Nedved image

Pavel Nedved believes last season's final will count for nothing when Juventus face familiar foes Real Madrid in the last eight of the Champions League.

The two European giants were drawn against each other on Friday in Nyon, setting up a repeat of the 2017 showpiece in Cardiff.

Madrid won 4-1 on that occasion, Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice as the Spanish side became the first club to successfully defend the trophy in the Champions League era, but Juve came out on top when the clubs met at the semi-final stage in 2015.

Nedved believes a two-legged tie gives the Italian side a better chance of success, even though Medhi Benatia and Miralem Pjanic are suspended for the first game in Turin.

"I don't think the two teams will be influenced by the result of last season's final," the Juventus' vice-president said.

"This is a different kind of game, we will play over 180 minutes.

"I think we can cause them trouble even if we know there will be many difficulties for us, including two of our important players being suspended for the first leg."

As they languish 15 points behind Barcelona in La Liga with just 10 games remaining, Zinedine Zidane's side will be able to focus solely on their Champions League defence.

Juve, in contrast, are fighting for glory on three fronts; they are already through to the Coppa Italia final and are locked in a battle with Napoli for the Serie A title.

"They will be two good matches and we will meet a team that has won the Champions League two years in a row," Nedved told the club's website.

"Against Paris Saint-Germain, I was impressed [with Madrid]. They are quiet in the league, so their focus is on the Champions League and they will do anything to win it again."

Rob Lancaster