Ahead of Manchester City's Champions League fixture against Juventus, each team’s UAE Supporters Clubs previews the game for Sport360, including predicting the likely XIs and picking their players to watch.
Do you agree with the assessments of the Abu Dhabi Blues and the Juventus Club UAE? Let us know using #360fans on Twitter or commenting on the Sport360 Football Facebook page.
DARREN BALL, ABU DHABI BLUES
City have got off to a superb start in the Premier League, continuing where they left off last season and breaking a few club records along the way with five wins from five games and no goals conceded. The back four have been incredible so hopefully Manuel Pellegrini will not make any changes, meaning big money signing Nicolas Otamendi has to wait for his chance.
Despite a successful start at home, City know all too well what a different story the Champions League can be. City have once again been drawn in a so-called 'Group of Death' – a phrase that is horribly overused. If you want to win the European Cup you obviously need to beat the best and the first test comes against last year's losing finalists, Juventus.
Over the past few seasons, City's squad has never really been as strong as the likes of Barcelona or Bayern Munich – the club was never going to be able to win the Champions League with players like James Milner and Edin Dzeko involved. Now City look like a serious team and the semi finals should be a minimum requirement this year.
PREDICTION: Manchester City 2-0 Juventus
LIKELY MAN CITY XI: Hart, Sagna, Kompany, Mangala, Kolarov, Yaya, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Silva, Sterling, Bony
MAN CITY PLAYER TO WATCH: Kevin de Bruyne. He was signed for big European nights like these; looked full of ideas and creativity when he came on against Palace on Saturday.
JUVENTUS PLAYER TO FEAR: Paul Pogba. If rumours are to be believed, he nearly signed for City over the summer. Powerful, tenacious – he will be looking to prevent the likes of De Bruyne and Favid Silva from having any time on the ball.
WHERE TO WATCH: The Abu Dhabi Blues congregate at McGettigans in Khalifa City.
TWITTER: @abudhabidaz
FACEBOOK: Manchester City Abu Dhabi Blues
NAYEF KHATIB, JUVENTUS CLUB UAE
Juventus travel to Manchester City in rather different form to their hosts. While City top the Premier League table having won five games in a row, Juventus are currently among Serie A's bottom clubs with two losses and one draw so far.
Juve are going through some dark days with a very fresh team and perhaps too many new faces. It seems a long time ago that the Bianconeri were playing in the Champions League final, with many of the men who were pivotal in taking them to Berlin this May no longer in Turin. The departures of Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and former City striker Carlos Tevez have certainly hit the team hard.
A 1-1 draw against Chievo at the weekend at least stopped the losing start but against a City side hungry to show their continental credentials, Juve must step up several gears if they are to come away from the Etihad Stadium with a respectable result.
PREDICTION: Manchester City 2-2 Juventus
LIKELY JUVE XI: Buffon, Lichsteiner, Barzaghli, Bonucci, Evra, Cuadrado, Pogba, Pereyra, Hernanes, Dybala, Mandzukic
JUVENTUS PLAYER TO WATCH: Juan Cuadrado. Not given a fair crack at Chelsea, meaning Premier League fans haven't seen the best of him. When he came on against Chievo, his pace and direct running were a real danger – the Colombian should be given a chance against City.
MAN CITY PLAYER TO FEAR: Yaya Toure. With Sergio Aguero out, the imperious Ivorian is definitely City's leading light and looks to have shaken off the cobwebs of the second half of last season.
WHERE TO WATCH: We will have our gathering in Lounge Cafe Italiano – Arenco Tower in Dubai, while in Abu Dhabi our Juventini brothers will gather in Marina Al Bateen
TWITTER: @juaeclub (same for instagram)
FACEBOOK: Juventus Club UAE
