Champions League: Euro Summit Evokes Past Glories

Juventus v Borussia Dortmund

When I think of meetings between Juventus and Borussia Dortmund, my mind immediately takes me back to the 1997 Champions League Final.

This was the Juve side that every other team in Europe respected and, indeed, many feared at the time.

A side comprising the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Alessandro Del Piero, Alen Boksic, Christian Vieri and Ciro Ferrara.

A side, managed by Marcello Lippi, which had now reached a third final in succession (narrowly losing to Ajax in 95 before seeing off the same opponents in a penalty shoot-out 12 months later.

Dortmund were hardly an average outfit themselves and with Matthias Sammer, Jurgen Kohler and Andreas Moller – all key members of Germany’s Euro 96 winning side the previous year – among their number, they were a force to be reckoned with. But few expected them to do a number on the Turin side in the final.

The moment that stood out was that of 20-year-old substitute and Dortmund local boy Lars Ricken who latched on to a through-pass by Moller 16 seconds after coming onto the pitch.

Ricken chipped Angelo Peruzzi in the Juve goal from over 20 yards with his first touch of the ball, to make it 3-1 to Dortmund. It was the fastest ever goal a substitute had scored in the showpiece and, shortly afterwards, it was confirmed that Dortmund were European champions.

Thank you for indulging me in my reminisces but it made me realise just how vintage those sides were and, as they prepare to meet in their Champions League group stage opener next week, what their respective classes of 2025 would give for such success.

 

Talking Points

For knowledgeable SBOTOP followers of football will know that the same level of Champions League 2025 highlights are not expected from their current crops.

Dortmund may have reached last year’s final but it’s widely known they benefited from a kind draw and are no longer considered one of Europe’s best.

On saying all of that, they can prove obdurate opponents on their day and have danger men of their own, including Serhou Guirassy who netted twice as Dortmund defeated Union Berlin in their first home league match of the season a fortnight ago and was on target against Heidenheim again over the weekend.

They finished fourth in the Bundesliga last season to creep into this tournament, as did Juve who secured fourth place in Serie A on the final day of last season.

A look at their squad shows their class of 2025 is also far from vintage.

Manager Igor Tudor has a tough test on his own hands to rekindle former glories and that was evident this summer when they were well beaten 5-2 by Manchester City in the World Club Championship in America.

It’s now five years since Juve were Italian champions and 13 since Dortmund were top of the tree. I don’t expect that to change anytime soon but this competition offers an early opportunity to gain some real momentum in Europe.

The standard of these sides may not be as high as it once was, but they are fairly well matched and a compelling evening awaits in Turin.

 

History

Juventus have won six of their nine meetings with two Dortmund successes and one draw.

Their most prominent meetings have been finals with Dortmund winning the 97 contest, four years after Juve triumphed in a two-legged UEFA Cup Final.

On that occasion, the ‘old lady’ ran out 6-1 aggregate winners, winning 3-1 in Germany and fighting back after Michael Rummenigge’s early opener through Dino Baggio and Roberto Baggio (two).

Dino Baggio added a brace of his own in the second leg before Moller (who, of course, was a Dortmund star in the 97 final) completed the one-sided rout.

Their most recent competitive meeting saw Juventus emerge 5-1 aggregate winners in a last-16 tie in 2015 – a year the Italians reached the final.

First-half goals from Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata gave the Italian champions a narrow lead to take to Germany, despite a Marco Reus reply.

Tevez then led the Italian champions into a second quarter-final in three years, scoring two goals and creating the other for Morata in an impressive display.

 

Betting Tip

Juventus have the edge with the Champions League 2025 betting odds.

1X2 odds are available for the hosts @ 2.08 and the German side @ 3.12, while Asian Handicap options include Juventus -0.50 @ 2.11, which is my *** tip, and Dortmund +0.25 @ 2.12.

The draw is on offer @ 3.11 and represents excellent value, as does a re-run of their last competitive meeting with Correct Score 3-0 @ 20.00.

I think this will be a lot closer, although there are a number of attractive goal bets to tempt you such as Over 2.75 @ 2.04, Total Goals 2-3 @ 2.00 and 4-6 @ 3.11.

   

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