Juventus vs Freiburg: Old Lady face another potential banana peel with Pogba missing

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba will not be making his second debut in Europe for Italian side Juventus in the Europa League later tonight.

Pogba has been left out of the Juventus squad set to host German side Freiburg in the Europa League round of 16 first-leg clash slated for Turin on Thursday night.

Pogba, who has been out due to an injury since he rejoined the Old lady from Manchester United on a free transfer last summer, played his first game for the club late last month but will watch the Europa League tie as a spectator in Turin due to disciplinary reasons. 

The Old Lady are looking to bounce back to winning ways after AS Roma snapped a seven-match unbeaten run at the weekend in the Serie A after a 1-0 win for Jose Mourinho’s men.

The former Italian champions have had a difficult 2022/2023 campaign and will face another banana peel in an in-form Freiburg side in the Europa League.

Juventus manager, Massimiliano Allegri, wants to see a quick response to that Roma defeat starting with the game in Turin tonight but will be aware that they have to be at their possible best to overcome their tricky visitors.

The Europa League is one of two chances that presents the Old Lady an opportunity for silverware this season but they will have to first get past Bundesliga’s fifth-best team, Frieburg.

With their eyes still on silverware this season, Juventus, who said goodbye to the Serie A following a 15-point deduction for financial malfeasance, welcome Freiburg to their home in Turin.

This particular date is another potential heartbreak for the Old Lady, with the German side in superb form and motivated to extend their Europa League form.

Freiburg will come into this match full of confidence given their current form.

The Germans are unbeaten in their last five matches, having won three and drawn two in that time.

Freiburg are coming up against their first-ever Italian opposition, with Juventus coming into the game with just a win in the Champions League and Europa League this season.

This is the situation Allegri will be looking up to in-form Angel Di Maria, with Pogba out, to help the Old Lady change when Freiburg take to the pitch in Turin for their Europa League tie.

While Freiburg are the in-form team for this particular fixture, it is difficult to look beyond Juventus.

The Old Lady have had a season to forget but have still looked impregnable at home with just one defeat in the last 12 matches at home.

Therefore, I will go for a narrow 1-0 win for the home side, if they manage to stop Freiburg from scoring first in this game.

Juventus have only managed just one in the Champions League and Europa League this season.