WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 18: Kenan Yildiz #10 of Juventus FC celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group G match between Al Ain FC and Juventus FC at Audi Field on June 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 18: Kenan Yildiz #10 of Juventus FC celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group G match between Al Ain FC and Juventus FC at Audi Field on June 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Juventus give Edon Zhegrova his first start with Jonathan David and Kenan Yildiz in a must-win Champions League tie with surprise outfit Pafos.
It kicks off at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at 20.00 GMT.
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Benfica-Napoli on the Liveblog.
NAPLES, ITALY - DECEMBER 07: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, reacts during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Juventus FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on December 07, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
NAPLES, ITALY – DECEMBER 07: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, reacts during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Juventus FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on December 07, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
The Bianconeri badly need a victory, as they have only one win and a total of six points after five Champions League matches.
They are also fresh from the first defeat under coach Luciano Spalletti, who fell 2-1 to Napoli in Serie A on Sunday.
He confessed to regretting his tactics in that game so Kenan Yildiz returns to his support role and David starts as centre-forward in the absence of injured Dusan Vlahovic.
Federico Gatti and Carlo Pinsoglio are also out of action, but Gleison Bremer and Daniele Rugani return to the bench.
The big news is that Zhegrova gets his first start in a club match since December 14, 2024, when his Lille side took on Olympique Marseille.
Edon Zhegrova arrives for his Juventus medical.
Edon Zhegrova arrives for his Juventus medical.
Pafos have been one of the big surprises of the Champions League so far this season, as the Cypriots lost only once to Bayern Munich, beating Villarreal 1-0, with draws against Olympiacos, Kairat Almaty and AS Monaco.
It means both Juventus and Pafos are tied together on six points, so it is a head to head for position.
They are missing Ken Sema, but Domingos Quina has shaken off a muscular issue.
Joao Correia returns to the squad after a two-match ban for his remarkable red card just four minutes into the draw with Kairat Almaty, when he caught Luis Mata in the face with a very high boot.
Their most famous name is undoubtedly ex-Chelsea defender David Luiz, who is still going strong at age 38.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - MAY 17: Manager Fernando Diniz of Vasco Da Gama greets David Luiz of Fortaleza before a Brasileirao 2025 match between Vasco da Gama and Fortaleza at Sao Januario Stadium on May 17, 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Lucas Figueiredo/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – MAY 17: Manager Fernando Diniz of Vasco Da Gama greets David Luiz of Fortaleza before a Brasileirao 2025 match between Vasco da Gama and Fortaleza at Sao Januario Stadium on May 17, 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Lucas Figueiredo/Getty Images)
Juventus vs. Pafos line-ups
Juventus: Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Kelly, Koopmeiners; Cambiaso, Locatelli, Miretti, McKennie; Zhegrova, Yildiz; David
Juventus bench: Perin, Scaglia, Bremer, Francisco Conceicao, Adzic, Kostic, Thuram, Openda, Rugani, Joao Mario, Cabal, Rouhi
Pafos: Michael; Bruno, Luckassen, David Luiz, Goldar; Sunjic, Pêpê; Correia, Dragomir, Orsic; Anderson Silva
Pafos bench: Gorter, Petrou, Pileas, Quina, Bassouamina, Dimata, Jajá, Langa
Ref: Gil Manzano (ESP)
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