Sports

March 7, 2018

Juventus boosted by Higuain return against Spurs

Juventus boosted by Higuain return against Spurs

Juventus’ Argentinian forward Paulo Dybala (C) vies for the ball with Sassuolo’s Italian midfielder Stefano Sensi (L) and Sassuolo’s Italian midfielder Francesco Magnanelli during the Italian Serie A football match Sassuolo versus Juventus on September 17, 2017 at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia. / AFP PHOTO / MARCO BERTORELLO

Juventus received a boost for their Champions League last 16 second-leg clash with Tottenham Hotspur as star striker Gonzalo Higuain returned to their starting line-up at Wembley on Wednesday.

Juventus stadium now named Allianz stadium

Higuain, who scored twice in the 2-2 first-leg draw against Tottenham in Turin, was declared fit to start after recovering from an ankle injury that kept him out of Juve’s 1-0 Serie A win at Lazio on Saturday.

Paulo Dybala was also fit after a hamstring injury, but Mario Mandzukic did not travel to London because of a thigh injury.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino made only one change from the side that started the 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town on Saturday as right-back Kieran Trippier came in for the suspended Serge Aurier.

Starting line-ups for Wednesday’s Champions League last 16, second leg between Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus (first leg finished 2-2) at Wembley Stadium (kick-off 1945 GMT):

Tottenham (4-3-3)

Hugo Lloris; Kieran Trippier, Davinson Sanchez, Jan Vertonghen, Ben Davies; Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier, Christian Eriksen; Dele Alli, Son Heung-Min, Harry Kane

Coach: Mauricio Pochettino (ARG)

Juventus (4-3-3)

Gianluigi Buffon; Andrea Barzagli, Medhi Benatia, Giorgio Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Sami Khedira, Miralem Pjanic, Blaise Matuidi; Paulo Dybala, Douglas Costa, Gonzalo Higuain

Coach: Massimiliano Allegri (ITA)

Referee: Szymon Marciniak (POL)