Match Centre

Al Ain vs Juventus | Preview & Expected Lineup

Published

12 months ago

June 18, 2025

After claiming the 2023/24 AFC Champions League title, Al Ain return to the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time since 2018. They are grouped with English giants Manchester City and Italian heavyweights Juventus in what promises to be a demanding campaign.

Al Ain are the most decorated club in the UAE, with 14 national titles and two AFC Champions League crowns (2003, 2024). Their previous CWC outing ended in the 2018 final, where they fell 4-1 to Real Madrid.

Despite being considered underdogs in Group G, they enter the tournament unbeaten in seven straight matches (W4, D3), keeping six clean sheets during that span.

Juventus make their long-awaited CWC debut, having missed out for decades due to continental setbacks. They qualified through UEFA’s four-year ranking system in 2024, despite a disappointing Champions League campaign.

Their elimination was followed by an inconsistent domestic finish, registering seven wins in their final 14 matches (D3, L4). Despite this form, head coach Igor Tudor remains in charge.

Historic matchup and key battle points – Al Ain vs Juventus

This match marks the first official meeting between Italian and Emirati sides in CWC history. However, Al Ain previously beat a Juventus squad — featuring legends like Buffon and Del Piero — in a 2003 friendly.

Al Ain showed attacking consistency, failing to score in just two of their 26 league games this season. Eleven of their last 13 AFC Champions League matches saw both teams find the net.

Juventus, meanwhile, recorded only three clean sheets in their last 11 games, with four of their past five matches ending with exactly two total goals.

Kodjo Laba remains Al Ain’s primary threat, scoring a stunning 145 goals in 145 games. For Juventus, Dušan Vlahović contributed to 20 goals this season (G15, A5), with five goals coming after halftime. Al Ain report a fully fit squad, while Juventus will miss Perin, Cabal, and Miretti. However, Locatelli is expected to return from injury.

And as for Giovanni Albanese, the Expected starting XI from Igor Tudor would be like this :