Juventus buoyed by prospects of a Turin final

MILAN: Juventus will be looking to take another step towards a Europa League final in their own stadium when they entertain French club Lyon in the second leg of their quarterfinal on Thursday.

The Series A champions hold a 1-0 lead from the first leg at the Stade de Gerland last Thursday thanks to a late Leonardo Bonucci goal and home advantage means Antonio Conte’s side are in a very strong position to progress.

Indeed, the Bianconeri have not lost at their home ground in exactly a year since going down 2-0 to Bayern Munich in the Champions League last season.

Given that they are eight points clear at the top of Serie A and determined to make it to a Europa League final which they will host, Juve should have enough to see off a Lyon side who are struggling with injuries at this crucial stage of the season. “I am hoping for a full house on Thursday. We need our fans to get behind us like they do on the big occasions and to help us as we enter the final straight this season,” said Conte after Monday’s 2-0 win against Livorno in Serie A.

Porto, whose first-leg advantage was given to them by Eliaquim Mangala’s goal, won the 2003 UEFA Cup by beating Celtic in a final, while they also won the Europa League in 2011. This season, however, has been difficult for them as they languish a distant third in their domestic league.

BIANCONERI HAVE NOT LOST AT THEIR HOME GROUND IN EXACTLY A YEAR SINCE GOING DOWN 2-0 TO BAYERN IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE