The Juventus vs Benfica UEFA Europa League second-leg match is set for Thursday, May 1.
Kick-off time is 9:05 p.m. CET (3:05 p.m. ET) at Juventus Stadium.
The game will be broadcast on Sky Calcio 1, Sky Sport 1 HD Italia, Premium Calcio, and Canale 5 in Italy.
The game will also air on SIC in Portugal.
In the United States, the game will be shown on Fox Sports GO, ESPN3, and Fox Sports 1 USA.
Live stream is available on Fox Soccer 2Go.
Here are three AP columns on the match.
CONTE'S DILEMMA
Juventus has not reached a European final since the 2003 Champions League final when it lost to Italian rival AC Milan on penalties, and the Turin club’s coach is anticipating what the critics will say if they win — or lose — this tournament.
“If we’re able to win the Europa League everyone will say that it’s a minor cup,” Conte said after Juve beat Sassuolo 3-1 on Monday in Serie A. “And if we lose then they'll say we’re not ready for Europe yet.”
TITLE HUNTING
One goal could be enough to book Juventus a place in the final but Benfica is intent on improving its runner-up finish from last season.
Juventus is hoping that the euphoria of reaching the final will carry over to Monday when it can clinch its third straight Serie A title with a home win over Atalanta.
Benfica already sealed the Portuguese title earlier this month.
Juve can become the third side since the UEFA Cup final became a one-off match in 1997-98 to compete in the showpiece at their home stadium. Feyenoord triumphed in Rotterdam in 2002-03 but Sporting Lisbon lost at home in 2004-05.
UPWARD TRAJECTORY
Benfica is steadily improving in the Europa League.
The Eagles reached the quarterfinals in 2009-10, the semifinals in 2010-11 and — after a one-season absence — last season’s final.
However, Benfica is the only club in the semifinals never to have won Europe’s second-tier cup, having lost to Anderlecht in 1982-83 and to Chelsea last year.
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