Juventus take on AS Monaco at the quarter-final stage of the Champions League, looking to reach the final four of the showpiece competition for the first time since 2003.

The Italian giants have struggled on the European stage of late, but they have been handed what appears to be a favourable tie in order to rectify their recent woes.

Juventus

With the Serie A title all but wrapped up, the Old Lady can firmly focus their attention on European competition in the closing weeks of the season as they look to end a run of three successive defeats at this stage of the elite tournament.

Liverpool, Arsenal and Bayern Munich have all proved to be one step too far for Juventus over the past 10 years, but there is great confidence that this will finally be the season in which they truly leave their mark on the grandest stage of them all once again.

The two-time European cup winners have lost just two games all season in the Italian top flight, while they also remain on course to lift the Coppa Italia for the 10th time in their history following last week's victory over Fiorentina.

A 1-0 defeat at bottom-club Parma put a proverbial spanner in the works last time out, though, which Massimiliano Allegri believes will only help his side heading into the first-leg tie against Monaco.

The former Italian national team boss also hit out at his players following that minor setback, claiming that their first-half showing in particular left a lot to be desired.

Juventus may boast an array of attacking talents, not least Fernando Llorente, Alvaro Morata and Carlos Tevez - the latter of whom was left out for that shock reverse at the Ennio Tardini stadium - but it is at the back where they have truly thrived in the Champions League this season.

Just five goals have been shipped in their eight games to date this term, while that record is equally as impressive domestically speaking, with 15 goals conceded in their 30 Serie A outings.

Recent form: LWWDWW
Recent form (all competitions): WWWWWL

Monaco

Juventus may well have felt as though they had been handed a plum draw when their name was pulled out of the hat alongside Monaco's, but it must be remembered that the French outfit overcame an in-form Arsenal side in the last round.

The Red and Whites sent shockwaves across Europe when they went to the Emirates Stadium and picked up a 3-1 victory in February, which they just about held on to in a tightly-contested second leg to progress through.

It is not just in the Champions League where things are looking rosy for Leonardo Jardim's outfit, either, with an eight-game unbeaten run in Ligue 1 ensuring that they remain within touching distance of leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

The French top flight is proving to be the most unpredictable across the continent this season, however, meaning that, despite being just five points off the summit, Monaco are actually in real danger of not even qualifying for the Europa League next season should they slip up at any stage.

Their title charge has been built on a solid defensive core, which remains the best across the whole of Ligue 1. The Stade Louis II club have, much like their Tuesday night opponents, proved to be hard to break down all season, conceding just 22 goals.

That is an impressive tally that they have managed to carry into the European Cup, by conceding four goals so far. At the other end of the field, things have not been quite so good, with just the eight goals scored, but as witnessed by the treble they bagged against the Gunners, Monaco certainly know how to turn it on when they need to.

Recent form in Champions League: DLWWWL
Recent form (all competitions): WLWDDW

Team News

The big question as far as Allegri is concerned surrounds the fitness of Andrea Pirlo. The defensive midfielder has not played since damaging his calf against Borussia Dortmund nearly two months ago, but the experienced pro could well be risked.

Another player who has played more than his fair share of games at this level, goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, is said to have received an injection to speed up his recovery from injury, while Tevez is also expected to return having missed the defeat at Parma.

Paul Pogba will be absent, however, meaning that Roberto Pereyra is likely to play a big role at the Juventus Stadium on Tuesday night.

Monaco, who last reached the semi-finals of the competition back in 2004, have been dealt a major blow with the news that influential midfielder Jeremy Toulalan is a major doubt for the trip to Turin, although he has been named in the provisional squad.

Ricardo Carvalho is expected to drop out, meanwhile, and further up the field Bernardo Silva will likely have to make do with a place among the substitutes, despite his two goals against Caen last time out.

Juventus possible starting lineup: Buffon, Evra, Chiellini, Bonucci, Lichsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Pereyra, Morata, Tevez

Monaco possible starting lineup: Subasic, Kurzawa, Abdennour, Wallace, Fabinho, Toulalan, Kondogbia, Martial, Moutinho, Ferreira-Carrasco, Berbatov

Head To Head

This contest is a repeat of the 1997-98 Champions League semi-final, in which the Bianconeri won 6-4 in a thrilling two-legged affair. That is their only previous meeting at this level.

Juventus, meanwhile, have not lost any of their 12 previous home matches against French opposition, in a run which includes an impressive 10 victories.

As far as Monaco are concerned, they have been pitted against an Italian side on 11 occasions in the past, winning three of those games and losing six. The Red and Whites have also only managed to score two goals in their six visits to Italy, which is a record they will be looking to improve upon this week.

We say: Juventus 2-0 Monaco

Monaco put up a hugely impressive fight to battle past Arsenal at the round-of-16 stage, but this may be one step too far for the French club. Juventus will be eager to bounce back from their shock defeat at Parma last time out, and they will take a 2-0 advantage into the reverse tie of this intriguing quarter-final affair.