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Champions League draw analysis: Tottenham's new found European form to be tested to its limit by Juventus

Tottenham's new found European form will be tested in Turin: Getty
Tottenham's new found European form will be tested in Turin: Getty

Mauricio Pochettino said that he wanted to face a big team in the Champions League last-16 and that is exactly what he got. Juventus are the dominant Italian side of this era, having won five Italian titles on the run first under Antonio Conte and then under Max Allegri.

But they have not been able to turn that dominance into European success, reaching the 2015 and 2017 Champions League finals only to lose first to Barcelona and then to Real Madrid.

There is even a belief in Turin that the team is cursed in Europe, what they call la maledizione of their team in the European Cup.

But up until the final this team is still very strong, even if they are currently two points off the pace in Serie A. They have quality and experience all over the pitch, they still have Gigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli, even if they sold Leonardo Bonucci to Milan in the summer.

With Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala up front they have one of the best front-lines in Europe with added pace this year from Douglas Costa.

And yet despite all of this, Spurs should not be scared of them. Tottenham took six points of Borussia Dortmund and four off Real Madrid in the group stage, and even beat Juventus in a friendly at Wembley in August.

They have one of the best number nines in Europe in Harry Kane, quality all over the pitch and an established way of playing.

This Tottenham team can beat anyone on their day and, unlike Juventus, their main priority now is Europe, not their domestic league.

Pochettino is a master of getting his team to peak at the right points of the season so if they arrive in Turin with everyone fit and firing, they should have nothing to fear.