Juventus is starting to emerge as an international force once again but faces a true test in its Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid on Tuesday.
The Italian club, which clinched a fourth successive domestic league title on Saturday, has come a long way in Europe since it faced Madrid in last year's competition, when it failed to emerge from the group stage.
Under Massimiliano Allegri, who replaced Antonio Conte in the off-season, Juventus has reached the semifinal of the Champions League for the first time since 2003 — when it convincingly beat Madrid 3-1 at home to progress to the final 4-3 on aggregate.
Juventus fans are dreaming of a repeat performance in Tuesday's first leg in Turin but it will be a tall order for the two-time European champion against a team which won the competition for a record 10th time last season.
"We have matured quite a bit in these years," said Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo, who won the Champions League twice with AC Milan. "We play well without any fear. We will play as equals against Real Madrid, right until the end."
Allegri's side has won four of its five matches at the Juventus Stadium this season and is unbeaten in its past 12 home matches in Europe, but Madrid has won eight of its last 11 away games and has not conceded a goal on the road in 444 minutes.
Here are some things to know about Tuesday's match:
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FORWARD DECISIONS
One of the first names on the team sheet will be that of Carlos Tevez, but Massimiliano Allegri is faced with a difficult choice as to who will partner the Argentina forward up front.
Tevez broke a five-year scoring drought in the Champions League this season and hasn't looked back, notching six goals in the competition to add to the 20 he has scored in Serie A this campaign. He also bagged two in the Italian Super Cup.
Alvaro Morata started both the quarterfinal matches against Monaco but the young Spaniard has experienced a dip of form and was only a substitute in Juve's last two matches.
Allegri could opt for experience in the 30-year-old Fernando Llorente, who scored in both matches against Madrid last season. However, Morata would have an added incentive against Madrid, having progressed from its youth team and winning the Champions League with the Spanish club last year before being sold to Juventus in the off-season.
"I don't have anything to prove to anyone," Morata said.
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NO PIRLO, NO PARTY
Juventus fans could have one reason not to want their team to win the Champions League.
Italy great and key playmaker Andrea Pirlo has hinted he will leave the club if it triumphs in Europe's elite club competition.
"It could be the best way to finish," the 35-year-old World Cup winner said. "Juventus will be in any case my last club in Serie A."
The match reunites Pirlo with Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, whom he played under at AC Milan for eight seasons.
"It's like meeting a father," Pirlo said.
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RONALDO AND THE REST
Despite Real Madrid's recent run of injuries, one constant has stayed true: Cristiano Ronaldo keeps finding the net at a frequency only matched by Barcelona rival Lionel Messi.
Ronaldo netted his 51st, 52nd and 53rd goals of the season to earn a 3-2 win at Sevilla on Saturday, when the Ballon d'Or holder became Madrid's leader in career hat tricks with his 29th treble.
Karim Benzema returned to team training on Sunday from an injured right knee, but has been left out of the squad for the trip to Turin.
Javier Hernandez has filled in well for Benzema and scored the late winner in the second leg of the 1-0 aggregate win over Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals.
He is likely to be Cristiano Ronaldo's partner in attack, along with Gareth Bale.
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MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Cristiano Ronaldo may get all the glory, but Sergio Ramos is Madrid's most valuable all-around player.
Besides anchoring its defence, the Spain centre back wrote his name into Madrid's history with a stoppage-time goal to force extra time in last year's Champions League final, which his team went on to win 4-1 over Atletico Madrid for a record 10th European Cup.
Now, Carlo Ancelotti has tasked him with holding down Madrid's midfield with Luka Modric injured and replacements Asier Illarramendi and Lucas Silva not up to the challenge in major matches.
Ramos could be back in midfield at Juventus. If not, he will feature in its back line.
"I only follow orders," Ramos said. "I always try to play my best and I am getting more comfortable in this position as each day passes. If the team is more balanced and stable at the back, then all the better."
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Associated Press writer Joseph Wilson in Barcelona contributed to this story.
This content appears as provided to The Globe by the originating wire service. It has not been edited by Globe staff.