Buffon hungry for Champions League return

Gianluigi Buffon feels Juventus’ Champions League absence in the past two seasons has made them more hungry to prove their worth at the top level.

The Turin giants missed out on qualification for European football’s elite club competition in 2010/11 and 2011/12, and the veteran goalkeeper has admitted they have missed being active at the highest level.

“My team-mates and I have missed playing in the competition, but the two-year exile has been good for us, because now we’ll fight right until the last bead of sweat in every game,” Buffon told Sky Sport Italia.

“I’ve been forced to spend many Tuesdays and Wednesdays watching it from the sofa at home. I’ve got a decent TV and the picture is good, but being there on the pitch is another thing entirely.”

Buffon then looked ahead to next week’s opening game away against Chelsea, and feels the Premier League side pulled off a huge shock last season to win the competition.

“Chelsea? They pulled off a miracle last year, because there were teams better equipped than they were,” he said.

“However, Di Matteo has managed to make their play compact and solid, and these features enabled them to enjoy success.”

Juventus will also have to deal with Ukrainians Shakhtar Donetsk and Danish side Nordsjaelland in Group E of the Champions League.