The long challenge begins today. At 12.30 Juventus and Fiorentina will inaugurate the triptych of matches which, within 10 days, will see them compete in the league and in Europe. We start with Serie A, the more usual stage for a match that never gets boring. Also this time the eve was marked by controversy, in this case from the purple side. In fact, in Florence they did not take the decision of the Federal Court of Justice at all well, which served only one day for Borja Valero compared to the 4 total of the first sentence.
"It's a defeat for football" thundered Andrea Della Valle on Friday, confirming the total lack of feeling between Fiorentina and the refereeing institutions. "It will mean that Borja will be fresher in the cup" joked Montella, before sinking the blow with the thought of him. “We are not looking for alibis, we must be stronger than injustices – continued the Viola coach. – In Turin I want a team with personality, without fear”. Fiorentina will have to be if they want to repeat the feat of the first leg, when they prevailed with a sensational 4-2, which to date also remains the only defeat in the league for the Lady. It was a difficult moment for Antonio Conte, perhaps the most difficult of his three years in black and white.
During the week, the coach hit a lot on this, trying to stimulate his team towards a rematch. The premises are all there, partly because Juve are a real war machine at home (13 wins out of as many games), partly because, after some physical problems, the best men are almost all there. Apart from the disqualified Pirlo, who will be replaced by Marchisio, Conte will practically have the typical team back. In fact, the very titular Barzagli, Bonucci and Chiellini will return in front of Buffon, in midfield there will be Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Marchisio, Pogba and Asamoah, in attack Tevez and Llorente. A success could be decisive in terms of the Scudetto, given and considering Roma's difficult Neapolitan away match. However, there will be a Fiorentina side eager to start again, after a rather complicated period. In the last six games, the Viola have collected only one victory (2-0 over Atalanta), two draws and three defeats. Montella will then have to do without Borja Valero, the real engine of the midfield: Anderson should be in his place. The purple 3-5-2 will see Neto in goal, Diakitè, Gonzalo Rodriguez and Savic in defense, Cuadrado, Aquilani, Pizarro, Anderson and Vargas in midfield, Gomez and Ilicic in attack. The long challenge begins today and it is absolutely forbidden to miss it.
