An anticipated final, dreaming of the real one. Atletico Madrid-Juventus is "only" the first leg of an eighth but it is worth much more and not only because it is played in the stadium which, on June 1st, will host the last act of the Champions League. In fact, according to many, the brand new Wanda Metropolitano, still not completely loved heir of the historic Vicente Calderon, will be the scene of a challenge between two potential winners and therefore rather indicative for understanding the continuation of the tournament.
Furthermore, the two personal "derbies" of CR7 and Cholo Simeone added further spice to the match, respectively against two teams from which they took away the Champions League (finals in Lisbon and Milan at the time of Real, both scoring) and the Scudetto (with the Lazio in 1999/00, also scoring the decisive goal in the direct match). In short, the elements for a heart-pounding challenge are all there and the tension, obviously, is already skyrocketing.
“It's another round of XNUMX, as has happened in recent years – Allegri glossed over – They will be two great matches to lay the foundations for our journey in the Champions League. The opponent is of a high level, he makes the defensive phase his strong point but there is no greater pressure than in the past".
“We feel a lot of responsibility – Simeone acknowledged instead – We are in the Champions League and we can play such a good game, against a very strong team. We're back in the round of XNUMX and this helps us grow, Atletico Madrid are now at this level and we want to keep growing”.
The heartbeats will be at a thousand, there is no doubt about this, the show however, at least on paper, shouldn't reach particularly high levels. In fact, it is known that both teams make the defensive phase their respective strength, as the numbers demonstrate: in the last 5 years of the Champions League, the colchoneros are the ones who have conceded the fewest goals of all, closely followed by the black and whites. In short, scoring will have a double value precisely because it is more difficult and therefore a very important role will be played by the fantasy players, able to unhinge very level balances.
Allegri and Simeone know it well, that's why they trust in their respective attacks, which are of excellent quality. “Having Ronaldo is an advantage because in the last ten years he and Messi have been the top scorers in the Champions League – acknowledged Max – If you have Cristiano, the best in the world, you have a better chance of winning, but it's not automatic. I'm not signing at all, but I repeat that it's very important to score, I also told the team. Indeed, better two…”.
“Ronaldo? He made an important choice, he went to a club like Juventus – Diego replied – But we think of our players, Koke, Costa, Morata, players who want to play a great game ”.
We will therefore see if the defenses will have the last word, as seems probable, or if it will be the players mentioned above (to which many others must be added) who will make the difference. Allegri, surprisingly without Khedira ("stayed in Turin to investigate a possible atrial arrhythmia", reads a press release from the club), will play it out with a 4-3-3 with Szczesny in goal, Cancelo, Bonucci, Chiellini and Alex Sandro in defense, Bentancur, Pjanic and Matuidi in midfield, Dybala, Mandzukic and Ronaldo in attack.
Usual 4-4-2 also for Simeone, who will respond with Oblak in goal, Juanfran, Gimenez, Godin and Filipe Luis in the back, Koke, Rodrigo, Thomas Partey and Saul in the midfield to support the offensive duo made up of Griezmann and Morata , the latter great ex of the challenge (“if sign exults” he said yesterday setting the climate ablaze further).
Sold out stadium and climate that both Juve and Atletico hope to return to savor on June 1, the day of the final. Overcoming this round would not be a guarantee in this sense, God forbid, but the feeling is that it would give a good push, perhaps even decisive.
