Time to grow up again. Juventus receives Barcelona for what, on balance, could prove to be the most important match of the season. At the moment, qualifying for the round of XNUMX remains probable but a lot depends on tonight: a victory against the blaugrana (who still lack a point for the mathematical pass) would close all discussions, a pass instead could make things really complicated.
In fact, the risk (provided that Sporting beat Olympiacos) is to postpone qualification for the away game in Athens, an eventuality that the Bianconeri want to avoid at all costs, also in order not to relive the bad memories of the past. The moment to meet Barça is certainly not the best: on the one hand a squadron that dominates the Spanish Liga, on the other a more fragile Juve than in the past, as demonstrated by the three "slaps" just taken in Genoa.
“Let's think positive, it's a game of great charm – the thought of Allegri – It will be an important evening, there is the possibility of grabbing qualification even if it won't be easy. Barcelona score less than in the past but also concede less, they have played 14 games in the league and have never lost. We know what we need to improve on, we score a lot of goals but we also concede too many."
Last year's mentality would be needed, the one that the Blaugrana, moreover, have come to know quite well given that they lost a quarter of the Champions League. “We watched that match, we are very prepared – he replied Valverde – We will have to be good at defending to the maximum, the details will make the difference”.
Even Allegri knows it well, who after the turnover of Marassi it will go back to the 4-2-3-1 type with Buffon in goal, De Sciglio, Barzagli, Chiellini and Alex Sandro in defence, Pjanic and Matuidi in midfield, Cuadrado, Dybala and Mandzukic behind Higuain. Instead, one is expected 4-4-2 for Valverde's Barça, who will respond with Ter Stegen, Semedo, Piqué, Umtiti, Jordi Alba, Rakitic, Busquets, Paulinho, Iniesta, Suarez and Messi.
The Italy-Spain confrontation will not be limited to Turin: Madrid will also host a thrilling match between Atletico and Rome. Here the hierarchies are different from the match between Juve and Barça, as can be seen from a ranking that sees the giallorossi sensationally in first place and the colchoneros in third, almost out of the Champions League.
To the team of By Francesco instead, only one point is enough to toast to qualification, possibly to be taken this evening. “This is a fundamental match – she explained. – Atletico Madrid are strong and will be very aggressive, but we are energized and motivated”. The coach knows he can play for two results but he won't distort his football, so we'll see a Rome with 4-3-3 with Alisson in goal, Bruno Peres, Manolas, Juan Jesus and Kolarov in defence, Pellegrini, Gonalons and Strootman in midfield, Defrel, Dzeko and Perotti in attack.
Classic 4-4-2 for Simeone's Atletico Madrid, who will try to reopen his way to the round of XNUMX with Oblak, Juanfran, Gimenez, Lucas, Filipe Luis, Koke, Thomas, Saul, Carrasco, Griezmann and Torres.
He thought about opening the two days of the Champions League the Naples, who with yesterday's victory can still hope for the next round. The 3-0 on Shakhtar in fact he keeps alive the chances of qualifying at least until the last day, when the blues will have to rely on Manchester City. Beating Feyenoord (conditio sine qua non) alone will not be enough: at the same time Guardiola's team, already qualified from first in the group, will have to win in Ukraine.
In the meantime, however, Napoli has done its duty, regulating Fonseca's Shakhtar with a dry 3-0 scored by Insigne (56'), Zielinski (81') and Mertens (83') in a "guiltily" semi-deserted San Paolo has reinvigorated the controversy over alleged European snobbery this season.
“Instead we care a lot about this competition – he replied Sarri – We proved it by playing a great game against a tough opponent. Unfortunately, qualification doesn't depend only on us but we'll go to Holland to do our duty, then we'll see what happens…”.
