A total rout and a life-saving draw. Champions League Tuesday saw the collapse of Juventus, massacred by the European champions of Chelsea with a net 4-0 and an interlocutory but very precious point from Atalanta, which thanks to the 3-3 draw in Bern keeps Young Boys behind and puts Villarreal in their sights, in turn defeated by Manchester United. In short, a vibrant evening full of goals, but it is a pity that Italian football comes out very downsized: if this is the difference between two top European teams, at least in terms of name, such as Chelsea and Juve, perhaps it would be appropriate to review dreams and ambitions.
The bianconeri had flown to London on the strength of the qualification already in the safe, as well as the possibility of being able to settle for a draw, all to play for a first place which, theoretically, could be worth the advantages in view of the round of 4. At Stamford Bridge, however, the Lady melted like snow in the sun under the blows of Tuchel's Blues, who so deservedly jumped to the top of Group H with an almost impossible 0-0 to overturn: unless Zenit, in the next round, if you don't stop the European champions, Allegri will have to settle for second place. A result that, on paper, could also be there, but not like this: Juventus cannot and must not consider a 4-XNUMX draw in the Champions League normal, not even if they are facing a big team like Chelsea.
Yet the thud is deserved, because if we exclude an opportunity from Morata blocked by Thiago Silva, the bianconeri have been annihilated, both from a technical and physical point of view. And to think that the first half, all in all, had been fairly balanced, with the English in front thanks to a goal (disputed for a touch by Rudiger's hand, considered involuntary) by Chalobah (25') and Juve trying to play their match, obviously in Allegri style. In the second half, however, Chelsea rampant and the Lady was unable to stop him or respond. In two minutes Tuchel's men first scored the 2-0 with James (56'), then on the 3rd with Hudson-Hodoi (58') and in full recovery they even indulged in the whim of serving poker with Werner (95 '), as well as postponing Lukaku's return to the field, saved in view of more probative challenges.
“Chelsea is a team of European level, they are European champions – he sighed Allegri – We had a great match in the first leg, but here we had a good first half, then we were punished in the second half. However, I'm not angry, but we should have played much better in the second half."
A decidedly more hard-fought race instead in Bern, where Young Boys e Atalanta if they are given a thrashing, giving (yes) a heart-pounding evening. Considering Manchester United's early victory over Villarreal (0-2 signed by Ronaldo and Sancho) and, above all, the 1-2 score until the 80th minute, one could say that the final 3-3 stay close to the Goddess, except that the Swiss even came close to winning it, thus transforming the final draw into a half-success for the Nerazzurri.
Yes, because arriving at the penultimate matchday only the standings count and that sees United first and mathematically qualified on 10, the Spanish second on 7, the Nerazzurri third on 6 and Young Boys bottom on 4, which means only one thing: if Gasperini beats Villarreal in the challenge of Bergamo fly to the round of XNUMX for the third consecutive year, in defiance of the result at Old Trafford. Without Muriel's free-kick in the 88th minute we would be making completely different speeches, which is why this 3-3 full of emotions and twists must be seen in a positive way, without thinking about the double advantage scored by Zapata (10') and Palomino (51') and the Swiss comeback with Siebatcheu (39'), Sierro (80') and Hefti (84').
"The match went through many episodes, winning it would have meant having two useful results in the last match, but in short, we have to accept this draw - he admitted Gasperini We were also losing it, that's okay. Now we have great chances of still being in Europe, we'll fight for the chance to go through on our pitch, with our fans. We would have signed to arrive in these conditions”.
Now Juventus and Atalanta will close the Champions League waiting for the last day, ready to challenge each other in the direct match in the championship next Saturday, this time with reversed sides. In fact, the Goddess will start with the advantage of 4 more points in the standings, which will force the black and whites to win at all costs: however, a very different performance from yesterday evening will certainly be needed, otherwise Allegri will be in big trouble.
