A big undertaking. Napoli clears Lisbon and thus qualifies for the round of 6 of the Champions League, in addition with first place in the standings. Of course, in the light of what happened in Kiev (resounding 0-XNUMX by the already eliminated Ukrainians against Besiktas), the Azzurri would have gone through even losing but doing so by imposing themselves in a historic stadium like Da Luz certainly has a completely different flavour.
“We took the field without making calculations but only looking for victory – explained Sarri – We also wanted first place in the group, Napoli had never succeeded before while this time we did it. Of course, looking at the list of runners-up, one would think that it's not a great advantage, but this supremacy, in addition to being deserved, gives us further confidence”.
It should have been a thrilling night at Da Luz, but the tension melted away rather quickly. All the fault of Besiktas (or thanks to Dinamo, you decide), capable of remedying a clamorous beating in the frost of Kiev. The Ukrainians took the lead after just 9', then scored their second and third goals between 30' and 32'.
At that point, with the Turks in 10 (subsequently they would remain in 9), there was no more game and Benfica and Napoli were able to face each other with relative tranquility. And so, while Dinamo also scored the fourth, fifth and sixth goals, a match was staged in Lisbon that was no longer valid for qualification but "only" for first place.
The Azzurri won, capable of bringing out their indisputable technical superiority first with Callejon (60') and then with Mertens (79'). Jimenez's goal (87', a sensational mistake by Albiol) changed the scoresheet but not the order of things: Sarri's team went first in the group, Rui Vitoria's second.
Starting tomorrow, Juventus will also be able to start calculating who to find or not in the round of 0, but first they have to beat Dinamo Zagreb and definitively take command of the group. A far from prohibitive undertaking: the Croatians are last with 13 points, they have not scored a single goal and have conceded XNUMX.
“It seems like a formality but matches are won on the pitch – thought Allegri. – It will be important to close the group in the best possible way by taking first place, even if it makes me laugh a little to think that now everyone is saying it would almost be better to finish second. In these cases, little changes, the draws depend on the balls".
The scenario that is emerging effectively makes the difference between first and second tier almost zero: on this side there are certainly Arsenal, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Monaco and Leicester (in addition to Napoli, of course), on the other side Paris Saint Germain, Benfica , Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and one between Porto and Copenhagen.
It remains to be understood where Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid will be placed (decisive challenge at the Bernabeu tonight) and who will qualify between Sevilla and Lyon, but otherwise the picture is complete and says that there will be pitfalls on both sides. Sarri can already think about it, Allegri not yet.
Tonight, in an attempt not to waste too much energy in view of the derby against Turin on Sunday, he will leave Chiellini, Alex Sandro and Khedira at rest, probably relying on a 4-3-3 (but it is also possible to use a 3-5-2 ) with Buffon in goal, Sturaro, Rugani, Benatia and Evra in defence, Lemina, Marchisio and Pjanic in midfield, Cuadrado, Higuain and Mandzukic in attack, with Dybala called up and ready to take over the match in progress.
Petev's Croatians will instead respond with a 4-5-1 with Livakovic in goal, Pivaric, Benkovic, Sigali and Matel in the back, Knezevic, Pavicic, Machado, Soudani and Coric in the midfield, Junior the lone striker.
