Now no more joking. The Champions League returns and Juventus pricks up their antennas: whole months spent repeating that the first objective is the championship, then the jingle starts and in Turin one no longer thinks of anything else. After all, the great dream of the Juventus people is the Cup with big ears, so much so that it often leads to a real obsession, fomented by the 22-year wait and the 5 consecutive final losses, the last of which was in Cardiff last June.
The hunt restarts from Tottenham, a less glamorous opponent than others and perhaps for this reason even more insidious: qualification would pass as something "normal", an elimination instead would be experienced as a failure. However, thinking of the British as sacrificial victims would be a huge mistake and Allegri, from the height of a by now acquired European experience, certainly does not want to commit it.
“We will need to play a very good match both tactically and technically – he explained in the press conference. – Were we to put it only on a physical level, in fact, we would risk coming out with broken bones. I wouldn't sign for a 0-0 draw but in order not to concede a goal yes, I am convinced that the next round will be decided in London. Courage and recklessness will be needed, the chances of qualifying are 50/50".
Concepts that the black and white dressing room, yesterday represented by Chiellini, also aligned with. “The main goal is not to concede a goal but it won't be easy – thought the defender. – They play well and score a lot, not only with Kane. He is very strong but reducing Tottenham only to him would be very wrong."
Great respect from the Juventus front but never like from the English one. Pochettino, one of the most prominent coaches in the world immediately after the usual "mammasantissima della panca", spent words as sweet as honey towards her Lady, as if he wanted to ingratiate himself with her before the match. “It is impossible to make comparisons between us and them – the words of the coach. – In history they have won everything, and they have also come from two Champions League finals in the last three years. Our dream is to reach that level and become as competitive as they are”.
Tonight, however, only the field will speak and there will be no room for pleasantries. In addition to the "usual" Dybala, Cuadrado, Barzagli and Matuidi, Allegri must also give up Lichtsteiner, who stopped due to a muscle problem: important absences, which however, given the squad available, will not prevent him from fielding a competitive formation. The Juventus 4-3-3 will see Buffon in goal, De Sciglio, Benatia, Chiellini and Alex Sandro in defense, Khedira, Pjanic and Sturaro (three-way ballot with Marchisio and Bentancur) in midfield, Douglas Costa (favorite over Bernardeschi), Higuain and Mandzukic in attack.
Pochettino, fresh from the derby win against Arsenal, will respond with a 4-2-3-1 formation with Lloris in goal, Trippier, Wanyama, Vertonghen and Davies in the back, Dier and Dembelé in the midfield, Eriksen, Dele Alli and Son on the trocar behind the lone striker Kane.
