The eighths in the viewfinder. Juventus and Lazio smell the scent of the first goal of the season, namely qualification for the next round of Champions League: the speech is especially true for the bianconeri, who in case of victory over Ferencvaros (21pm) and Barcelona's failure to defeat in Kiev would mathematically celebrate, but even the biancocelesti, by beating Zenit at the Olimpico (21), would take a big step forward. In short, the night is not to be missed, especially since the opponents are not particularly scary.
In the first leg Juve strolled in Budapest, showing all their (norms) superiority over the Hungarians and Lazio too, despite numerous absences, snatched a good draw in St. Petersburg. Now is the time to present the bill, to then concentrate forces on the championship.
“We have to close the qualification discussion also to give some players some breathing room – he confirmed Pirlo – I expect the same intensity seen against Cagliari, if it weren't like that I'd get very angry, we don't have to look at the result of the first leg because that was another match”.
Another Juve too, one might say, considering that decidedly significant steps forward were seen on Saturday. Of course, a victory against Cagliari is not enough to consider the problems solved, but it is clear that being confirmed would further increase confidence. It is no coincidence that in the black and white support environment there is even talk of the Dybala-Morata-Ronaldo trident, a scenario however still far away, at least for the moment.
"We've been thinking about it since the beginning of the season - admitted Pirlo - Until now, however, I've never had them available that much due to injuries, now let's see how we can give the team a backbone and then we'll see if we can change anything". In short, there is still time for Dy-Mo-Ro, because the Juventus coach wants to give continuity to the game system of the last few weeks, absent aside.
Demiral's new injury (muscle elongation, at least 10 days off) will force him to invent a defense, also because Bonucci and Chiellini are still in the pits. At the Stadium we will see a 4-4-2 (ready to become 3-4-1-2 in attack) with Szczesny in goal, Cuadrado, Danilo, De Ligt and Alex Sandro in defense, Kulusevski, Arthur, Bentancur and Bernardeschi in midfield , Ronaldo and Dybala, favorite over Morata, in attack. Usual 4-2-3-1 for Rebrov, who will try to resist the more popular Lady with Dibusz between the posts, Lovrencsics, Blazic, Botka and Heister in the back, Somalia and Kharatin in the midfield, Uzuni, Isael and Nguen behind the single tip Boli.
Important evening also for Lazio, determined to take advantage of the home match against Zenit to direct the qualification discourse. The standings are good (the Biancocelesti are second with 5 points, one less than Borussia Dortmund, one more than Club Brugge and +4 over the Russians), also in consideration of the two away games already played in Belgium and St. absent. A victory tonight would pave the way to the round of XNUMX, but woe to think it's easy: the Champions League, after all, never is.
“Qualifying is one of our goals – he confirmed Inzaghi in the press conference – Zenit are strong, we will need a match with character, making the right choices and recovering the energy lost in Crotone”. To give him a hand, in this sense, the buffers of UEFA, which will give him back Luiz Felipe at least for the bench.
The accounts, net of the unavailability of Milinkovic-Savic and Lulic, are starting to return, as can be seen from the Lazio 3-5-2 which will see Reina in goal, Patric, Acerbi and Radu in defense, Lazzari, Akpa Akpro, Lucas Leiva, Luis Alberto and Marusic in midfield, Correa and Immobile in attack. Semak, forced to win to get back into the game, will respond with a 4-3-3 with Kerzhakov in goal, Karavaev, Lovren, Rakitsky and Santos in the back, Erokhin, Barrios and Zhirkov in the midfield, Kuzyayev, Dzyuba and Sutormin in the trident offensive.
