End of the run. Juventus didn't go beyond the 2-1 draw against Lyon and sadly said goodbye to the Champions League, without even accessing the Final Eight in Lisbon. A disaster to which, to tell the truth, the German referee Zwayer also contributed, guilty of having conceded a very dubious penalty for the French: the one given to the black-and-whites shortly after is also the same, but the first had a much more impact on the match, forcing Sarri's team to have to score three goals to avoid elimination. Only two arrived and these, look at that, bear Ronaldo's signature, the last one to give up on the idea of not playing in the final phase in his native Lisbon.
However, it is clear that the analysis on the Juve flop cannot be limited only to the referee: the gap with Lyon is too big (especially at an economic level) to justify such a result, also the result, it should be remembered, of a match disastrous going. The debate will focus entirely on Maurizio Sarri, already highly at risk before the elimination and now one step away from the exemption, as confirmed between the lines by Andrea Agnelli himself. “Going out like this must leave us all disappointed, so we'll take a few days to reflect – the president's words -. We will make evaluations, we have to figure out how to face next season with renewed enthusiasm. If this also affects the coach? Sure, absolutely…”.
The comment of the person concerned was also laconic, who presented himself in front of the television cameras over an hour after the end of the match, demonstrating a nervousness difficult to contain. “I've already said what I think, high-level managers don't make decisions based on a match – she reiterated, retracing the concept from the eve. – Questions of this kind seem offensive to me, if I were them I would intervene… I believe that the Juventus management know how to evaluate things with a wide range, for or against. However, I don't expect anything from the club, I have a contract and I intend to respect it...".
And now what will happen? The feeling is that Agnelli will take a few days off, above all to examine the names of possible substitutes (pay attention to Zidane, who is also eliminated from the Champions League, to Mancini, whose relations with the FIGC are no longer idyllic and to Simone Inzaghi, who has not yet renewed with Lazio), bearing in mind that Sarri has another two years on his contract (5,5 million per season plus bonuses) and has no intention of resigning. And to think that Paratici ("I keep him and Nedved close to me" underlined the president), before the match, had confirmed the current coach regardless, but it is clear that these were mainly sentences of circumstance, aimed at compacting a team already appeared fragile in many, too many, moments.
The bitterness remains for not having been able to complete a comeback which, at a certain point, seemed possible: Ronaldo in fact, after the very generous penalty that had given Lyon the lead (13' Depay), had found the equalizer from the penalty spot (43 ', here too many doubts), but above all the 2-1 with a great shot from distance (60'). The illusion, however, remained so, also because Dybala, thrown into the fray for the last 20 minutes, immediately got back hurt, effectively handing the French the pass to Lisbon: on the other hand, Juve are left with only a great deal of bitterness, which will almost certainly lead to another revolution technique after that of a year ago.
Napoli have the task of redeeming Italian football, although the Camp Nou mission (starting from a 1-1 draw, needing a win or, alternatively, a draw by scoring at least two goals) is very difficult, even if not impossible. Barça seen in recent weeks, in fact, appeared anything but iron, as indeed throughout the season which, not surprisingly, saw him change a coach (via Valverde, inside Setien) and manage a flood of controversies, many of which off-field (on all those relating to the bad moods of the "Pulce ").
“We know it will be a very difficult match, we know their strength and quality well – sighed Gattuso. – We will have to put in a great performance both technically and tactically, maybe it won't even be enough for us because they have exceptional champions: it will be like climbing Everest”. However, beyond the declarations, the blue coach believes it all right, even if Napoli have not been particularly brilliant in the last period, thanks to a victory in the Italian Cup which, in fact, eliminated the reasons for the championship. The good news is that Insigne will be in the match: the captain, at risk after the injury he sustained a week ago against Lazio, has recovered and is ready to take the field from the start, even if the final decision will only be made in the morning (if not, it would be up to Lozano).
The blue 4-3-3 will therefore see Ospina in goal, Di Lorenzo, Manolas, Koulibaly and Mario Rui in defense, Fabian Ruiz, Demme and Zielinski in midfield, Callejon, Mertens and, of course, Insigne in attack. “Napoli is a great team, but we will pass” thundered Quique Setien, a little out of real conviction, a lot to charge an environment that was unusually worried, as well as not very convinced about his figure. The Blaugrana coach knows he's playing for the benchhe will also have to do without two important elements such as Busquets and Vidal, both suspended: in any case he will be able to line up a more than competitive 4-3-3 with Ter Stegen in goal, Semedo, Piqué, Lenglet and Jordi Alba in the back , De Jong, Sergi Roberto and Rakitic in the midfield, Messi, Suarez and Griezmann in the offensive trident.
