The first round goes to Juventus but the match is still long, very long. In fact, the 2-1 in Turin leaves all the games open in terms of qualifying, which will be decided in Dortmund on March 18, in a match not suitable for the faint of heart. Too bad, because in the light of the opportunities created, the result could have been much more rounded. And then there's the goal conceded to cry out for revenge, in the only defensive flaw in a match played with great intelligence and without taking too many risks. However, the victory and the feeling that this Borussia is far from unbeatable remain: in Dortmund we will have to score and the yellow and black defense tends to give a lot of space...
“Deserved success even if we should have rounded it up – thought Allegri -. These are balanced challenges, we knew we had to manage them well both in attack and defense. All in all we are happy, I go home with many certainties and few doubts. But now let's think about Rome". The Juventus coach didn't say it but that goal immediately made him angry a lot. On the eve, in fact, he had reiterated the importance of not cashing in goals, a purpose that escaped due to an individual mistake by one of his loyalists. In fact, it was Chiellini who gave (it is appropriate to say) the goal to Borussia: a slip from him that paved the way for Reus, for an easy tap-in (18').
All this after Juve had managed to unlock the match with Tevez, good at exploiting a rash exit by Weidenfeller (13'). The Germans' goal could have brought down anyone but the Bianconeri maintained the right lucidity, demonstrating that they have grown a lot in a European key. In fact, after a few minutes of heeling, also thanks to Pirlo's injury (muscle problem, today the checks), Allegri's team resumed the interrupted thread, made up of waiting, low pressing and lightning-fast restarts. Unusual tactic for those who, in Italy, are used to spending most of their matches in the opponent's half, but logical and intelligent. Yes, because Borussia will also have a great attack but behind it is a half-disaster: in short, ideal for two arrows like Tevez and Morata.
And in fact, after having propitiated the first's goal, the second stamped the match with a rapacious right foot, thus finalizing a splendid restart. In the second half Juve could have scored again but Chiellini, Tevez (twice) and Pereyra missed their aim, ending up leaving an opponent on the verge of collapsing alive. “Qualification would have been in the balance even if we had won 3-0 – rebutted the Apache. – That's how it is in the Champions League, you can't take anything for granted. The only thing we regret is the goal conceded”.
“When a defender slips there's nothing left to do – commented Chiellini bitterly. – I prayed that Reus was wrong, too bad…”. At Signal Iduna Park, therefore, it will be a real battle. This can be understood from Klopp's gaze, far from resigned in view of the return. “We have good chances, we will have to win – the words of the German coach. – We will trust in our audience and in a better referee, this one has made some decisions that I didn't like ”. Regardless of the recriminations (and then it's the Italians who complain!) the conversation goes on. In fact, in the Dortmund basin only a few have managed to pass unscathed, at least in the European arena. We will need a great Juve, or more simply the one from last night.
