Head and heart. This evening (20.45 pm), in a real final against Atletico Madrid, Juventus will have to use both and if the former has to be cold and calculating, the latter will instead have to reach equatorial temperatures. At stake are the round of XNUMX of the Champions League, therefore a good part of the Juventus season.
“It's our first objective – confirmed Massimiliano Allegri in the press conference. – We will do everything to reach him as first in the group, for us it would be very important in view of the draw”. The message from the coach from Livorno is loud and clear: woe to settling for a draw. Which would also be enough to qualify but only as seconds, which would greatly complicate things in view of the following rounds. But even the assault with the white weapon would be unintelligent: Atletico could turn nasty and, in the end, the benefits would all go to Olympiacos, the third wheel playing at home against Malmoe.
“I really don't think about finishing in the Europa League – continued Allegri. – I have a strong team and the first leg doesn't worry me: in Madrid we tried to win and were punished by our mistake. This time, however, the public will be on our side…”.
Also according to Marchisio, brought to the press conference by the coach, the Stadium will have to play a rather important role. “The fans will warm up the atmosphere – explained Principino. – It's the most important match of the year, we've worked hard and well to get to this point. Scoring against Atletico Madrid is difficult but we have to try, with a 2-0 win we would win the group”. The chorus is therefore unanimous: Juventus will not play for a draw but will try to win with a two-goal difference, a sine qua non to overtake the Spaniards in the standings.
Ambitious goal, both for the value of the opponents (who, however, away from Madrid have already lost three times this season) and for the moment of the team, which appeared a little short of oxygen. Juve struggled more than usual in the derby against Turin and in Florence but this doesn't seem to worry Allegri. It is no coincidence that the Juventus coach has made a rather massive turnover, which will allow him to field a fairly fresh team.
The certainty is the 4-3-1-2, the new home suit after the 3-5-2 seen on Friday. Two doubts: the left-back and the forward to support Tevez. For the home jersey, the favorite is Padoin, partly because he rested in Florence and partly because of Evra's far from dazzling conditions. In defense, together with the former Atalanta handyman, there will be Lichtsteiner, Bonucci and Chiellini, for a real dam to protect captain Buffon. In midfield, no ballot with Pirlo, Pogba, Marchisio and Vidal on the field at the same time.
Up front, in addition to the untouchable Tevez, there is the usual ballot between Llorente and Morata. Here it's a matter of sensations: the coach likes the "big" Spaniard more for a whole series of reasons (above all tactical), the "small" one bites the brakes, furthermore his Madrid heart would experience the match as a real derby. “It's probable that I'll use both of them” Allegri glossed over, which makes one think of Llorente from the beginning and of Morata during construction.
“We won't make calculations, we'll play to win as always” Simeone and Koke explained in chorus from the colchonero corner. Given the previous ones, we can believe him, that's why Juve will have to be very careful. Just try to collect the maximum, God forbid, but if things don't go very well, even a little point would be welcome. Cold head and warm heart, to be precise.
